Integrative
medicine, the field of medicine which combines the use
of conventional and complementary techniques in reaching
health and wellness goals, is now available for pediatric patients
through the Integrative Pediatrics program at the
Jefferson-Myrna Brind Center of Integrative Medicine. Under the
guidance of a board-certified pediatrician, the program combines the
best evidence-based conventional medicine with a variety
of proven lifestyle therapies and complementary techniques for
pediatric patients from birth through 21 years.

Philadelphia, PA (PRWEB) January 29, 2012

Integrative medicine, the field of medicine which combines
the use of conventional and complementary techniques in reaching
health and wellness goals, is now available for pediatric
patients through the Integrative Pediatrics program at the
Jefferson-Myrna Brind Center of Integrative Medicine. Under the
guidance of a board-certified pediatrician, the program combines
the best evidence-based conventional medicine with a variety of
proven lifestyle therapies and complementary techniques for
pediatric patients from birth through 21 years.

Integrative Pediatrics program director and board-certified
pediatrician, Christina DiNicola, MD, FAAP, offers conventional
pediatric medicine in addition to evidence-based complementary
therapies to facilitate the natural healing process in
children and teens.

“Integrative medicine’s natural and comprehensive approach can
help young people feel better, perform better and thrive at
their fullest potential. An integrative approach acts to enhance
conventional pediatric care,” says DiNicola.

Integrative medicine “integrates” conventional medicine with
those complementary therapies for which there is high-quality
scientific evidence of safety and effectiveness. Integrative
medicine differs from alternative medicine in that alternative
medicine refers to therapies that are typically excluded by and
used in place of conventional medicine. The distinction between
the two is critical to understanding the philosophy and
approach of integrative medicine.

Dr. DiNicola works in concert with each child’s existing
pediatrician to create an integrative health plan for each
child or teen, and offers pediatric integrative medicine
consults to parents interested in healing their children
through both conventional and complementary therapies.

The Integrative Pediatrics program treats a wide range of
medical conditions, including ADD/ADHD, allergies, asthma,
behavioral and developmental concerns, digestive disturbances,
cancer care support, emotional health, eating problems, chronic
headache, sleep problems, weight management and more. Using a
whole-child approach, Dr. DiNicola also works with families to
optimize overall health for children and teens and minimize the
risk factors for future health problems. The program also
offers comprehensive consultations to expectant parents.

“We created this program to address the unique issues that most
affect children and young adults,” says Daniel Monti, MD,
medical and executive director of the Jefferson-Myrna Brind
Center of Integrative Medicine and a leader in complementary
and alternative
medicine (CAM) research and treatment.

“As with all of our programs, it is led by a board-certified
medical expert who also possesses intense training in the use
and application of CAM therapies,” adds Monti.

As a pediatrician in private practice, DiNicola found herself
becoming more curious about CAM therapies, partially brought on
by her patients. “Families were growing more curious about
alternative therapies and their use as a complement to
traditional medical care,” she says.

A rigorous two-year Fellowship in Integrative Medicine
followed. DiNicola studied as a Bravewell Scholar at the
University of Arizona College of Medicine in the Arizona Center
of Integrative Medicine under the direction of noted
integrative medicine advocate, Andrew Weil, MD. The prestigious
program is operated through the Bravewell Collaborative, a
consortium of the most notable academic centers of integrative
medicine, Jefferson among them.

Dr. DiNicola holds an undergraduate degree from Stanford
University. She received her medical degree from University of
Medicine and Dentistry-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and
completed her internship and residency at The Children’s
Hospital of Philadelphia. She is board-certified in pediatrics
and is a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Her
integrative approach considers each child or teen’s physical
health history, social and family dynamics, lifestyle,
academics, personal strengths and spiritual and emotional
health in developing a personalized, integrative prescription
for long-term wellness.

Editor’s Note: To make an appointment with Dr. DiNicola, please
call 1-800-JEFF-NOW.

Thomas Jefferson
University Hospitals

Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals (TJUH) are dedicated to
excellence in patient care, patient safety and the quality of
the healthcare experience. Consistently ranked by U.S. News
& World Report among the nation's top hospitals, Thomas
Jefferson University Hospital, established in 1825, has over
900 licensed acute care beds with major programs in a wide
range of clinical specialties. TJUH is one of the few hospitals
in the U.S. that is both a Level 1 Trauma Center and a
federally-designated regional spinal cord injury center. TJUH
patient care facilities include Jefferson Hospital for
Neuroscience, the region’s only dedicated hospital for
neuroscience, Methodist Hospital in South Philadelphia, and
additional patient care facilities throughout Pennsylvania and
New Jersey. TJUH partners with its education affiliate, Thomas
Jefferson University.

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Lee-Ann Landis
Thomas Jefferson University Hospital
215-955-2240
Email Information

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Jefferson-Myrna Brind Center of Integrative Medicine Introduces Integrative Pediatrics Program