The Center for Spirituality and Healing at the University of Minnesota grew out of a sense of urgency and clarity that significant transformation in health care was a critical need. A 1997 Task Force Report, "Transforming Health Care Through the Integration of Complementary, Cultural and Spiritual Care," proposed a bold agenda of change in education, research, clinical care and outreach at the Academic Health Center.
Since the Task Force Report, individual and community partnerships have helped to advance the Center's mission of health care transformation. Since 1995, the Center's work with myriad organizations, foundations and volunteers has helped to bring innovative approaches and programs to the forefront of health sciences education and research, and to clinical care. Our milestones include:
2007 The Center embarks on an interdisciplinary research study on chronic insomnia with the University’s School of Pharmacy, School of Nursing, and the Minnesota Regional Sleep Disorders Center (at HCMC). Made possible by a grant from the Academic Health Center, the study will compare a mind-body approach, Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), with an approved prescription sleep medication for insomnia.
2006 The Center creates a free, multi-media event “Healing Through Illness: Celebrating Art & Life” with artist Jila Nikpay and keynote speaker Thomas Moore. The event is created for anyone facing illness or loss and includes an artistic program featuring the Heroines Project with music, film, and performances by Minnesota artists.
2006 Distinguished cardiologist Dr. Mimi Guarneri is the featured speaker for the Annual Ruth Stricker Mind-Body Lecture. Speaking on “Integrative Approaches to Cardiovascular Disease,” Guarneri explores the landscape of preventative and personalized medicine, from an understanding of the genes that lead to cardiovascular disease, to choices in technology, nutrition, and mind-body medicine.
2006 In collaboration with the Life Science Foundation, the Center launches a free, interactive Web site providing tools and resources to help consumers make informed health choices. The site, Taking Charge of Your Health (www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu), was created by nationally-recognized healthcare experts and features three main sections: Exploring Complementary Therapies, Navigating the Healthcare System, and Creating a Healthy Lifestyle.
2006 Dr. Joel Slaton’s continued research on the Turkey Tail mushroom (Trametes versicolor) is rewarded with an Investigative New Drug (IND) status by the FDA.
2005 The Center’s celebrates its 10th anniversary with a sold-out special engagement by world-renowned health and wellness expert Dr. Andrew Weil. Speaking from his new book Healthy Aging, Weil leads guests in an inspiring discussion on aging well.
2005 The Center creates a formal track in health coaching under the graduate-level, post-baccalaureate certificate in Complementary Therapies and Healing Practices. The health coaching track is the first at a fully-accredited institution and is available to healthcare professionals or those currently enrolled in our certificate or other graduate healthcare program.
2005 Jon Kabat-Zinn, Ph.D., world-renowned mind-body medicine expert and founder of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), visits the Center to speak about the power of practicing mindfulness through meditation and everyday activities.
2004 The Center is designated a “Developmental Center for Research on Complementary & Alternative Medicine” by the NIH – one of only three designations in the country.
2004 The Center is awarded a $2.3 million NIH grant to study whether taking Turkey Tail mushroom (Trametes versicolor) extract can boost and maintain the body’s immune response following radiation therapy.
2004 The Center introduces a post-baccalaureate certificate in Complementary Therapies & Healing Practices. With approval by the Board of Regents and Graduate School, this interdisciplinary graduate program enables students to acquire advanced knowledge and skills to enhance their professional careers and impact the lives of their patients.
2003 Director of graduate studies, Linda Halcon, PhD, MPH, RN, is awarded Investigative New Drug (IND) status by the FDA for her research into tea tree oil (Melaleuca alternifolia) as a treatment for wounds with Staphylococcus aureus.
2003 A year-long pilot exploring the impact of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) on solid organ transplant patients leads to a five-year, $2.1 million grant from the NIH to conduct a larger clinical trial.
2003 The first Otto Schmidt symposium features Dr. Wayne Jonas speaking on “Healing and Consciousness: What is the Relationship?” Dr. Jonas is the first speaker in what is now an annual lecture series made possible with support from the Otto Schmitt Biomimetic Charitable Foundation.
2002 Dr. Joel Slaton, director of research at the Center, is awarded a $300,000 grant by the NIH’s National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine to study whether chemicals from the reishi mushroom can help the body’s immune system fight off cancer.
2002 Minnesota’s first long-term treatment facility for women with eating disorders opens. The Anna Westin House in Chaska, Minnesota, is a collaborative of the Anna Westin Foundation and the Eating Disorders Institute at Methodist Hospital. It is supported by the Center for Spirituality & Healing, University of Minnesota Physicians, the Emily Program, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota, Mayo Clinic, and other care providers.
2001 The Center establishes the The Inner Life of Healers, a ground breaking spiritual growth and renewal program for health care professionals and students. The program is supported by gifts from the George Family Foundation, the Horst Rechelbacher Foundation and the Fetzer Institute.
2001 The Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) Clinical Research Consortium is established in collaboration with the Berman Center for Outcomes and Clinical Research at Hennepin County Medical Center, Northwestern Health Sciences University and the University of Minnesota School of Public Health. The Consortium received funding from NIH to support training of CAM researchers.
2001 The Center hosts the White House Commission on Complementary and Alternative Medicine Minnesota Town Hall meeting.
2000 The National Institutes of Health (NIH) awards the Center a five-year $1.6 million grant to support the development and integration of CAM into health sciences curricula at the University of Minnesota Medical School, the School of Nursing and the College of Pharmacy.
2000 The Center establishes the A. Marilyn Sime Faculty Research Fellowship that provides a Center faculty member with funding to pursue research in complementary care and healing practices for up to two years.
2000 The Center launches a $10 million development campaign to support key initiatives, including faculty recruitment, the Mind Body Spirit Clinic, research and the development of innovative programs, such as The Inner Life of Healers, the Tellington Touch Research and Education Program, and the Healing Gardens.
1999 The Center establishes the nation's first Graduate Minor in Complementary Therapies and Healing Practices at the University of Minnesota Academic Health Center. Coursework includes complementary therapies and healing practices, spirituality, cross-cultural and international health.
1999 In collaboration with the schools and colleges at the Academic Health Center, the Center creates a plan to weave complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) topics into graduate and undergraduate health sciences curricula.
1999 The Center opens the Mind Body Spirit Clinic at Fairview-University Medical Center in Minneapolis, Minn., in partnership with Fairview Health Services.
1998 The Center lays the groundwork for the Graduate Minor by offering courses at the in complementary care and healing practices at the University of Minnesota.
1997 Center offers first continuing education program to regional health care professionals and practitioners in complementary care to over 350 participants.
1997 The Academic Health Center (AHC) publishes the Task Force Report, "Transforming Health Care: Integrating Complementary, Spiritual and Cross-Cultural Care." The Center's mission and vision are expanded at the direction of the AHC leadership.
1995 The Center is established with the goal of improving patient care through the integration of spirituality, cross-cultural and complementary healing practice
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