HISTORY

The Harvard Medical School Division for Research and Education in Complementary and Integrative Medical Therapies began in 1995 as the Center for Alternative Medicine Research and Education at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center – a teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School. The Council of Deans of Harvard Medical School established the Division in 2000. In 2001, a generous gift from the Bernard Osher Foundation led to the establishment of the Harvard Medical School Osher Research Center, which operates in concert with the Division. In early 2002, administration of the Division and Research Center moved from the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center to Harvard Medical School facilities in the Landmark Center.

The Division and the Osher Research Center have been and continue to be focused on the study of scientific and medical dimensions of complementary and integrative treatments, as well as legal, ethical, and economic implications of these therapies. Under the direction of David Eisenberg, MD, the Division has produced significant research and educational programs including more than fifty peer-reviewed publications and a range of studies relating to complementary and integrative medicine safety, efficacy, cost-effectiveness and policy.