Chopra Center Director of Integrative Medicine, Dr. Valencia Porter, Recognized as One of the First Board-Certified Integrative Physicians in the Nation
Dr. Valencia Porter has become one of the first doctors to achieve recognition from the American Board of Physician Specialties for meeting the requirements for certification in Integrative Medicine.
CARLSBAD, Calif., Feb. 17, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Chopra Center and the Mind Body Medical Group are pleased to announce that Valencia Porter, MD, MPH, of Carlsbad, CA, is one of the first physicians to be recognized by the American Board of Physician Specialties (ABPS) as meeting the requirements for certification in Integrative Medicine through the American Board of Integrative Medicine (ABOIM). The ABPS is the official certifying body of the American Association of Physician Specialists.
Board certification from ABOIM enables successful candidates to present themselves to the public as qualified medical specialists in the practice of Integrative Medicine. Completing the Integrative Medicine board certification indicates mastery of the specialty experience and knowledge as well as a professional commitment to adhere to the ABPS Medical Code of Ethics.
"Dr. Porter has offered the highest standards of healthcare to the patients who come to the Chopra Center for many years, drawing on her expertise in both conventional medicine and complementary medicine rooted in wisdom traditions, including meditation and mindfulness, yoga, Ayurvedic massage, and other mind-body tools," said Chopra Center co-founder Deepak Chopra, MD.
"Integrative Medicine has recently been recognized by the American Board of Physician Specialties as an official specialty, and Dr. Porter is now one of the first doctors to become board-certified in this powerful field of medicine," Dr. Chopra said.
The ABOIM defines integrative medicine as the practice of medicine that reaffirms the importance of the relationship between practitioner and patient, focuses on the whole person, is informed by evidence, and makes use of all appropriate therapeutic approaches, healthcare professionals, and disciplines to achieve optimal health and healing.
Dr. Porter has been certified by the American Board of Integrative and Holistic Medicine (ABIHM) since 2003; however, until now there has not been an official certification recognized by the ABPS.
About Valencia Porter, MD, MPH
Dr. Porter is the Chopra Center's Director of Integrative Medicine at the Mind Body Medical Group, where she provides integrative medical consultations to patients and teaches both health professionals and the community through the Chopra Center's Perfect Health program, the Journey into Healing workshop, and other events. She combines the best of conventional medicine and complementary modalities to help individuals achieve their health and wellness goals, utilizing her knowledge of Ayurveda, functional medicine, environmental medicine, nutrition, herbal medicine, biofield therapies, and other healing traditions. Double board-certified in General Preventive Medicine and Integrative Medicine, she is also a Fellow in the American College of Nutrition.
Dr. Porter is an expert in Integrative, Holistic, and Preventive Medicine, speaking to a variety of audiences and publishing numerous scientific and popular articles and book chapters. She is an adjunct faculty member at the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine and in the Department of Family and Preventive Medicine at the University of California San Diego. She is also a Vedic Master at the Chopra Center (certified in yoga, meditation and Perfect Health Ayurvedic Lifestyle counseling).
A graduate of Tufts University, Dr. Porter received her MD from the University of Southern California and completed a residency in General Preventive Medicine at the University of California, San Diego. She also completed the Fellowship in Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona, where she was a Bravewell Collaborative scholar. Dr. Porter earned a Master's Degree in Public Health, focusing on Environmental Health, from San Diego State University. She is passionate about food, nutrients, and our interaction with our environment, from the microcosm to the macrocosm.
About the Chopra Center for Wellbeing
Founded in 1996 by Deepak Chopra, M.D. and David Simon, M.D., the Chopra Center has pioneered the field of integrative mind-body medicine. The Chopra Center's board-certified medical doctors are leaders in their fields and offer individualized patient-centered care that blends modern evidence-based medicine with traditional healing practices. The Chopra Center offers a variety of programs, workshops, teacher training certifications, and online courses, including the popular 21-Day Meditation Experience™, a free guided meditation program led by Deepak Chopra and Oprah Winfrey. Register at Chopra.com and receive a free monthly inspirational newsletter.
About the Mind Body Medical Group
Located at the Chopra Center for Wellbeing, the Mind Body Medical Group offers an integrative approach to health care that addresses the whole person – the mind, body, spirit, and environment – and focuses on addressing the root causes of illness rather than simply treating symptoms. The integrative physicians at the Mind Body Medical Group are board-certified doctors as well as experts in Ayurveda and other traditional healing systems. They offer individual mind-body medical consultations as well as group programs such as the Chopra Center's signature Perfect Health program. If you are coping with physical illness, emotional pain or chronic stress – or if you want to nurture your current state of health and balance – the Mind Body Medical Group is here to offer you professional, compassionate guidance on your healing journey. Learn more about the Mind Body Medical Group here.
SOURCE The Chopra Center for Wellbeing
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