Integrative Health Care, BS, Degree Information
The Integrative Health Care (IHC) major at Metropolitan State University of Denver is an interdisciplinary program that integrates health sciences with ancient healing practices from around the globe. The program draws from disciplines such as health education services, health care management, biology, chemistry, and nutrition. Students examine the diverse factors that impinge on an individual’s health and well-being. This degree gave me the dedication I needed to strive toward making a positive impact on the world as a whole. As global citizens, and by utilizing the knowledge gained in this program, students learn the importance of working to create a world where everyone has access to the health care services they need.
Capstone Internship & Presentation
The purpose of this internship is to identify one’s core values and their relationship to personal vocational and leadership goals, while demonstrate oral communication skills through an engaging capstone presentation. In this experience, I built a capstone presentation that highlights and integrates my educational experience in the IHC program. My capstone was presented at the Impact & Innovation Showcase on November 11th, 2016. Through the internship I also created a digital story using iMovie software that presented my study abroad trip to India. (To view the digital story and learn more about my study abroad in India see my life experience page). Overall, this internship expanded my technology skills and helped me strengthen my already existing public speaking and writing skills; elements that I want to incorporate into my career.
Watch My Capstone Prestentation
The first portion of the video is emcee, Kyra DeGruy, introducing what a capstone presentation is and then introducing me. To watch only my portion of the presentation skip to 2:51.
Wilderness Therapy Research Paper
This paper discusses the practicality that wilderness therapy and other nature-based therapies are an effective, justifiable and viable form of therapeutic treatment for people of all age groups with an abundance of diagnoses. It will also define the process and application of wilderness therapy in both traditional and expanded explanations so that an audience less familiar to the treatment can understand its practice. The critical components of wilderness therapy that advocate healing will be discussed as well as the aspects of nature that have been clinically proven to affect the brain and body. The negative effects from the developing technological age will be examined to back the claim that nature heals. Personal stories from a survivor of sexual assault, a teacher of emotionally disturbed boys and an alcoholic with mental disorders of depression and anxiety will reveal the success of this treatment modality.
finalresearchproject_.pdf | |
File Size: | 157 kb |
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Health Care Research Methods
I this course I examined the research process, research terminology and the role of research as a tool for understanding and improving financing, delivery, and management in health care organizations. I critiqued relevant research articles, explored sources of funding for research projects, and apply this knowledge to health care management projects by creating my own research proposal.
Abstract
Several decades ago wilderness therapy developed as a contemporary form of therapy. Wilderness therapy has shown evidence to be an advantageous healing approach to individuals afflicted by mood disorders, substance abuse disorders, behavioral disorders and anxiety disorders (Russell, 2001). This study will attempt to determine what are the elements of wilderness therapy that provide healing and therapeutic results and will attempt to replicate these elements of wilderness in urban settings to discover if the same therapeutic benefits obtained in rural wilderness settings can be obtained in replicated urban settings. Although people can find therapeutic and counseling benefits in both rural wilderness and urban city environments, I hypothesize that the benefits offered by rural wilderness environments will be substantially more therapeutic than from urban areas. The wilderness therapy industry is a relatively new field and has been predominantly funded by private, and non-profit generating companies; in the interest of the growing progression of the field, the need for a greater comprehension that the role wilderness plays in creating therapeutic outcomes will lead to the development of this unique form of therapy (Rutko & Gillespie, 2013). Methods: I will identify and analyze the wilderness aspects of 50 wilderness therapy specific programs within Colorado. There will be a subset sample of all the clients or patients in wilderness therapy groups within Colorado willing to participate in the replicated wilderness therapy in urban settings. Participants will engage in the replicated wilderness therapy activities and the resulting healing characteristics will be identified. Understanding nature and its role in facilitating healing and growth will lead to a greater appreciation of nature and the responsibility we as humans have to its preservation.
Several decades ago wilderness therapy developed as a contemporary form of therapy. Wilderness therapy has shown evidence to be an advantageous healing approach to individuals afflicted by mood disorders, substance abuse disorders, behavioral disorders and anxiety disorders (Russell, 2001). This study will attempt to determine what are the elements of wilderness therapy that provide healing and therapeutic results and will attempt to replicate these elements of wilderness in urban settings to discover if the same therapeutic benefits obtained in rural wilderness settings can be obtained in replicated urban settings. Although people can find therapeutic and counseling benefits in both rural wilderness and urban city environments, I hypothesize that the benefits offered by rural wilderness environments will be substantially more therapeutic than from urban areas. The wilderness therapy industry is a relatively new field and has been predominantly funded by private, and non-profit generating companies; in the interest of the growing progression of the field, the need for a greater comprehension that the role wilderness plays in creating therapeutic outcomes will lead to the development of this unique form of therapy (Rutko & Gillespie, 2013). Methods: I will identify and analyze the wilderness aspects of 50 wilderness therapy specific programs within Colorado. There will be a subset sample of all the clients or patients in wilderness therapy groups within Colorado willing to participate in the replicated wilderness therapy in urban settings. Participants will engage in the replicated wilderness therapy activities and the resulting healing characteristics will be identified. Understanding nature and its role in facilitating healing and growth will lead to a greater appreciation of nature and the responsibility we as humans have to its preservation.
research_proposal.pdf | |
File Size: | 191 kb |
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poster_presentation.pptx | |
File Size: | 880 kb |
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Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM)
This course is designed to acquaint students with a variety of nontraditional health and healing modalities used in the United States and around the world today. It provides the basis for understanding the mechanisms and principles by which therapeutic responses are produced. I was required to develop and present a report related to a specific therapeutic modality, my choice was on herbal medicine. During this course we used critical thinking skills, research skills, and written communication skills to perform therapy critiques on certain modalities to develop our knowledge surrounding evidence based modalities. One of my critiques was on the well know North American herb, echinacea.
critiqueechinacea.pdf | |
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Earth Medicine: a Personalized Guide to Plants that Heal
During my herbal medicine course, I was introduced to the elaborate and ever changing world of plant medicine. The class reviewed the history of herb use, Federal Drug Administration regulation, herb preparations, and potential actions of plant chemicals in the body. For each bodily system I gained insight into the herbs traditionally used to benefit that system and to modulate specific ailments, including summary statements of scientific evidence for efficacy and safety. An immense accomplishment in this course was my creation of a 116-page book designed for personal use based on the concept of a materia medica. My book includes over fifty different native North America plant species and their therapeutic properties along with colored drawings and pictures.
Women’s Holistic Health
This course gave me an in-depth, holistic approach to women’s health. While highlighting new research findings, I also explored the optimal integration of conventional medicine and complementary modalities for common women’s health concerns. Through a two-part project incorporating critical thinking, writing and presentation skill I deepened my awareness of tools women can utilize to maintain health and prevent illness.
sexualityresearchpaper.pdf | |
File Size: | 71 kb |
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sexualitybrocher.pdf | |
File Size: | 2606 kb |
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Health Society & The Environment
This course examined the reciprocal relationship between human social organization and the natural environment. Through course work, lectures and readings I gained a deeper understanding of how this relationship affects human health. Furthermore, I learned to consider individual health challenges in the context of imbalances in personal, social, and environmental health. This was one of the most enriching and meaning courses for me.
final_paper.pdf | |
File Size: | 38 kb |
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Rocky Flats Downwinders Activism Project
The Rocky Flats US Nuclear Weapons Plant, located just miles away from downtown Denver, was in operation from 1952 to 1989. Rocky Flats manufactured the plutonium pits, also know as the trigger’s for nuclear warheads during the Cold War Era. Although it has been over two decades since the closure of the plant, the contamination from nuclear waste remaining at the site poses an imminent health threat to the residents of the Denver metro area. The need to maintain public awareness of the Rocky Flats contamination remains relevant today, given the half-life of plutonium exceeds 24,000 years. Students of the Creating Change in Integrative Health course at Metropolitan University of Denver have formed a collaborative partnership with the Rocky Flats Downwinders (RFD) organization to support continued efforts to advocate for the past, present and future residents living near the nuclear weapons plant.
In this class my group developed and launched a community health survey on former residents downwind of Rocky Flats. For my contribution to this project I organized, coordinated and marketed a documentary screening for the film, Downwinders. I also organized and emceed a panel of experts on this topic to speak at the event.
In this class my group developed and launched a community health survey on former residents downwind of Rocky Flats. For my contribution to this project I organized, coordinated and marketed a documentary screening for the film, Downwinders. I also organized and emceed a panel of experts on this topic to speak at the event.