Pediatric Integrative Medicine: Vision for the Future

Anna Esparham1, Sanghamitra M Misra, Sanghamitra Misra2

  • 1Division of Child Neurology-Headache Section, Children's Mercy Hospital, University of Missouri School of Medicine-Kansas City, Kansas City, MO 64108, USA. aeesparham@cmh.edu.

Insights

Pediatric integrative medicine (PIM) is increasingly used by children, especially those with chronic conditions. Leaders have set goals to advance PIM in research, education, and clinical practice for better child health outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Integrative Medicine
  • Pediatric Health
  • Child Health Outcomes

Background:

  • Pediatric integrative medicine (PIM) is utilized by a significant portion of pediatric patients, including up to 80% of those with chronic conditions.
  • The field has evolved over 25 years, guided by principles such as prevention, personalization, and ecological sustainability.
  • PIM approaches child health holistically, emphasizing preventive, context-centered, relationship-based, personalized, participatory, and ecologically sustainable care.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review key milestones in the evolution of Pediatric Integrative Medicine (PIM).
  • To report on PIM leadership meetings focused on assessing the field's current status and future direction.
  • To outline strategic goals for advancing PIM in research, clinical practice, education, and advocacy.

Main Methods:

  • Review of historical developments and key time points in PIM.
  • Analysis of outcomes from recent PIM leadership summits.
  • Identification of strategic goals for PIM advancement.

Main Results:

  • PIM gained academic and professional visibility in the 2000s through organizations and international networks.
  • Recent leadership summits identified critical areas for PIM growth: research, clinical practice, professional education, patient/family education, and advocacy.
  • Specific goals include expanding PIM professional education, increasing research support, and integrating PIM into routine pediatric care.

Conclusions:

  • Pediatric integrative medicine (PIM) has a growing patient base and a defined set of guiding principles.
  • Strategic planning by PIM leaders has established clear objectives for future development.
  • Advancing PIM requires focused efforts in research, education, clinical integration, and policy/partnerships to improve pediatric care.

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