Site Picked for New Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine

LEFT: A rendering of the new Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine, planned for northeast of the Highland Parking Garage [SOURCE: Line and Space LLC] | RIGHT:The center’s current location at 655 N. Alvernon Way

The site has been determined for soon-to-begin construction of the new University of Arizona Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine. It will be northeast of the Highland Parking Garage at East Mabel Street and North Vine Avenue, according to documents released ahead of the Arizona Board of Regents meeting Sept. 19 and 20.

The Arizona Daily Star reported that the new 34,000-square-foot Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine (AWCIM) would provide a “physical environment that supports the evidence-based philosophy of integrative medicine.” Click on Google map (at right) for location of new center site.

The $20 million cost for the new center would be funded by gifts, with the bulk of funding expected to be in hand by the end of 2019. The goal is to complete construction by 2022.

Andrew T. Weil, MD, who founded the center and the UArizona Division of Integrative Medicine, one of 14 divisions in the UArizona Department of Medicine—the largest department at the UArizona College of Medicine – Tucson, pledged $15 million in March to put his name on and create endowments to promote research and training for the integrative medicine program.

Widely known as a popular health and wellness guru, Dr. Weil for more than two decades has promoted alternative health care approaches that complement Western medicine methods, techniques and procedures. These include an emphasis on traditional medicine, nutrition, lifestyle, naturopathic therapies, spirituality and the mind-body connection.

The money helped establish an endowed chair in integrative medicine, an endowed chair for research in integrative medicine and three separate endowed program funds for integrative medicine, all of which bear his name.

The $20 million for construction of the project would be funded through gifts, the newspaper reported, with the goal of having the bulk of the funding by the end of 2019. The current facility is at 655 N. Alvernon Way, where its been since May 2018. 

EXTRA INFO: Coming Soon – ‘Body of Wonder’ Podcast

The University of Arizona Weil Center for Integrative Medicine announced in Facebook post Sept. 10 that it would be launching a new podcast in early 2020, Body of Wonder—which plays on the university’s new marketing theme, “Wonder.”

In the podcast, the center will dive into ideas and research changing medicine. You’ll hear compelling stories and explore age-old wisdom backed by modern science. The podcast will feature insightful one-on-one conversations with leaders at the forefront of integrative health and wellness.

Episodes are designed for everyone - no previous knowledge or healthcare training necessary! We'd love to hear your thoughts as we head into production. What topics do you want to know more about? Which experts do you want to hear? You can help shape the first season by taking a brief survey at: www.awcim.arizona.edu/podcast

Find the podcast on our website or on popular streaming platforms in 2020!

ALSO SEE:
“Integrative Medicine Pioneer Dr. Andrew Weil Commits $15M to Name UA Center for Integrative Medicine, Bringing Total Giving to $20M” | Posted March 12, 2019