Maryland University of Integrative Health (MUIH) has announced a new partnership with the American Public Health Association (APHA). MUIH and APHA have entered an educational collaboration with the shared goal of promoting the use of holistic and natural approaches to promote well-being. This collaboration expands MUIH’s role in supporting the health and wellness of public health professionals throughout the U.S.
MUIH’s health promotion program faculty and students are collaborating with APHA’s Integrative, Complementary and Traditional Health Practice (ICTHP) group to develop and deliver “well-inars” for APHA members. These “well-inars” are designed to promote the wellbeing of APHA members through mindfulness exercises designed to promote relaxation and relieve stress. They also provide MUIH health promotion students with the opportunity to apply the program development, delivery and assessment skills and knowledge learned in their program.
“We’re pleased to be able to share our expertise in the field of complementary and integrative medicine with members of APHA as it is the foundation of MUIH’s educational purpose,” said Claudia Joy Wingo, chair of MUIH’s health promotion program and a member of the ICTHP group. “By providing ‘a virtual walk in nature’ using guided imagery, we endeavor to provide members with a relaxing respite for the stresses of daily life.”
“We are combining two evidence-based integrative approaches, guided imagery and nature therapy, that can have significant positive health effects,” added health promotion faculty member Katherine Smith.“It’s an exciting opportunity to be able to offer these relaxation practices to APHA’s 30,000 members during a stressful global pandemic.”
MUIH has offered an online Master of Science in Health Promotion with a focus on integrative health practices since 2014, and in 2018 added a Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Workplace Wellness. MUIH also offers masters and doctoral degrees and graduate certificates in acupuncture and Oriental medicine, ayurveda, health and wellness coaching, herbal medicine, integrative health studies, narrative health, nutrition and yoga therapy.
For more information, visit www.muih.edu or www.apha.org.
