The Institute for the Study of Integrative Healthcare is entering its sixth year with a stronger mission, new programs and more involvement on campus and in the local community.
Founded with the mission of advancing wellness through research and collaboration, the institute is partnering with integrative healthcare organizations as well as the Utica University faculty and students.
”We create collaborative relationships with local providers so that we can bring light to wellness and health practices that may be less popular remedies when people think of healthcare,” said Bethany VanBenschoten, the institute’s program manager.
She added that the institute also works with faculty and students “so that we can showcase their work and help the community learn more about other ways to get and keep themselves healthy.” The core goal is to shine light on health and wellness practices that are often not given enough attention in a traditional healthcare setting.
By supporting research and communicating with and educating students, the institute is working to promote whole-person wellness throughout the campus.
“Essentially, we use research on integrative practices to promote wellness within our community,” VanBenschoten said.
The institute started in 2019 when a team of faculty organized the university’s first Integrative healthcare conference. One year later in 2020 the Board of Trustees officially approved the institute’s bylaws, marking its official establishment. Since then the institute has grown a significant amount.
VanBenschoten said that over the past several years the institute has expanded its impact.
“We held a number of events… created and awarded our first student scholarships… and have grown our support system and leadership team significantly, even so much so that we needed to reorganize and add positions,” she said .
This fall marked a milestone for the institute. On Sept.13, the Institute hosted its third Preventive and Restorative Whole-Person Care Conference, which saw more than 200 in attendance.
“We used the Whova smart phone app to improve the attendees’ experience and access to conference materials,” VanBenschoten said.
For the first time healthcare-related student organizations were invited to showcase their work, some even volunteered or presented during the event.
Keynote panel recordings are currently being edited and will soon be available on the institute’s website.
The Integrative Provider Database (IPD) was also launched this semester as part of the recent changes. The IPD is an online resource that allows community members to locate integrative providers. This includes herbalists, massage therapists, occupational therapists, acupuncturists and others across Oneida County and nearby counties and states.
VanBenschoten said the launch came with community engagement in mind, saying “if a provider wants to be listed, or if someone uses a service that isn’t listed, we have an interest form for inclusion too.” Providers and community members can request additional listings through an online form.
Looking ahead, the Institute has several projects planned for the upcoming semester of Spring 2026. Among the many projects is the virtual event, Happy Food with Chef Kimber Dean, where a classically trained chef will guide participants in viewing food as medicine and offer tips for healthy eating, especially for college students. VanBenschoten said the event will help students think about food “as daily medicine to fuel a healthy body, as well as what tricks college students can use to find and make healthy choices.”
The institute is also developing a series of new and different interactive events and webinars. This includes the possible return of taekwondo programming.
One of the institute’s most ambitious efforts is the creation of an integrative healthcare virtual badge program. This initiative will involve a number of activities, potentially including a student wellness retreat that students can complete to earn a digital badge for their resumes.
VanBenschoten said the badge would be “something they can put on their resume to brag about in interviews,” while helping them gain “a well-rounded understanding of what integrative healthcare is and how it can supplement and compliment other healthcare modalities.” The long term goals include expanding the program into a certificate, concentration, or minor.
Students that are interested in following or participating in the upcoming events can find the institute on Facebook, Instagram or Linkedin. The website (utica.edu/integrativehealthcare) also offers information, including event recordings, lists of faculty and council members, scholarship details, and a sign up form for the quarterly newsletter. The Meridian, which is set to release its next edition on Dec. 1.
