Division of Integrative Medicine

The Scripps Clinic Medical Group Division of Integrative Medicine blends the best of western medicine with evidence-based complementary therapies to treat disease, promote healing and improve health. We believe in achieving wellness and health by taking a collaborative whole-person approach to treat mind, body and spirit. Our team provides expertise in general integrative medicine, women’s health, lifestyle change and weight/dietary management, integrative pain and spine/musculoskeletal care, integrative cardiology, amongst many other things. Our approach to patient care includes taking the time to get to know our patients’ environment and lifestyles, so that we can create personalized programs that change lives by helping people prevent, reverse and treat chronic conditions and regain health.

Integrative Medicine Subdivisions

Health and Healing
Integrative Cardiology- link to Division of Cardiovascular Diseases webpage under Department of Medicine

Our Team

Christopher Suhar, MD (Division Head)
Robert Bonakdar, MD
Sarah Dalhoumi, MD
James Gray, MD
Marni Hillinger, MD
Sandeep Mehta, MD
Douglas Triffon, MD

Our Integrative Medicine practice locations are as below:

Scripps Clinic Torrey Pines – Shiley Pavilion

Robert Bonakdar, MD
Sarah Dalhoumi, MD
James Gray, MD
Marni Hillinger, MD
Sandeep Mehta, MD
Christopher Suhar, MD
Douglas Triffon, MD

Scripps Clinic La Jolla – Anderson Medical Pavilion

James Gray, MD
Christopher Suhar, MD

Featured Services

  • General Integrative medicine consultation

  • Women’s health

  • Integrative Pain management

  • Trigger point injections

  • Joint and musculoskeletal injections

  • Nerve blocks

  • Platelet rich plasma

    • Sphenopalantine (SPG) blocks for headache and facial pain
    • Electrical stimulation for pain
    • Topicals for pain

  • Primary and preventative Cardiology

  • Spine and Musculoskeletal disease management

  • Integrative hormonal support

  • Advanced lipid management

  • Acupuncture

  • Biofeedback

  • Healing touch

  • Nutrition consultation

  • Mindfulness-based stress reduction

  • Vegan cooking classes

  • Advanced cardiac rehabilitation, using a state-of-the-art fitness gym and swimming pool

  • Lifestyle intervention classes

  • Yoga

  • Tai chi

  • Sound healing

  • Parkinson’s boxing

  • Sound bath for cancer care

  • Massage

  • Early detection center with CT/PET/Nuclear/echo/stress imaging

Our Division supports Scripps’ robust training program for the next generation of care providers. We have a longstanding relationship with the ACGME accredited cardiology fellowship and internal medicine residency program as well as visiting trainees from various parts of the state

Integrative Heart Care for the Underserved

  • The Scripps Center for Integrative Medicine will be part of a multisystem $22.1 million grant distributed to support programs at the Scripps MD Anderson Cancer Center and Scripps Prebys Cardiovascular Institute. As part of this grant, the center’s staff will be supporting an integrative cardiology outreach program for underserved women, a virtual cardiac rehabilitation program and a machine learning study to predict risk and outcomes of heart disease.

BraveNet Collaborative

  • The BraveNet Collaborative is a national network of integrative medicine clinical sites that collaborate on a unified goal of furthering evidence-based clinical research.
    Scripps Center for Integrative Medicine was a research site for the PRIMIER study which is one of the largest studies on the use of integrative medicine in clinical practice.

Healing Touch, Cardiac Rehab, and Recovery after Sternotomy

  • Having a major cardiovascular event can be life altering and stressful — both physically and psychologically. Healing Touch (HT) is a non-invasive, complementary approach to healing comprised of gentle touch in a relaxing environment that draws on energy fields surrounding the body to restore harmony and balance.
    This randomized, controlled study sought to examine the effects of HT on quality of life (QoL), biometric fitness, mental wellbeing and CR program attendance in post-cardiac event patients.

Supplement Effects on Lipids

  • Scripps Center for Integrative Medicine is currently researching the way a variety of supplements affect lipid panels, from berberine to fish oil.

HEARTPLAY, an NIH-sponsored cardiac rehab research

  • Cardiac rehab, a program that includes exercise and lifestyle change, is recommended after major cardiac events. However, participation falls with time and national compliance remains poor.
  • HEART-PLAY is a trial where cardiac rehab participants are randomized to traditional approaches and another group to peer health coaches. Endpoints include long-term exercise adherence after cardiac rehab is completed.