Medical Journal - Houston (Internet / Print) 02/18/06 http://mjhnews.com/mjh_front_pg.htm Article by Dr. Victor S. Sierpina: An important development in the evolution of Integrative Medicine is the Consortium of Academic Health Centers for Integrative Medicine. The 30 schools in affiliation from the US and Canada all have active programs in at least two of the three academic missions of integrative medicine: clinical, research, and education. The Consortium has defined Integrative Medicine as follows: ‘Integrative Medicine is the practice of medicine that reaffirms the importance of the relationship between practitioner and patient, focuses on the whole person, is informed by evidence, and makes use of all appropriate therapeutic approaches to achieve optimal health and healing.’ Originally a group of 8 schools, the Consortium has grown rapidly to provide a broad voice to the evolution of Integrative Medicine in academic health centers.