UCI Health cardiologist Shaista Malik, MD, PhD, MPH, has been named director of the Susan Samueli Center for Integrative Medicine. The center was established in 2001 to conduct rigorous fundamental and clinical research on complementary healing practices, combining the expertise of conventional medicine with alternative approaches.
Malik is also director of the UCI Health Preventive Cardiology Program and an expert in women’s cardiovascular health. She was introduced to the Samueli Center while completing her fellowship at the University of California, Irvine School of Medicine, under the leadership of cardiologist Dr. John Longhurst, the center’s previous director.
Integrative medicine incorporates traditional Western medicine with alternative or complementary treatments such as acupuncture, massage, herbal medicine, biofeedback and yoga to treat the whole person, not just the disease. The center offers clinical services in acupuncture, naturopathy, herbal medicine, nutritional supplements and a therapeutic lifestyle program that includes a personalized diet plan and exercise program.