Healing as Wholeness: An Integrative Approach to Health
Thu Jan 29 2026
Dr. Stephen Dahmer is a physician, educator, and global leader in integrative medicine who has devoted his career to transforming how we understand healing. As Director of the Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona, Dr. Dahmer helps train healthcare professionals to deliver care that treats the whole person—body, mind, and spirit. His path into integrative medicine was shaped by early mentors and experiences, from studying botanicals and herbal medicine with Dr. David Kiefer to learning humanistic, patient-centered healing from pioneers like Dr. Rachel Naomi Remen. Through his work in diverse communities around the world, Dr. Dahmer has seen firsthand how medicine becomes more powerful when it honors culture, connection, and meaning alongside science.
In this episode, host Shay Beider and Dr. Dahmer explore the core tenets of integrative medicine, including movement, nourishing food, community, belief, and proactive approaches to health. They discuss how integrative care can augment Western medicine—almost always making it better—by moving beyond an "either/or" mindset and instead adding layers of support that care for the individual experiencing illness. From research showing how beliefs influence biology to stories of community-based medicine across the globe, the conversation highlights how healing is not just about fixing what is broken, but about fostering wholeness, resilience, and vitality. Together, they reflect on how simple, low cost or free practices like breathing techniques, meditation, finding awe and connection can profoundly shape health—and how integrative medicine invites us to move upstream, cultivating well-being long before illness takes hold.
Listen to the complete episode by clicking the player above. Transcripts for this episode are available at: https://www.integrativetouch.org/conversations-on-healing
Show Notes:
Find out more about Dr. Stephen Dahmer here
Read about the Andrew Weil Center here
Learn more about Dr. David Kiefer here
Learn more about Dr. Rachel Naomi Remen here
Read about the Harvard research study on adult movement here
Find out more about the Iora Health-Community Mode here
Find out more about the Healer's Art Course in Tucson here
Learn more about the Andrew Weil Center's Fellowship in Integrative Medicine here
This podcast was created by Integrative Touch (InTouch), which is changing healthcare through human connectivity. A leader in the field of integrative medicine, InTouch exists to alleviate pain and isolation for anyone affected by illness, disability or trauma. This includes kids and adults with cancers, genetic conditions, autism, cerebral palsy, traumatic stress, and other serious health issues. The founder, Shay Beider, pioneered a new therapy called Integrative Touch™Therapy that supports healing from trauma and serious illness. The organization provides proven integrative medicine therapies, education and support that fill critical healthcare gaps. Their success is driven by deep compassion, community and integrity.
Each year, InTouch reaches thousands of people at the Integrative Touch Healing Center, both in person and through Telehealth. Thanks to the incredible support of volunteers and contributors, InTouch created a unique scholarship model called Heal it Forward that brings services to people in need at little or no cost to them. To learn more or donate to Heal it Forward, please visit IntegrativeTouch.org
More
Dr. Stephen Dahmer is a physician, educator, and global leader in integrative medicine who has devoted his career to transforming how we understand healing. As Director of the Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona, Dr. Dahmer helps train healthcare professionals to deliver care that treats the whole person—body, mind, and spirit. His path into integrative medicine was shaped by early mentors and experiences, from studying botanicals and herbal medicine with Dr. David Kiefer to learning humanistic, patient-centered healing from pioneers like Dr. Rachel Naomi Remen. Through his work in diverse communities around the world, Dr. Dahmer has seen firsthand how medicine becomes more powerful when it honors culture, connection, and meaning alongside science. In this episode, host Shay Beider and Dr. Dahmer explore the core tenets of integrative medicine, including movement, nourishing food, community, belief, and proactive approaches to health. They discuss how integrative care can augment Western medicine—almost always making it better—by moving beyond an "either/or" mindset and instead adding layers of support that care for the individual experiencing illness. From research showing how beliefs influence biology to stories of community-based medicine across the globe, the conversation highlights how healing is not just about fixing what is broken, but about fostering wholeness, resilience, and vitality. Together, they reflect on how simple, low cost or free practices like breathing techniques, meditation, finding awe and connection can profoundly shape health—and how integrative medicine invites us to move upstream, cultivating well-being long before illness takes hold. Listen to the complete episode by clicking the player above. Transcripts for this episode are available at: https://www.integrativetouch.org/conversations-on-healing Show Notes: Find out more about Dr. Stephen Dahmer here Read about the Andrew Weil Center here Learn more about Dr. David Kiefer here Learn more about Dr. Rachel Naomi Remen here Read about the Harvard research study on adult movement here Find out more about the Iora Health-Community Mode here Find out more about the Healer's Art Course in Tucson here Learn more about the Andrew Weil Center's Fellowship in Integrative Medicine here This podcast was created by Integrative Touch (InTouch), which is changing healthcare through human connectivity. A leader in the field of integrative medicine, InTouch exists to alleviate pain and isolation for anyone affected by illness, disability or trauma. This includes kids and adults with cancers, genetic conditions, autism, cerebral palsy, traumatic stress, and other serious health issues. The founder, Shay Beider, pioneered a new therapy called Integrative Touch™Therapy that supports healing from trauma and serious illness. The organization provides proven integrative medicine therapies, education and support that fill critical healthcare gaps. Their success is driven by deep compassion, community and integrity. Each year, InTouch reaches thousands of people at the Integrative Touch Healing Center, both in person and through Telehealth. Thanks to the incredible support of volunteers and contributors, InTouch created a unique scholarship model called Heal it Forward that brings services to people in need at little or no cost to them. To learn more or donate to Heal it Forward, please visit IntegrativeTouch.org