August 2017—We are pleased to announce that, after an extensive selection process, Southern California University of Health Sciences (SCU) has been chosen to house the Academic Collaborative for Integrative Health (ACIH).
While many strong universities submitted proposals vying for the opportunity, SCU was chosen because of its wide variety of professional degree and certificate program offerings—many of which are a part of ACIH’s core membership, and on the merits of its commitment to co-creating the future of healthcare through interprofessional education.
As a leader in evidence-based, interprofessional education, SCU’s mission to educate students as competent, caring, and successful integrative and healthcare practitioners is in direct alignment with ACIH’s mission to enhance health by cultivating partnerships and advancing interprofessional education and collaborative practice.
Although ACIH’s offices will be housed on SCU’s campus, the organization will remain independent, with an independent Board. Many universities house independent nonprofits that are aligned with their vision and mission.
The decision to be housed at SCU marks a full-circle, “coming home” moment for ACIH—as the organization held its first meeting on SCU’s campus in 2004. The university has worked with and supported ACIH since its inception, and will continue work as partners to support the organization. SCU’s faculty are engaged with ACIH working groups and SCU’s President, John Scaringe will act as the main liaison with the ACIH Executive Director, who will be the main person housed on the campus.
“On behalf of our faculty, staff, students, and Board of Regents, I am pleased to welcome ACIH to our campus. I have personally been involved with the organization for years, and I feel strongly that the ACIH Executive Director will immediately feel at home on our campus as the organization’s collaborative mission complements SCU and our culture,” says John Scaringe.
Source: Southern California University of Health Sciences