Project Leads: David Victorson and Ann Vertovec (Northwestern)

Key Osher Partners: Christine Vatovec (Vermont), Aterah Nusrat and Peter Wayne (Harvard), Bruce Barrett (Wisconsin), Barbara Walker (Cincinnati), Stephanie Cheng (UCSF)

Brief Project Description, including Feasibility and Anticipated Impact:

This pilot funding will support the training and implementation of a virtual Nature/Earth RX program within integrative medical educaiton programs across participating sites. By July 2025 our team will have completed foundational work, including key informant interviews and the creation of training materials and resources. We will train medical students and residents to lead virtual Nature/Earth RX sessions with patients referred from Osher Collaborative clinics. Through an IRB-approved evaluation, we will collect data on feasibility, patient engagement, and prescriber self-efficacy at multiple time points. This program aims to enhance integrative medical education and clinician workflows by fostering nature-based health behaviors and environmental stewardship. The anticipated outcomes include improved health promotion and climate-conscious care for patients and trainees, aligning with integrative medicine's mission to advance individual and planetary well-being. The program has the potential for scalable benefits across clinical and educational settings. 

Estimate of Total Budget Request: Between $20,000-$40,000