Summary: Our series starts at the busiest hospital trauma center in the U.S., part of the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore. In this high-stakes setting, patients are offered conventional medical treatment, but also integrative care. This includes relaxation techniques, which can greatly relieve stress for people in a severe medical crisis – and their loved ones. We hear the surprising story of Rick Shanas, a long-time Chicago police officer (now retired), who was admitted due to serious complications from cancer and who derived significant benefit from integrative techniques. He was especially grateful for interactions with Donna Audia, RN, a dedicated, compassionate nurse who now specializes in integrative treatment. We also hear from Thomas Scalea, MD, the hospital’s chief physician; and from one of the nation’s leading experts in integrative medicine, University of Maryland medical professor Brian Berman, MD, as well as from Cornell medical professor, Carla Boutin-Foster, MD, who was introduced to effective natural remedies from her mother.
