| Helene M. Langevin, M.D.
June 10, 2024
I am proud of the progress that the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) has made, taking distinct steps toward supporting the health of the whole person. Not only did we prioritize whole person health within NCCIH by incorporating it into our strategic plan, but we have also taken the lead in engaging colleagues within the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and stakeholders outside of NIH to encourage a wider conversation on integrating a whole person approach into research. Additionally, we defined a framework for discussion and fostered the necessary work to develop research methods that support increasingly complex studies on whole person health.Â
Now, I am excited to announce a new endeavor that will help to engage patients, health care professionals, and researchers, called the NCCIH Coalition for Whole Person Health (the Coalition). This independent coalition of nonprofit organizations will allow interested stakeholders to coalesce under a common umbrella to discuss challenges and opportunities in the research field related to delivering whole person care to individuals. The Coalition will represent perspectives of patients, communities, and professionals about the importance of whole person research, interprofessional collaboration, and keeping people and patients at the center of the conversation. | 