Recently, Iowa Senator Tom Harkin paid a visit to Tucson to meet with team members from the Center for Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona. The purpose of his visit was to learn more about what it is that they do and about their important contributions to health and education.

Harkin has had an interest in integrative medicine and alternative approaches to health for a couple of decades, and made mention of the works of physicians such as Dr. John E. Sarno, author of Healing Back Pain. Dr. Sarno explores the mind-body connection in health, specifically with back pain, and offers solutions that have helped sufferers avoid surgical and drug therapy approaches.

The Senator's visit gave the Center for Integrative Medicine an opportunity to share with him their online educational courses in integrative medicine. Thanks to Senator Harkin, there are significant funds now available for research and education in preventative medicine. Preventative medicine being a cornerstone to integrative medicine, any potential pairing with the Center makes sense.

The Center has an ambitious goal bringing education in Integrative Medicine to residency programs throughout the country. An expensive proposition that would be served well by Senator Harkin's work. To think of what such implemented programs could do to save the country and its residents countless millions in health care costs and raise the bar in health care in general is exciting.

The University asked me to serve as documentary photographer during his visit. While I enjoyed the gig itself, it was inspiring to bare witness to the conversations that took place during the course of the day.

Below are some of the photographs from those meetings. Specifically, these are from a patient conference that we were invited to attend with rotation students, Distinction Track students, AzCIM alumni and practitioners.

Throughout the day the Senator sipped organic green tea. Cordial, knowledgable and empassioned, it was a great pleasure to meet him.

Championed by Dr. Andrew Weil and a talented faculty and staff, you can learn more about what the Center for Integrative Medicine is doing on the behalf of good health by visiting their website.