Tai Chi & Qigong as Whole Person Health: Advancing the Integration of Mind‐Body Practices in Contemporary Healthcare

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PROJECT SUMMARY The inaugural two-day scientific conference entitled, "The Science of Tai Chi & Qigong as Whole Person Health: Advancing the Integration of Mind-Body Practices in Contemporary Healthcare'” will be held at the Harvard Medical School in Boston, MA in September 2023. The key goals of this conference are to provide a forum for a) active dissemination of the current evidence base of Tai Chi, Qigong and related mind-body practices, and b) exploration and thoughtful dialogue on cross-relevant topics integral to the role of mind-body movement in whole person health within the future of healthcare. The primary sponsor of this conference will be the Osher Center for Integrative Medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School. The scientific conference will be the first of its kind to showcase Tai Chi and Qigong (TCQ) in a rigorous academic setting and aims to attract a diverse group of international research scholars, practitioners, healthcare administrators and policymakers. The conference program will include five plenary panel sessions from leaders in the field spanning different aspects of mind-body research including: 1) Cross-systems perspective of mind-body movement and whole person health; 2) State of the science of TCQ (falls, neurophysiological mechanisms, cognitive function, and mental health); 3) State of the science of TCQ (pain, cardiopulmonary conditions, immune function, and cancer); 4) Implementation and dissemination; and 5) New frontiers in research- energy medicine and biofields. These plenary panels will each include complementary 15-minute plenary presentations followed by a 30-minute panel discussion including audience participation. A Call for Sessions will solicit additional concomitant one-hour `breakout' symposia sessions (including but not limited to the targeted topics of diversity/health disparities, innovative research methodologies, remote technology, credentialing, cost-effectiveness, and basic physiological and psychosocial mechanisms). In addition, we will solicit high-quality scientific abstracts with opportunity for both junior and established investigators to present oral and poster presentations. An international Scientific Review Committee, composed of our organizing committee and multiple external reviewers, will employ a rigorous peer review process to assure quality and relevance of research. Marketing efforts will aim to target a broad and diverse audience including women, racial/ethnic minorities, persons with disabilities and other underrepresented individuals. Our overarching Conference Aims are 1) To provide an international forum for researchers to disseminate scientific findings relevant to TCQ and related mind-body practices, assess the evidence base in the context of whole person health, and shape the future research agenda, and 2) To foster interdisciplinary dialogue and collaboration to develop innovative strategies that address current challenges in mind-body movement research, dissemination and implementation.