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Changing demographic, social, economic and technological trends have impacted the expectations of the Academic Health Center in preparing physicians to serve the needs of the American society, resulting in revisions to current curricula. In addition to the traditional basic sciences and clinical disciplines, accredited medical schools are required to provide curriculum exposure in behavioral health, communication skills, diversity and cultural awareness, ethics, evidence-based medicine, geriatrics, integrative medicine, pain management, palliative care, public health, socio-economic dynamics, and domestic violence. These themes are considered 'cross-cutting' since it is recognized these important curricular components apply across all years of medical school. In this article, the authors describe a strategic model developed at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine (UNMSOM) to integrate horizontally and vertically 12 cross-cutting themes as an evolving interdisciplinary curriculum reform process. These areas were defined through a combination of internal self-study, external requirements, and student and faculty interest. In the early stage of use of this model at UNMSOM, the authors describe the new cross-cutting themes that have been integrated. Minimal disruption and a spirit of cooperation and acceptance have characterized the curricular change that has been required. Preliminary assessment indicates that the program has been successful.

This parallel-group, randomized controlled pilot study examined daily meditation in a diverse sample of older adults with postherpetic neuralgia. Block randomization was used to allocate participants to a treatment group (n = 13) or control group (n = 14). In addition to usual care, the treatment group practiced daily meditation for six weeks. All participants completed questionnaires at enrollment in the study, two weeks later, and six weeks after that, at the study’s end. Participants recorded daily pain and fatigue levels in a diary, and treatment participants also noted meditation practice. Results at the .10 level indicated improvement in neuropathic, affective, and total pain scores for the treatment group, whereas affective pain worsened for the control group. Participants were able to adhere to the daily diary and meditation requirements in this feasibility pilot study.

Comprehensive cultural competency includes knowledge and awareness of culturally based healing and wellness practices. Healthcare providers should be aware of the individual patient's beliefs, culture, and use of culturally based health practices because patients may adopt such practices for general wellness or as adjunct therapies without the benefit of discussion with their healthcare provider. This article describes the culturally based traditional healing curriculum that has been implemented in the University of New Mexico Public Health and General Preventive Medicine Residency Program in order to fulfill this knowledge necessity. Curricular elements were added in a stepwise manner starting in 2011, with the full content as described implemented starting in 2013. Data were collected annually with evaluation of the full curriculum occurring in 2015. New Mexico has a diverse population base that includes predominantly Hispanic and Native American cultures, making the inclusion of curriculum regarding traditional healing practices very pertinent. Residents at the University of New Mexico were educated through several curricular components about topics such as Curanderismo, the art of Mexican Folk Healing. An innovative approach was used, with a compendium of training methods that included learning directly from traditional healers and participation in healing practices. The incorporation of this residency curriculum resulted in a means to produce physicians well trained in approaching patient care and population health with knowledge of culturally based health practices in order to facilitate healthy patients and communities.

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