The University of Minnesota’s Center for Spirituality & Healing enriches health and wellbeing by providing exemplary interprofessional education, conducting rigorous research, delivering innovative engagement programs and advancing integrative models of care.
We are pioneers in forging new paths for interprofessional education and research and work toward breaking down silos and crossing disciplinary boundaries. Our diverse faculty – experts drawn from the University and the community – are passionate about broadening their students’ worldviews and helping them succeed in interprofessional, team-based environments.
Led by founder and director Mary Jo Kreitzer, PhD, RN, FAAN, the Center’s work helps create well-educated, collaborative healthcare professionals who provide whole person care, conduct cutting-edge research that helps to drive the economic engine that is Minnesota's health industry, and ultimately, work toward healthier families and communities.
With nearly two decades of experience in interprofessional healthcare innovation, we play a pivotal role in improving the health and wellbeing of people, organizations, and communities, and are viewed by many as an important catalyst and convener in healthcare.
Our Interest in Interprofessional Practice and Education:
The Center for Spirituality & Healing is a unique and comprehensive interdisciplinary center that is fully aligned with the mission and vision of the University of Minnesota and the Academic Health Center. Our interprofessional collaborators at the University of Minnesota have included the School of Nursing, the Medical School, the College of Design, the School of Public Health, the Carlson School of Management, the School of Dentistry, Veterinary Medicine, the College of Continuing Education and more.
Our academic offerings and community engagement opportunities create valuable interprofessional learning opportunities for students.
Illustrative of our commitment to partnership, in 2004, the Center was awarded a NIH Center grant (Developmental Center for Research in Complementary and Alternative Medicine) that included a collaboration with Bastyr University in Kenmore, Washington. Pillsbury House, an integrative medicine student clinic, is a community collaboration between the Center, the School of Nursing, Northwestern Health Sciences University and the Adler Institute, and is another example of our interprofessional work.
Signature Programs and Activities:
The Center for Spirituality & Healing offers an extraordinary array of educational topics in integrative healing and wellbeing. Our academic courses expose students to a world of diverse cross-cultural healing and spiritual practices, and help deepen the understanding of integrative healthcare perspectives.
We teach more than 50 academic courses, many of which are online. These courses include Introduction to Integrative Health and Healing, Fundamentals of Lifestyle Medicine, Optimal Healing Environments, Botanical Medicines in Integrative Healthcare, Coaching for Chronic Health Conditions, and many more.
Most of our courses fall under one of the following program areas:
- Arts and Healing
- Health Coaching
- Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction
- Nature-Based Therapeutics
- Tibetan Healing Initiative
- Whole Systems Healing
Additionally, the Center partners with the School of Nursing to offer the nation’s first Doctorate of Nursing Practice in Integrative Health and Healing. The Center also offers a variety of free online learning modules for health professionals, a graduate minor, and a graduate certificate in integrative therapies and healing practices.
Taking Charge of Your Health & Wellbeing, a consumer website that provides information for the general public about creating a healthy lifestyle, exploring alternative and integrative healing practices, and navigating the healthcare system, was created through a partnership of the Center and Charlson Meadows.