Integrative Oncology Scholars Program: A Model for Integrative Oncology Education

Oncology providers are often confronted by patients who use complementary or alternative therapies, but have limited knowledge or confidence on how to advise patients on appropriate use. Despite this, there are few opportunities for oncology providers to learn about complementary or alternative therapies, while at the same time there is a high demand for integrative oncology (IO) training. To address a gap in IO educational opportunities, and particularly for nonphysicians, we created the Integrative Oncology Scholars (IOS) Program. The program's goal is to train 100 IO leaders and facilitate partnerships between them and complementary practitioners.

Four iterations of a year-long National Cancer Institute-funded educational program that combines in-person team-based learning and eLearning to teach the evidence, application, and philosophy supporting IO.

In-person sessions take place at the University of Michigan, and eLearning is implemented using a Canvas website (Instructure, Inc., Salt Lake City, UT).

Nurses, social workers, physician assistants, psychologists, physicians, pharmacists, and physical/occupational therapists with active oncology practices. Educational intervention: Four cohorts of 25 oncology providers per year will learn the evidence base for complementary and alternative approaches to a wide number of oncology topics, including symptom control, dietary supplements commonly used by cancer patients, diet, and the utility of specific integrative approaches for common oncology side-effects such as fatigue.

A mixed methods approach will be used to evaluate overall IOS Program progress and individual scholar's impact on IO research, education, and clinical endeavors.

The first cohort of 25 IOS has been recruited and their education will begin in Summer 2018. Scholars come from 13 states and represent 23 different healthcare systems.

The IOS Program has the potential to increase the number of trained IO providers, educators, and researchers in the United States.