Education at OHSU

Integrative Medicine

We are committed to an integrative approach that supports all aspects of your health and wellness, including mental, emotional, physical, social, spiritual, intellectual, environmental and other components. 

We offer: 

What is integrative medicine?

Integrative medicine is the practice of medicine, informed by evidence, which takes account of the whole person. It addresses physical, emotional, mental, social, and environmental influences on health and makes use of all appropriate therapies and disciplines to achieve optimal health.

Defining principles of integrative medicine:

  • The patient and clinician are partners in the healing process.
  • All factors that influence health, wellness, and disease are taken into consideration.
  • Appropriate use of both conventional and alternative methods facilitates the body's innate healing response.
  • Effective interventions that are natural and/or less invasive should be used when possible. Integrative medicine neither rejects conventional medicine nor accepts alternative therapies uncritically.
  • Good medicine is based on good science. It is inquiry-driven and open to new paradigms.
  • Alongside the concept of treatment, the broader concepts of health promotion and the prevention of illness are paramount.

Massage

Massage is back! Starting Thursday, July 21st, OHSU students are eligible to schedule 1 free 45-minute massage with our new massage therapist, Laurie Shepard, LMT! Laurie will be providing massages on Thursdays from 3-7 pm and Fridays from 1-5 pm.

Free massages are only for OHSU students; dependents and post-doctoral scholars are not eligible at this time.

Questions or ready to schedule?

Call Student Health and Wellness at 503-494-8665, option 1 to schedule your free 45-minute massage. Or, email SHW@ohsu.edu for more information.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture is an important component of traditional Chinese Medicine that continues to be a topic of modern clinical research and practice. It involves the insertion of extremely thin, sterile needles at specific points along the body. In the U.S., acupuncture has most commonly been used in the treatment of various kinds of musculoskeletal pain. Both the National Institute of Health and the World Health Organization recommends the use of acupuncture for many conditions.

At Student Health, acupuncture services are available to help you manage stress, anxiety, depression, insomnia, pain, digestive disorders, headaches, gynecological concerns, and many other health issues. Our acupuncture services are integrated into our primary care department so that each patient receives the best of both allopathic/Western Medicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine.

How to Schedule:

  • If you have the Student Health Insurance Plan or are paying out of pocket: Call us at 503.494.8665, Option 1 to make an appointment. 
  • If you would like to use insurance other than the SHIP: You will need a referral from a provider.  If you are already an established patient at Student Health, you can call or send a MyChart message to your clinician with a referral request.  If you are not established, please call Student Health to schedule an office visit with one of our primary care clinicians.
  • If you have already been seen for acupuncture and are scheduling a return visit with the same provider: You can call our office or schedule online using MyChart.

Cost for Acupuncture:

  1. If you have the PacificSource Student Health Insurance Plan: 100% covered, with no out of pocket cost to you
  2. If you have other insurance:
    1. We can bill your insurance, which may or may not cover all or part of your visit.  You would be responsible for any copays or deductibles.  You may need to see a provider first to get a referral for acupuncture, depending on your insurance.  When a Student Health provider makes an acupuncture referral, it is processed through managed care to determine your insurance coverage for acupuncture.
    2. You can opt to self-pay at the discounted rate of $35 per visit.

Mindfulness and Meditation

We all know how to take our bodies on a vacation, but do we know how to give our minds a break?  In mindfulness workshops, we will practice how to unwind and let our minds settle into a relaxed but focused state. Each session will focus on simple and easy techniques to calm the mind and relax the body. The pressures of school and work can seem overwhelming, but learning how to relax in a mindful way can help us let go of the stress and work more effectively in our daily lives.

We offer a variety of ways for students and postdoctoral scholars to learn and practice mindfulness. These include:

  • Mindfulness workshops or other wellness presentations by request, such as for classes or student groups. Email our Wellness and Outreach Program Manager to discuss options or schedule.
  • Individual mindfulness coaching sessions with Student Health's Wellness and Outreach Program Manager. Please see the handout for more information. Call our front desk at 503-494-8665, option 1 to schedule.
  • Visit our Wellness webpage for more details on mindfulness and other wellness offerings

Cost: Free