Dr. Lindley T. Smith is an associate professor of ophthalmology, clinical faculty at Virginia Commonwealth University, has completed his associate fellowship in integrative medicine at the University of Arizona. Smith and the 42 other physicians in his graduating class are the only physicians in the U.S. to hold this credential.
Launched in the summer of 2000 by internationally recognized integrative medicine pioneer Andrew Weil, M.D., the one of its kind program combines residential sessions in Tucson with a “”distributed learning”” model in which participants learn via the Internet in the comfort of their own home or office. Smith spent two years of intensive training in areas including botanical medicine, mind-body interactions and nutrition.
“”Dr. Smith has received the best training available in integrative medicine,”” said Weil. “”I consider him fully prepared to go out in the world and help transform the practice of medicine and healthcare in the directions consumers want.””
The program includes 1,000 hours of instruction and emphasizes clinical applications and collaboration to establish a broad knowledge base that will transfer into clinical practice. The curriculum utilizes patient simulations, collaborative dialogues, research updates and dialogues, problem-solving exercises, selected readings, group projects and presentations.
The focus is on the practical application of approaches that have scientific evidence and/or a history of traditional use. Methods of healing are explored, and physicians gain the ability to discuss these areas with both their patients and practitioners of these disciplines.
Associate fellows explore the art of medicine, philosophy of medicine, medicine and culture, mind-body interactions, nutrition, botanicals, physical activity, spirituality, leadership and legal issues.
Smith earned his medical degree from Meharry Medical College in Nashville. A resident of Midlothian, Va., he is a former board member for the VCU Health System as well as a former member of VCU’s Board of Visitors.