Lifestyle & Integrative Medicine Electives

The Lifestyle and Integrative Medicine Electives offer M3/M4 medical students and McGaw trainees opportunities to explore the principles and practices of lifestyle and integrative medicine. Two elective options are available to accommodate different schedules and learning preferences:

• Traditional Lifestyle and Integrative Medicine Elective: A two-week, hybrid-format rotation that combines a self-paced online curriculum with faculty-led discussions, experiential learning and clinical experiences.
• Self-Directed Lifestyle and Integrative Medicine Elective: A flexible option for trainees whose schedules do not align with the traditional elective dates. Participants coordinate their own clinical and experiential learning opportunities with approved providers.

Both electives provide opportunities to deepen participants' understanding of lifestyle and integrative medicine and its application to whole-person care.

Eligibility

These electives are open to M3 and M4 Northwestern medical students and McGaw residents and fellows.

We are unable to accept external candidates at this time.

Prospective participants should familiarize themselves with the basic definitions of integrative medicine and complementary health approaches, available on the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health website.

Enrollment

Feinberg M3/M4 students should register through the standard elective registration process and indicate their preferred elective block when applicable.

Northwestern residents and fellows, please complete the application and submit it to Anna Balabanova Shannahan, MD. Applications must be received at least 30 days prior to the beginning of the elective.

Northwestern trainees may request an additional two-week scholarly project, subject to approval by Anna Balabanova Shannahan, MD.

Enrollment is limited to 3–10 students per elective.

Goals & Objectives

By the end of the rotation, participants will be able to:

• Understand the core principles of integrative medicine and their role in patient-centered care.
• Explore a clinical area of interest through an integrative medicine approach.
• Experience complementary medicine therapies firsthand and understand their benefits and limitations.
• Identify conditions that may benefit from an integrative approach.
• Develop strategies for personal well-being and self-care.
• Conduct an integrative medicine patient interview.
• Communicate effectively with patients about integrative medicine using evidence-based information.
• Develop an in-depth, individualized, holistic patient treatment plan.
• Collaborate with an interprofessional team representing various healing traditions.

Attendance

Attendance is expected throughout the rotation.

Per Feinberg Medical Student Policy, students may request up to two days from a two-week elective to participate in interviews for the residency match only.

Students missing more than two days because of illness, family emergency, residency interviews or university holidays may not receive elective credit.

Any planned absences must be approved before the start of the rotation.

Evaluation

Trainees are evaluated based on:

• Participation
• Completion of all required modules and assignments
• Reflective journal
• Final case presentation

All course requirements must be completed satisfactorily to receive a passing grade.