Victoria Maizes
- Founding Executive Director, Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine
- Professor, Medicine - (Clinical Scholar Track)
- Professor, Public Health
- Professor, Family and Community Medicine - (Clinical Scholar Track)
- (520) 621-6807
- Alvernon Admin Offices, Rm. 120A
- Tucson, AZ 85724
- vmaizes@arizona.edu
Biography
Dr. Victoria Maizes is the Executive Director of the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine, and a Professor of Medicine, Family and Community Medicine, and Public Health at the University of Arizona.
Dr. Maizes is internationally recognized as a leader in integrative medicine. She stewarded the growth of the Program in Integrative Medicine from a small program educating four residential fellows per year to a Center of Excellence training over 800 fellows and residents annually. She was responsible for developing the Center's curriculum in integrative medicine and pioneered multiple educational innovations including Integrative Medicine in Residency, a national model for educating primary care physicians that is used at 74 residencies across the US and Canada, and the Integrative Health and Lifestyle Program for allied health professionals.
As founding education co-chair of the Consortium of Academic Health Centers for Integrative Medicine, Dr. Maizes led a team of educators to create objectives for medical students in integrative medicine. Together with her team at the University of Arizona Center, collaborating partners, and a cooperative agreement with HRSA she is developing interprofessional meta-competencies and an online curriculum in integrative health.
Dr. Maizes is passionately committed to helping individuals live healthier lives and pioneering change efforts that solve US health care system problems. In addition to the national educational programs, she led a team to develop an innovative, integrative primary care clinical model, and is carrying out research to assess the clinical and cost effectiveness of integrative care.
Dr. Maizes graduated from Barnard College of Columbia University, received her MD from the University of California, San Francisco, completed her residency in Family Medicine at the University of Missouri, Columbia, and her Fellowship in Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona.
Dr. Maizes is the co-editor of Integrative Women’s Health (Oxford University Press 2015, 2nd edition)and the author of Be Fruitful: The Essential Guide to Maximizing Fertility and Giving Birth to a Healthy Child (Scribner 2013). She lectures worldwide to academic and community audiences on integrative medical education, women's health, nutrition, environmental issues, cancer, and healthy aging. In 2009, Dr. Maizes was named one of the world’s 25 intelligent optimists by ODE magazine.
Degrees
- Fellowship Program in Integrative Medicine
- University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, United States
- Residency Family and Community Medicine
- University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, United States
- M.D.
- University of California, School of Medicine, San Francisco, California, United States
- B.A.
- Barnard College, Columbia University, New York, New York, United States
Work Experience
- University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona (2010 - Ongoing)
- Program in Integrative Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Arizona (2001 - Ongoing)
Interests
No activities entered.
Courses
No activities entered.
Scholarly Contributions
Books
- Maizes, V. (2015). Integrative Women’s Health (Weil Integrative Medicine Libary) 2nd Edition. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.More infoIntegrative Women's Health remains the only in-depth, broad-based reference on integrative women's health written for health professionals. It helps providers address not only women's reproductive health, but also conditions that manifest differently in women than in men, including cardiovascular disease, arthritis, HIV, depression, and cancer. The text presents the best evidence, in a clinically relevant manner, for the safe and effective use of herbs, vitamins, diet, and mind-body strategies alongside conventional medical treatments. As leading educators in integrative medicine, editors Dr. Maizes and Dr. Low Dog demonstrate how clinicians can implement their recommendations in practice, going beyond practical care to examine how to motivate patients, enhance a health history, and understand the spiritual dimensions of healing. In managing the patient, alternative therapies are never seen as substitutes for mainstream medical care, but always "integrated" into the overall regimen, and always subjected to the best available evidence. New to this second edition are chapters on environmental medicine and women's reproduction, thyroid health, and lesbian health.
Chapters
- Maizes, V. (2016). Integrative Medicine: The Treatment of Choice for Pain Management. In Integrative Pain Management(pp 37-46). New York, NY: Oxford University Press.
- Alschuler, L., Maizes, V., & Low Dog, T. (2010). Cervical Cancer. In Integrative Women's Health(p. 720). Oxford University Press.
Journals/Publications
- Yuan, N. P., Brooks, A. J., Burke, M. K., Crocker, R., Stoner, G. M., Cook, P., Chen, M. K., Bautista, J., Petralba, P., Whitewater, S., & Maizes, V. (2022). My Wellness Coach: evaluation of a mobile app designed to promote integrative health among underserved populations. Translational behavioral medicine.More infoUnderserved populations, including those from racial and ethnic groups and with low socioeconomic status, often lack access to mobile apps aimed at reducing health risk factors. This study evaluated the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effectiveness of the mobile app, My Wellness Coach (MWC), designed to promote behavior change in seven core areas of integrative health among underserved populations. Patients and staff were recruited from clinic and other settings. Some participants used MWC in a weekly group setting (n = 5); others on their own with support from a coordinator (n = 36). Health outcomes were assessed at baseline and 3 months. Mobile app ratings were collected at 5 weeks and 3 months. Goal setting data were analyzed at 3 months. Most participants (76%) set at least one goal, 71% created action steps for goals, and 29% completed a goal. Patients in the group setting had the highest rate of goal completion (60%) compared to patients (20%) and staff (27%) using the app on their own. Significant (p < .05) changes in pre- and post-test scores were documented for overall wellbeing, global physical health, BMI, vigorous physical activity, and eHealth literacy. Most participants (75%-91%) gave MWC high ratings for impact on behavior change, help seeking, intent to change, attitudes, knowledge, and awareness. This study documented preliminary evidence of the potential benefits of MWC among underserved communities. Future evaluations of Spanish and Android versions and comparisons between group and individual administration will inform implementation strategies for scaling MWC-based interventions to reach underserved communities nationally.
- Alschuler, L. N., Weil, A. T., Maizes, V., Horwitz, R. J., Chiasson, A. M., Crocker, R. L., & Sternberg, E. M. (2020). Integrative medicine considerations for convalescence from mild-to- moderate COVID-19 disease. Explore, 1-9. doi:doi.org/10.1016/j.explore.2020.12.005More infoThe majority of individuals infected with SARS-CoV-2 have mild-to-moderate COVID-19 disease. Convalescence from mild-to-moderate (MtoM) COVID-19 disease may be supported by integrative medicine strategies. Integrative Medicine (IM) is defined as healing-oriented medicine that takes account of the whole person, including all aspects of lifestyle. Integrative medicine strategies that may support recovery from MtoM COVID-19 are proposed given their clinically studied effects in related conditions. Adoption of an anti-inflammatory diet, supplementation with vitamin D, glutathione, melatonin, Cordyceps, Astragalus and garlic have potential utility. Osteopathic manipulation, Qigong, breathing exercises and aerobic exercise may support pulmonary recovery. Stress reduction, environmental optimization, creative expression and aromatherapy can provide healing support and minimize enduring trauma. These modalities would benefit from clinical trials in people recovering from COVID-19 infection.
- Alschuler, L., Weil, A. T., Horwitz, R. J., Stamets, P., Chiasson, A. M., Crocker, R. L., & Maizes, V. (2020). Integrative considerations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Explore (New York, N.Y.), 16(6), 354-356. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.explore.2020.03.007More infoThere is a high level of interest in integrative strategies to augment public health measures to prevent COVID-19 infection and associated pneumonia. Unfortunately, no integrative measures have been validated in human trials as effective specifically for COVID-19. Notwithstanding, this is an opportune time to be proactive. Using available in-vitro evidence, an understanding of the virulence of COVID-19, as well as data from similar, but different, viruses, we offer the following strategies to consider. Again, we stress that these are supplemental considerations to the current recommendations that emphasize regular hand washing, physical distancing, stopping non-essential travel, and obtaining testing in the presence of symptoms.
- Cooley, J. H., Lee, J., Coppola, C. L., Pompea, S., Berry, M. K., Duran-Cerda, D. G., Higgins, C. M., Hedlund, A., Ahner, H., Kumet, R., Heusinkveld, J., Krieg, P. A., Vercelli, D., Warren, S. M., Fonseca, J. D., Wild, J. R., Weiss, B. D., Visscher, K., Welter, J. W., , Cameron, C. K., et al. (2020). Trauma-Informed Care and Cultural Humility in the Mental Health Care of People from Minoritized Communities. FOCUS, 18(1), 8-15. doi:10.1176/appi.focus.20190027More infoThe prevalence and impact of trauma constitute a public health crisis that is complicated by the cultural heterogeneity of contemporary society and a higher rate of trauma among individuals from minoritized communities. A trauma-informed care approach can facilitate improved treatment of those who have experienced trauma, and trauma-informed care is increasingly viewed as potentially beneficial for all patients. This article outlines general principles of trauma-informed care and ways to enact it. Because the situations in which trauma arises, the ways in which it is conceptualized, and how patients respond to it are influenced by both culture and individual factors, a cultural humility approach is also described and recommended. Psychiatrists can navigate the complex terrain of cultures and social backgrounds in the clinical encounter and can promote healing when treating patients who have experienced trauma by adopting a trauma-informed care approach and an attitude of cultural humility.
- Lebensohn, P., Taren, D. L., Sandvold, I., Maizes, V., Lopez, A. M., Lee, J. K., Kreitzer, M. J., Koithan, M. S., Kilgore, B., Klatt, M., Goldblatt, E., Chen, M. K., & Brooks, A. (2020). Introducing Integrative Primary Health Care to an Interprofessional Audience: Feasibility and Impact of an Asynchronous Online Course.. Explore, 16(6), 392-400. doi:10.1016/j.explore.2019.08.002
- Ricker, M. A., Maizes, V., Chiasson, A. M., & Lebensohn, P. (2020). Results of an Online Integrative Pain Management Course Educating Physicians in Family Medicine Residencies about Non-pharmacologic Approaches to Pain. Family Medicine, 3, 189-197.
- Maizes, V., Lebensohn, P., Ricker, M. A., Brooks, A. J., Amelia, V. K., Ranjbar, N. E., Maizes, V., Lebensohn, P., Ricker, M. A., Brooks, A. J., Amelia, V. K., & Ranjbar, N. E. (2019). A Needs Assessment for the Development of an Integrative Medicine Curriculum in Psychiatry Training. Global Advances in Medicine and Health.
- Ranjbar, N. E., Maizes, V., Ricker, M. A., Lebensohn, P., Brooks, A. J., Amelia, V. K., Ranjbar, N. E., Maizes, V., Ricker, M. A., Lebensohn, P., Brooks, A. J., & Amelia, V. K. (2019). Assessing Integrative Psychiatry Curriculum Needs. Global Advances in Health and Medicine. doi:10.1177/2164956118821585
- Maizes, V., Lebensohn, P., Ricker, M. A., Brooks, A., Villagomez, A., & Ranjbar, N. E. (2018). Assessing Integrative Psychiatry Curriculum Needs. Global Advances in Health and Medicine, 8:1-8. doi:10.1177/2164956|8821585
- Devries, S., Dalen, J. E., Eisenberg, D. M., Maizes, V., Ornish, D., Prasad, A., Sierpina, V., Weil, A. T., & Willett, W. (2015). The reply. The American journal of medicine, 128(5), e27-8.
- Kligler, B., Brooks, A. J., Maizes, V., Goldblatt, E., Klatt, M., Koithan, M. S., Kreitzer, M. J., Lee, J. K., Lopez, A. M., McClafferty, H., Rhode, R., Sandvold, I., Saper, R., Taren, D., Wells, E., & Lebensohn, P. (2015). Interprofessional Competencies in Integrative Primary Healthcare. Global advances in health and medicine : improving healthcare outcomes worldwide, 4(5), 33-9.More infoIn October 2014, the National Center for Integrative Primary Healthcare (NCIPH) was launched as a collaboration between the University of Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine and the Academic Consortium for Integrative Health and Medicine and supported by a grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration. A primary goal of the NCIPH is to develop a core set of integrative healthcare (IH) competencies and educational programs that will span the interprofessional primary care training and practice spectra and ultimately become a required part of primary care education. This article reports on the first phase of the NCIPH effort, which focused on the development of a shared set of competencies in IH for primary care disciplines. The process of development, refinement, and adoption of 10 "meta-competencies" through a collaborative process involving a diverse interprofessional team is described. Team members represent nursing, the primary care medicine professions, pharmacy, public health, acupuncture, naturopathy, chiropractic, nutrition, and behavioral medicine. Examples of the discipline-specific sub-competencies being developed within each of the participating professions are provided, along with initial results of an assessment of potential barriers and facilitators of adoption within each discipline. The competencies presented here will form the basis of a 45-hour online curriculum produced by the NCIPH for use in primary care training programs that will be piloted in a wide range of programs in early 2016 and then revised for wider use over the following year.
- Maizes, V., Rakel, D., & Niemiec, C. (2009). Integrative medicine and patient-centered care. Explore: The Journal of Science and Healing (New York, N.Y.), 5(5), 277-89. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.explore.2009.06.008More infoIntegrative medicine has emerged as a potential solution to the American healthcare crisis. It provides care that is patient centered, healing oriented, emphasizes the therapeutic relationship, and uses therapeutic approaches originating from conventional and alternative medicine. Initially driven by consumer demand, the attention integrative medicine places on understanding whole persons and assisting with lifestyle change is now being recognized as a strategy to address the epidemic of chronic diseases bankrupting our economy. This paper defines integrative medicine and its principles, describes the history of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in American healthcare, and discusses the current state and desired future of integrative medical practice. The importance of patient-centered care, patient empowerment, behavior change, continuity of care, outcomes research, and the challenges to successful integration are discussed. The authors suggest a model for an integrative healthcare system grounded in team-based care. A primary health partner who knows the patient well, is able to addresses mind, body, and spiritual needs, and coordinates care with the help of a team of practitioners is at the centerpiece. Collectively, the team can meet all the health needs of the particular patient and forms the patient-centered medical home. The paper culminates with 10 recommendations directed to key actors to facilitate the systemic changes needed for a functional healthcare delivery system. Recommendations include creating financial incentives aligned with health promotion and prevention. Insurers are requested to consider the total costs of care, the potential cost effectiveness of lifestyle approaches and CAM modalities, and the value of longer office visits to develop a therapeutic relationship and stimulate behavioral change. Outcomes research to track the effectiveness of integrative models must be funded, as well as feedback and dissemination strategies. Additional competencies for primary health partners, including CAM and conventional medical providers, will need to be developed to foster successful integrative practices. Skills include learning to develop appropriate healthcare teams that function well in a medical home, developing an understanding of the diverse healing traditions, and enhancing communication skills. For integrative medicine to flourish in the United States, new providers, new provider models, and a realignment of incentives and a commitment to health promotion and disease management will be required.
- Maizes, V., Silverman, H., Lebensohn, P., Koithan, M., Kligler, B., Rakel, D., Schneider, C., Kohatsu, W., Hayes, M., & Weil, A. (2006). The integrative family medicine program: an innovation in residency education. Academic medicine : journal of the Association of American Medical Colleges, 81(6), 583-9.More infoThe Integrative Family Medicine (IFM) Program is a four-year combined family medicine residency program and integrative medicine fellowship. It was created in 2003 to address the needs of four constituencies: patients who desire care from well trained integrative physicians, physicians who seek such training, the health care system which lacks a conventional integrative medicine training route, and educational leaders in family medicine who are seeking new strategies to reverse the declining interest in family medicine amongst U.S. graduates. The program was designed jointly by the University of Arizona Program in Integrative Medicine (PIM) and family medicine residency programs at Beth Israel/Albert Einstein College of Medicine (AECOM), Maine Medical Center, Middlesex Hospital, Oregon Health & Science University, and the Universities of Arizona and Wisconsin. One or two residents from each of these institutions may apply, and when selected, commit to extending their training by a fourth year. They complete their family medicine residencies at their home sites, enroll in the distributed learning associate fellowship at PIM, and are mentored by local faculty members who have training in integrative medicine. To date three classes totaling twenty residents have entered the program. Evaluation is performed jointly: PIM evaluates the residents during residential weeks and through online modules and residency faculty members perform direct observation of care and review treatment plans. Preliminary data suggest that the program enhances interest amongst graduating medical students in family medicine training. The Accreditation Council of Graduate Medical Education Family Medicine residency review committee has awarded the pilot experimental status.
- Maizes, V., Schneider, C., Bell, I., & Weil, A. (2002). Integrative medical education: development and implementation of a comprehensive curriculum at the University of Arizona. Academic medicine : journal of the Association of American Medical Colleges, 77(9), 851-60.More infoDissatisfaction with the U.S. health care system is increasing despite impressive technologic advances. This dissatisfaction is one factor that has led patients to seek out complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) and led medical schools to start teaching CAM. This paper focuses on the University of Arizona's approach to developing and implementing a comprehensive curriculum in integrative medicine. Integrative medicine is defined much more broadly than CAM. It is healing-oriented medicine that reemphasizes the relationship between patient and physician, and integrates the best of complementary and alternative medicine with the best of conventional medicine. Since its inception in 1996, the Program in Integrative Medicine (PIM) has grown to include a two-year residential fellowship that educates four fellows each year, a distance learning associate fellowship that educates 50 physicians each year, medical student and resident rotations, continuing medical and professional education, an NIH-supported research department, and an active outreach program to facilitate the international development of integrative medicine. The paper describes the PIM curriculum, educational programs, clinical education, goals, and results. Future strategies for assessing competency and credentialing professionals are suggested.
- Maizes, V. (2001). Listening (for what is not said). The Western journal of medicine, 174(3), 216-7.
- Maizes, V., & Caspi, O. (1999). The principles and challenges of integrative medicine. The Western journal of medicine, 171(3), 148-9.
Presentations
- Sternberg, E. M., Sternberg, E. M., Chiasson, A. M., Chiasson, A. M., Horwitz, R. J., Horwitz, R. J., Maizes, V., Maizes, V., Weil, A. T., Weil, A. T., Alschuler, L., & Alschuler, L. (2020, April). An Integrative Approach to COVID-19. University of Arizona COVID-19 Webinar Series. Tucson, Arizona.
- Ricker, M. A., Maizes, V., & Lebensohn, P. (2019, October). Fostering Resiliency in Health Care Professionals. 2019 Strategies to Promote the Well-being of Health Professionals in the Learning and Work Environments. Washington, DC: The Center for Innovation and Leadership in Education - Georgetown University.
- Maizes, V. (2015, March 5, 2015). Integrative Medicine: Innovative Educational Models. Medical College of Wisconsin/Marquette Medical Alumni Association 49th Annual Clinical Conference. Westward Look Resort, Tucson, AZ: Medical College of Wisconsin/Marquette Medical Alumni Association.
Poster Presentations
- McLaffery, H., Maizes, V., Chen, M., Brooks, A., Lebensohn, P., & Ricker, M. A. (2018, May). Does the Presence of Integrative Medicine Curriculum Enhance Residency Recruitment?. International Congress on Integrative Medicine and Health. Baltimore, Maryland: Academic Consortium for Integrative Medicine and Health.
- Brooks, A., Ranjbar, N. E., Villagomez, A., Ricker, M. A., Lebensohn, P., Maizes, V., & Erb, M. (2015, December). Effect of an Integrative Medicine Curriculum with Mind-Body Skills Training on Resident Wellbeing.. American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry 26th Annual Meeting and Scientific Symposium. Huntington Beach, CA: American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry.
Others
- Maizes, V. (2023, January). Bill Buckmaster Radio Show. Bill Buckmaster Radio Show.More infoMonthly interview with Bill Buckmaster and Dr. Maizes about Integrative Medicine topics for the public to hear.
- Maizes, V. (2022, January). Bill Buckmaster Radio Show. Bill Buckmaster Radio Show.More infoMonthly interview with Bill Buckmaster and Dr. Maizes about Integrative Medicine topics for the public to hear.
- Maizes, V. (2015, August). Therapeutic Cuisine, Be Fruitful recipe featured. Foodtv.com.