Integrative Track

Integrative track of the cardiovascular disease fellowship in San Diego

A labyrinth made of stone on the ground behind the Shiley Fitness Center at Scripps Center for Integrative Medicine.

Integrative track of the cardiovascular disease fellowship in San Diego

As part of its integrative track, the Cardiovascular Disease Fellowship Program at Scripps Clinic offers the only integrative cardiology training program in the country.


Integrative medicine is a patient-centered medical discipline that takes account of the whole person and their lifestyle. It emphasizes the therapeutic relationship between practitioner and patient, is informed by evidence, and makes use of all appropriate therapies. The mind, body and soul of a patient are taken into consideration to promote healing and well-being.


Our integrative fellows receive all the training, procedures, and inpatient exposure as their general cardiology co-fellows. In addition to this traditional training, their integrative experience enhances their experience in outpatient preventive and integrative approaches, including:


  • Advanced lipidology
  • Advanced preventive techniques
  • Lifestyle intervention programs
  • Stress management
  • Supplement and herb counseling
  • Nutritional counseling
  • Cardiac rehabilitation/advanced cardiac exercise physiology
  • Integrative medicine: acupuncture, hypnosis, yoga, Tai Chi, mindfulness meditation, biofeedback, Healing Touch and supplements


Our fellows are able sit for both the cardiology boards and the American Board of Integrative Medicine (ABOIM). They will graduate ready to be leaders in the field and potentially start their own integrative center at their future institution.

Track overview

Scripps Center for Integrative Medicine, a national leader in holistic heart care, is the training hub for the integrative track of the cardiovascular disease fellowship.


Led by integrative cardiologist Christopher Suhar, MD, the center combines state-of-the-art traditional, western medicine with the best of global healing traditions to prevent and treat cardiovascular disease. Integrative medicine takes a proactive, holistic approach that empowers patients to do more than just take a pill.

We believe that prevention is the best intervention. Preventive cardiology is an exciting opportunity to address the root cause of all disease. Traditional cardiology approaches all too often focus on the revolving door of chronic disease management.


At Scripps Center for Integrative Medicine, we teach our fellows the techniques needed to help patients participate in their own care and manage their own health. We do this by identifying risk factors early and modifying one’s lifestyle to prevent disease outcomes.

We believe health is more than just the absence of disease. Our health is dynamic and influenced by how we live our lives and how we relate to the world around us.


At Scripps Center for Integrative Medicine, we offer a multi-modality including a state-of-the-art fitness center, advanced lifestyle interventions including cardiac rehabilitation, weight management, nutritional counseling, supplements and evidence-based conferences.


In addition, the center houses a premier fitness center, a lifestyle change program, integrative pain management, weight management, and mind-body classes including mindfulness-based stress reduction, yoga and healing touch.
  • BraveNet Collaborative 
  • HEARTPLAY – NIH-sponsored cardiac rehab research
  • Supplement effects on lipids
  • Lifestyle intervention on class II, III heart failure
  • The effect of stress reduction on arrhythmia
  • Advanced lipid parameters
  • Healing touch on post-sternotomy recovery

Scripps Center for Integrative Medicine includes the Early Detection Imaging Center with cardiac computed tomography (CT), echocardiography and positron emission tomography (PET)/rubidium stress testing.