Florida Atlantic University's $6M Investment to Transform Integrative Health Initiatives
Florida Atlantic University (FAU) has recently been awarded a significant $6 million grant from the late philanthropist Bernie Marcus and The Marcus Foundation. This funding is intended to enhance the services of the FAU Marcus Institute of Integrative Health, which is poised to become a national leader in the field of integrative medicine. With this new influx of resources, the institute plans to broaden its educational initiatives and community wellness programs, ultimately aiming to create a comprehensive model for integrative health that addresses the well-being of the entire community.
This grant pushes the total contributions from The Marcus Foundation to over $10 million since the establishment of the FAU Marcus Institute of Integrative Health in 2019. This funding has allowed the institute to develop cutting-edge patient care models, innovative education and robust community outreach efforts, all while reshaping the healthcare landscape in South Florida and beyond.
The FAU Marcus Institute, under the direction of Branson J. Collins, M.D., has made significant advancements in various programs, including integrative pain management strategies and precision image-guided injection therapies, which are designed to help individuals suffering from chronic pain, sports injuries, and mental health issues. The institute’s strong focus on blending traditional medicine with alternative health strategies demonstrates a commitment to creating a holistic healthcare system that directly meets the needs of patients.
In a statement, FAU President Stacy Volnick expressed gratitude for The Marcus Foundation’s vital support. She highlighted how this latest grant allows FAU to enhance its service quality and make substantial contributions to the national dialogue on integrative health practices, therefore benefitting a large population of approximately 3.2 million individuals in the surrounding area.
Situated within the Galen Medical Building in Boca Raton, this grant will enable the institute to expand both its operational capacity and research initiatives. The funded expansion plan includes a range of new services such as diagnostic musculoskeletal ultrasounds, intravenous sedation, tai chi instruction, nutritional coaching, and functional movement therapies. This three-tiered approach prioritizes high-quality care, ensuring positive patient outcomes while facilitating a comprehensive range of healing options.
President of The Marcus Foundation, Jay Kaiman, noted how Bernie Marcus has always advocated for the integration of traditional and alternative solutions within modern healthcare. He emphasized that this expansion will enable the institute to support more individuals seeking innovative health solutions.
Additionally, the FAU Marcus Institute has developed a comprehensive telemedicine model, allowing it to extend its integrative health services to patients nationwide. Their accelerated healing program, which combines metabolic health optimization with image-guided injection therapies, has already garnered attention from professional athletes, positioning FAU as a potential national healthcare destination. Notably, a pilot initiative utilizing ultrasound-guided stellate ganglion blocks for PTSD treatment has achieved considerable success, indicating the potential for this approach to be scaled for wider application.
Dr. Collins elaborated on the significance of their approach for addressing PTSD, stating that the use of ultrasound-guided stellate ganglion blocks is showing promise in alleviating symptoms and offering patients renewed hope. FAU intends to prioritize this treatment within the framework of integrative health to overcome the limitations often associated with conventional therapies.
The partnership with Jefferson Health also stands out, as it will enable at least two FAU doctors to enroll in the Integrative Medicine Fellowship program over the next several years, culminating in board certification in integrative medicine through the American Board of Integrative Medicine. This collaboration supports educational excellence and allows further training opportunities in mind-body medicine and integrative nutrition.
Community engagement remains a cornerstone of the FAU Marcus Institute's mission, with plans to conduct over 52 nutritional classes aimed at reaching 1,500 participants and 150 integrative health sessions with the goal of engaging 1,800 individuals annually. The institute aims to involve 1,000 students in its programs and host 50 retreats focused on veterans’ health support.
Dr. Jennifer Caceres, acting dean of FAU's Schmidt College of Medicine, emphasized that this generous support from The Marcus Foundation has led to the successful completion of various community events and initiatives. Their first cohort of medical students has already earned their certificates in integrative health, showcasing the effectiveness of the implemented curriculum. Moving forward, the FAU Marcus Institute remains dedicated to fostering an integrative health model characterized by clinical excellence and patient-centric care aimed at promoting resilience and recovery through innovative health solutions.
This grant pushes the total contributions from The Marcus Foundation to over $10 million since the establishment of the FAU Marcus Institute of Integrative Health in 2019. This funding has allowed the institute to develop cutting-edge patient care models, innovative education and robust community outreach efforts, all while reshaping the healthcare landscape in South Florida and beyond.
The FAU Marcus Institute, under the direction of Branson J. Collins, M.D., has made significant advancements in various programs, including integrative pain management strategies and precision image-guided injection therapies, which are designed to help individuals suffering from chronic pain, sports injuries, and mental health issues. The institute’s strong focus on blending traditional medicine with alternative health strategies demonstrates a commitment to creating a holistic healthcare system that directly meets the needs of patients.
In a statement, FAU President Stacy Volnick expressed gratitude for The Marcus Foundation’s vital support. She highlighted how this latest grant allows FAU to enhance its service quality and make substantial contributions to the national dialogue on integrative health practices, therefore benefitting a large population of approximately 3.2 million individuals in the surrounding area.
Situated within the Galen Medical Building in Boca Raton, this grant will enable the institute to expand both its operational capacity and research initiatives. The funded expansion plan includes a range of new services such as diagnostic musculoskeletal ultrasounds, intravenous sedation, tai chi instruction, nutritional coaching, and functional movement therapies. This three-tiered approach prioritizes high-quality care, ensuring positive patient outcomes while facilitating a comprehensive range of healing options.
President of The Marcus Foundation, Jay Kaiman, noted how Bernie Marcus has always advocated for the integration of traditional and alternative solutions within modern healthcare. He emphasized that this expansion will enable the institute to support more individuals seeking innovative health solutions.
Additionally, the FAU Marcus Institute has developed a comprehensive telemedicine model, allowing it to extend its integrative health services to patients nationwide. Their accelerated healing program, which combines metabolic health optimization with image-guided injection therapies, has already garnered attention from professional athletes, positioning FAU as a potential national healthcare destination. Notably, a pilot initiative utilizing ultrasound-guided stellate ganglion blocks for PTSD treatment has achieved considerable success, indicating the potential for this approach to be scaled for wider application.
Dr. Collins elaborated on the significance of their approach for addressing PTSD, stating that the use of ultrasound-guided stellate ganglion blocks is showing promise in alleviating symptoms and offering patients renewed hope. FAU intends to prioritize this treatment within the framework of integrative health to overcome the limitations often associated with conventional therapies.
The partnership with Jefferson Health also stands out, as it will enable at least two FAU doctors to enroll in the Integrative Medicine Fellowship program over the next several years, culminating in board certification in integrative medicine through the American Board of Integrative Medicine. This collaboration supports educational excellence and allows further training opportunities in mind-body medicine and integrative nutrition.
Community engagement remains a cornerstone of the FAU Marcus Institute's mission, with plans to conduct over 52 nutritional classes aimed at reaching 1,500 participants and 150 integrative health sessions with the goal of engaging 1,800 individuals annually. The institute aims to involve 1,000 students in its programs and host 50 retreats focused on veterans’ health support.
Dr. Jennifer Caceres, acting dean of FAU's Schmidt College of Medicine, emphasized that this generous support from The Marcus Foundation has led to the successful completion of various community events and initiatives. Their first cohort of medical students has already earned their certificates in integrative health, showcasing the effectiveness of the implemented curriculum. Moving forward, the FAU Marcus Institute remains dedicated to fostering an integrative health model characterized by clinical excellence and patient-centric care aimed at promoting resilience and recovery through innovative health solutions.
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