There are 87 medical schools that have been identified as offering some curricula introducing Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) to the allopathic medical students. Of these, only a very small number actually have some reference to energy medicine. These are:
- University of Arizona: Integrative Medicine: Energy Medicine
- University of Maryland School of Medicine: Center for Integrative Medicine: Energy Therapies
- University of Vermont, Nursing College: Energy Medicine
- Bastyr University in Seattle, WA: Naturopathic medicine including homeopathy and acupuncture
- Ohio State University Medical Center: Energy Medicine (Reiki, Qi Gong, Therapeutic/ Healing Touch and Polarity Therapy
Among the 87 CAM curricula in the medical schools, which are mostly offered as elective courses to the medical students, there have been a few unique energy medicine offerings. For example, at Mount Sinai School of Medicine of the City University in New York, Joyce Shriver, Ph.D. was offering “The Power of Subtle Body: Innovative Qi Gong” and “The Science of Yoga.”
The University of Arizona in Tucson is noteworthy for having been funded for an NCCAM program grant at the Center for Frontier Medicine in Biofield Science under the direction of Dr. Gary Schwartz. Some characteristics of the biofield were investigated by a team of several researchers including Mikel Aiken, PhD, Ann Baldwin, PhD, Iris Bell, MD, PhD, Audrey Brookes, PhD, Katherine Burleson, MD, Maureen Campensino, PhD, Melinda Connor, PhD, Katherine Creath, PhD, Allan Hamilton, MD, Lewis Mehl-Madrona, MD, PhD, Cheryl Rittenbaugh, PhD, and Beverly Rubik, PhD.
Specifically, they investigated whether the biofield could be observed in cells, plants, animals and humans; what factors influence the direction, magnitude and stability of biofield effects; and whether biofields can be measured from living systems using state-of-the-art bioelectromagnetic and optical instruments. They concluded that significant advances in both biofield science and mind-body science can best occur when these two areas are systematically integrated. Moreover, recent advances in bioelectromagnetic and optical instrumentation have the potential to help address the important question “does it work in theory?” Contemporary findings and theories in consciousness studies and quantum physics (including parapsychology – see Radin, 2006) hold great promise.
In California, there are several unique accredited graduate schools that offer graduate degrees in Integrative and Holistic Health. None of these have developed a specific course in energy medicine to date; however, they recognize the value of this emerging field as a distinct subspecialty within CAM. In addition, two unique programs in integrative healthcare and energy medicine have been created in the last decade, one at Holos University Graduate Seminary and the other at Energy Medicine University. These institutions offer prospective students some opportunities for a course of study in energy medicine or energy psychology. However, most people active in the energy medicine field obtain further training in workshops and seminars at various conferences such as ISSSEEM, Institute of Noetic Sciences and others.
The California Institute for Human Science (link is external) was started by the Japanese researcher, yogic adept and electrical engineer Dr. Hiroshi Motoyama in Encinitas, CA. They offer graduate programs in various disciples including Human Science. CIHS is also conducting research on ki-energy (Japanese word for chi or life energy) employing a measuring device called AMI (an apparatus for measuring the function of meridians and their corresponding internal organs) which Motoyama invented. The overall aim of the Integral Health Program is to prepare the student for original research of a distinctly holistic and integrative nature.
Their doctoral program in Integral Health has been designed to foster the following aims: (1) to present a course of study which allows for the development of a sophisticated grasp of convergences and divergences in Eastern and Western thought in medicine, science, religion, and philosophy, and for synthetic-integrative possibilities; (2) to provide training in a range of devices which yield physical data bearing upon manifestations of body-mind-sprit in operation; (3) to apply and expand scientific forms of investigation to incorporate study of “paranormal” aspects of human life, and to show how such phenomena can be assimilated into religious thought and philosophy; (4) to provide an opportunity for students with the appropriate educational preparation to conduct a substantial research project which contribute to the synthetic goal of the field of Integral Health.
The California Institute of Integral Studies (link is external) in San Francisco offers a Master of Arts in Integrative Health Studies. This program integrates Eastern, Western, and indigenous healing traditions, exploring personal, multi-cultural, and global definitions of health. It bridges traditional and contemporary mind-body-spirit perspectives and cutting-edge discoveries in the natural sciences.
Saybrook Graduate School (link is external) located in San Francisco has been offering graduate courses in humanistic psychology since 1971. The new dean of the Mind-Body Medicine doctoral program is Dr. James Gordon, a Harvard educated psychiatrist and a world renowned expert in using mind-body medicine to heal depression, anxiety, and psychological trauma. He is the Founder and Director of The Center for Mind-Body Medicine, a Clinical Professor in the Departments of Psychiatry and Family Medicine at Georgetown Medical School, and recently served as Chairman of the White House Commission on Complementary and Alternative Medicine Policy.
John F. Kennedy University (link is external) has three campuses in the San Francisco Bay area including one in Berkeley. It has been offering a graduate degree in Holistic Health Education for 25 years. Its program explores the links among the physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects of health.
Holos University Graduate Seminary (link is external) was founded by C. Norman Shealy, M.D., Ph.D. and has been in operation since 2002. This institution has graduated nearly 100 students and it offers a Master of Theology and Doctor of Theology research degrees in spiritual healing and energy medicine. Dissertations with full text are on the school web site. This institution located in Bolivar, Missouri also has unique fields of study in Integrative Healthcare, Medical-Counseling Intuition, Transformational Psychology and Spiritual Direction. Dr. Bernard Williams is President and Chief Executive Officer of Holos University Graduate Seminary.
Energy Medicine University (link is external) in Mill Valley, California was started by Francesca McCartney, PhD and has been in operation since 2006. It is the graduate degree school of the Academy of Intuition Medicine (link is external) which was founded in 1984. It will graduate the first students in 2010. It will offer both a Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy research degrees in Integrative Holistic Health. This new organization currently has fields of study in Integral Psychology, Medical Intuition, Bioenergetics, Biophysics, Organizational Transformation, Intuitive Counseling, Energy Psychology, Spirituality and Health. Dr. Bernard Williams serves as dean of the new university.
In addition, there are many Complementary and Alternative Training programs offered by a wide variety of institutions in the U.S. and Canada. The website Healthworld Online (link is external) lists 3,340 schools throughout the U.S. and 266 in Canada. These schools cover a wide range of disciplines ranging from acupuncture, massage, yoga, herbology, and chiropractic, to nutrition, feng shui, and zero balancing. Very few schools are directly concerned with energy medicine as a separate discipline, and many interpret energy medicine from a subtle energy or putative perspective. California has the largest cross section of schools with 521 schools, colleges, and training facilities listed. Some of these institutions are licensed by the state, however a large number are private colleges, training facilities, or non-registered training centers.
