Directors' Message

The goal of our unique program is to train students to objectively assess the safety and efficacy of various complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) modalities and explain the mechanistic basis for CAM therapies such as acupuncture, massage, herbs and supplements, and mind-body interactions. By embedding CAM principles and paradigms firmly into a conventional basic/clinical science context, we are preparing a new generation of healthcare providers, educators, and researchers for the challenging task of delivering the healthcare of the future: a multi-disciplinary evidence-based approach to healthcare characterized by more effective health maintenance and disease prevention.

Program Directors

                 
Hakima Amri, PhD                             Aviad Haramati, PhD

Hakima Amri, PhD

Dr. Amri holds a master and doctoral degree in reproductive physiology and steroid biochemistry from Pierre and Marie Curie University, Paris, France. She is the co-founder of the CAM educational initiative at GUSOM. Dr. Amri's research focuses on integrating evidence-based CAM and biomedical research. She is currently investigating the effects and molecular mechanisms of herbal products on prostate cancer, in a mouse model, and the mechanisms underlying the effects of acupuncture in reducing stress in the rat model. Her clinical research is centered on the use of fMRI to study the neuronal and physiological correlates of massage and acupuncture. Her other line of research is the introduction of a novel systems biology-based paradigm to cancer diagnosis, prognosis, treatment assessment, and biomarkers discovery using omics data and parsimony phylogenetics. Dr. Amri's research has attracted funding from both NIH and the private sector.
email: amrih@georgetown.edu

Aviad Haramati, PhD

Dr. Haramati is a Professor in the Departments of Biochemistry & Cellular and Molecular Biology as well as Medicine. His research interests focused on two main areas: the regulation of renal and electrolyte physiology during growth; and the cardiovascular-renal-endocrine regulation of volume homeostasis in heart failure. For the past 10 years he has led the educational initiative in CAM at Georgetown as part of his focus on medical education and rethinking how health professionals are trained. He is particularly interested in the intersection of science, mind-body medicine and professionalism. Dr. Haramati has published over 200 scientific papers, book chapters and abstracts and is a recognized leader in Integrative Medicine.
email: haramati@georgetown.edu