Debra Bell, MD, is the Co-director of Education at the University of Washington Osher Center and a long-time Family Medicine Physician. She is an integrative primary care physician and conducts consultative integrative medicine visits.  

Dr. Bell has been practicing integrative medicine long before it had a name. During medical school, she took an academic leave of absence. Under the mentorship of a family medicine doctor in Northern California, she apprenticed with midwives conducting home births, studied botanical and herbal medicine, and took courses on Traditional Chinese Medicine. 

When she returned to medical school, she tried to incorporate these learnings into her studies, but it was challenging. “Back then, there was no infrastructure to support medical students to train in integrative health,” said Dr. Bell. Throughout her career, she has tried to expose medical students and other physicians to this type of health care through mentorship, lecturing, and clinical shadowing. “My goal is to continue to listen to what I’m called to do — to participate in people’s health and well-being, and to share all the information I have with others,” said Dr. Bell. 

The education program at the University of Washington Osher Center is focused on training physicians in integrative medicine. She is about to launch a 15-hour CME program in integrative nutrition and culinary medicine for primary care providers. She is also designing an 8-day immersive culinary medicine experience in Italy. “Physicians that have practiced for years are now learning about an entirely new toolbox,” said Dr. Bell. She hopes to integrate with the medical school to start teaching integrative health in the early stages of health professional careers.  

In terms of public education, the Osher Center conducts a free public education series through the Cha Chi Ming Endowed Fund for Integrative Medicine. They just completed a 3-part series on digestive health, and the next series on women’s health will take place in May. Topics will include perimenopause and menopause, breast health, mental health, and cardiac health.  

Dr. Bell is involved with the Osher Collaborative Education Committee and is continually inspired by the caliber of work our colleagues are doing. “Getting to know these amazing, wise healers that are committed to human and planetary health and well-being is such a privilege, and it inspires me to continue my work.”