Embracing Systems Change to Move Healthcare and Healing Forward

John Weeks is a writer, speaker, organizer and teacher of integrative health and medicine. In 2014, John received the Lifetime Achievement Living Tribute Award for his influential work in the field of integrative health. He is the publisher-editor of The Integrator Blog News & Reports, which since 1995 has created primary connective terrain for the diverse stakeholders and professions in the field. In 2016, John was selected to serve as the editor-in-chief of The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine-Paradigm, Practice and Policy Advancing Integrative Health.

In today’s episode, host Shay Beider welcomes John to talk about integrative medicine and how we can improve healthcare by shifting the language surrounding the system. He explains how we need to move from evidence-based to evidence-informed medicine to embrace the ambiguity surrounding research. John shares his personal experience battling cancer, and how story medicine can be a useful tool to help support a healing journey. 

Transcripts for this episode are available at: https://www.integrativetouch.org/conversations-on-healing 

Show Notes:

This podcast was created by Integrative Touch for Kids (ITK). ITK is working to change the way people experience healthcare. ITK supports families whose children have any type of special health or medical need. This includes kids with cancers, genetic conditions, autism, cerebral palsy, traumatic stress, and other serious health issues. We have pioneered a new therapy called Integrative Touch™ and reach 3500 people each year in the hospital and community settings. We engage communities in support of families struggling with special medical needs and offer unique Telehealth programs to families and healthcare providers during this challenging time. Thanks to the incredible support of our volunteers and contributors, individuals are able to receive our healing services at little or no cost.