TMC PULSE

t m c » p u l s e | a u g u s t 2 0 1 9 14 The collaboration between Saybrook and ISH took root when John Graham, M.D., the CEO of ISH, started taking classes at Saybrook. He approached Moss about offering the advanced degrees and certifica- tion program at the Texas Medical Center, home to more than 100,000 health care professionals. Moss liked the idea, as did Saybrook University President Nathan Long and the school's board of trustees. "This is a hybrid university," explained Graham, who is working on his master's degree at Saybrook. "You meet the Saybrook faculty over a four-day period. We meditate before each class. We do practices throughout the training. You know your professors quite well and they know you. Then you do classwork over seven or 14 weeks in what's called 'modules' and you meet with faculty in video conferences every two weeks. They answer questions and go over new material." Most of the students who enroll come from the health care field and are hoping to augment their knowl- edge or expand their career options. "We recruit a variety of health professionals—physicians, nurses, psychologists, mental health profes- sionals," Moss said. "Many students already have a license to practice in their field," Graham added, "and the mind-body medicine courses they're taking are complementary and integrative to what they're already doing. But they're also going to be learning how to take care of themselves. They're going to be very aware of how important it is to learn self-care practices that will help them stay balanced." Laura Licato, Ph.D., who was a cancer immunologist for two Saybrook classes begin in late August. To apply or learn more, visit www.saybrook.edu/houston. NEW MODEL HOMES NOW OPEN HOMES FROM THE MID $200s - $600s Starting September 1st, get your first year of HOA fees free* when you find your new home at Pomona. The tranquil community is just minutes to Downtown Houston and the Texas Medical Center. With all-new models now open, finding a home that fits your life and style is easy. See for yourself! no fees feels good FIND YOUR HOME AT POMONABYHILLWOOD.COM 4714 Orchard Creek Lane | Manvel, TX 77578 | pomonabyhillwood.com *On homes purchased between September 1, 2019 - October 31, 2019, new homebuyers are eligible to receive one year of HOA dues free. Restrictions apply. See website for more details. F O R O N E Y E A R * FREE HOA DUES decades, said that her attitude toward health and wellness gradually started shifting several years ago. "What happened was, I became more interested in a broader view of health," said Licato, who works for Harris Health System as a learn- ing and development education specialist. "I was doing clinical trial work and FDA work—fairly bureaucratic stuff. I was feeling like I wasn't having the impact I wanted to have. I have a son on the autism spectrum and I was going through that journey and looking at health in a different way." Licato found her niche in health and wellness coaching and, for the past few years, has been teaching integrative wellness coaching at Saybrook University. She is impressed with the caliber of the students and the communal feel of the classes. "It's amazing how intimate it can be," she said. One of the biggest overall challenges of her field, she added, is teaching people that mind- body medicine can and should be integrated into standard medical practice. "I see a big disconnect," Licato said. "Some people think of the conventional medicine world and alternative medicine as separate things—just as we used to think of the body as totally separate from the mind. The challenge is getting people to understand our bodies are shaped by our brains and vice versa. We really are integrated beings. It's easy to separate things when we're trying to study; we tend to compart- mentalize symptoms. But we need to understand how all the pieces fit together."

• Cover