The mission of LEAPS into IM is to enhance the leadership skills and knowledge base of future health leaders in Integrative Medicine. Integrative Medicine is uniquely qualified to assist patients to reach a place of healing in the face of chronic disease. Individuals with chronic disease and others who have interest in prevention and wellness are increasingly engaging in alternative, complementary, holistic, spiritual and traditional ways of healing. They are an important part of an Integrative Medicine approach to health and healing. Integrative Medicine places the patient as the center of the health care team and utilizes the patient's entire life narrative when considering health outcomes.
History of LEAPS
LEAPS evolved from the former AMSA Foundation- and NIH grant-sponsored Educational Development in Complementary and Alternative Medicine (EDCAM) Leadership Training Program (LTP) held at the Omega Institute, beginning in 2003. The Leadership Training Program (LTP) of EDCAM was a weeklong summer program designed to foster the development of future leaders of the CAM/Integrative Medicine movement. Through a rigorous application process, 20 of the most aspiring medical student leaders from across the country gathered together.
To date, more than 200 medical students have enriched their medical education and indeed, careers and lives of their patients, by attending this pivotal training program. Past attendees have said that it helped them to believe in medicine and healing again, and gave them a sense of community and purpose in their medical careers. In 2010, through the collaboration of AMSA, Kripalu, the University of Connecticut School of Medicine and the Academic Consortium for Integrative Medicine and Health, this inspiring program was re-launched as LEAPS.
Student leaders from across North America will be selected to participate in this intensive weeklong retreat led by the Academic Consortium for Integrative Medicine and Health and the Old Mission San Luis Rey.
If you missed the application deadline for 2023 stay tuned for more information about LEAPS 2024!