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We were profoundly honored to come together on May 19, 2026 in celebration of the visionary leadership and enduring legacy of Dr. John and Susan Tew, whose commitment has helped shape a bold new future for the UC Osher Center for Integrative Health. Their belief in a more compassionate, comprehensive model of care is transforming what is possible for patients, families, and our community. It was a powerful evening that reflected not only their impact, but the shared purpose of all who are advancing this work.
Guests experienced the new UC Osher Wellness Suite and John and Carrie Hayden Community Learning Kitchen by sampling experiences, including Food as Medicine, Art and Music as Medicine and Nature as Medicine.
Program Highlights:
Donate now to the Sempre Sano Fund in honor of John and Susan Tew.
Event Details:
Meet Sarah Couch, PhD
Sarah Couch is a professor and the Director of the Graduate Program in Nutrition in the Department of Rehabilitation, Exercise and Nutrition Sciences at the University of Cincinnati. She is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist specializing in translating evidence-based dietary recommendations in chronic disease prevention and treatment for clinical applications. Dr. Couch has worked collaboratively with teams of health care professionals to educate patients, students, and professionals in food literacy toward greater adherence to healthy eating patterns conducive to minimizing chronic disease risk. With over 30 years of teaching experience, she has been active in many leadership roles including serving on the Advisory Panel on Nutrition and Hypertension State of Food and Nutrition and on the Council on Research Implementation Subcommittee of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND). She also served as president of the Greater Cincinnati Dietetic Association and on the Board of Editors of the Journal of AND.
2025 Lifestlye Medicine & Wellness Series: a free virtual community presentation exploring the roots and modern-day relevance of yoga, including what yoga is, its role in prevention, and the wide range of therapeutic benefits.
The session includes a brief experiential practice and time for open Q&A. Whether you're new to yoga or curious to deepen your understanding, all are welcome!
Led by Tina Walter, C-IAYT, Oncology Yoga Therapist
Tina Walter, C-IAYT, is a Mind-Body Intervention Specialist at the Osher Center for Integrative Health at UC, where she provides evidence-based yoga therapy interventions to patients and their caregivers throughout their cancer journey from prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and end of life.
For over a decade, Tina has designed and provided protocols for patients in the clinical areas of inpatient and outpatient oncology at local hospitals to manage the adverse effects of treatment and improve clinical outcomes. She teaches meditation and both private and group yoga classes for cancer at UC Health and the Cancer Support Community.
Tina is certified by The International Association of Yoga Therapists and has advanced training in yoga for cancer and chronic illness. She is past Chair of the Yoga SIG for the Society for Integrative Oncology and is a contributing author of a book on yoga therapy for cancer. She has co-authored published articles including a manuscript on the efficacy of yoga therapy during cancer treatment and has presented her research on a similar topic at local and national conferences. At present, Tina is studying to become a board-certified health coach, adding another dimension to her yoga therapy credentials.
A mother of five children, Tina resides in Cincinnati with her husband, Bob. In her free time, she enjoys gardening, cooking, walking in nature, and taking care of their new grandbaby.
The Move the Body, Still the Mind: Mind-body Movement for Whole Person Health in Chronic Disease will feature Gloria Yeh, MD, MPH, Director at the Harvard Osher Center for Integrative Health
Dr. Yeh is Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. Her research program is based in the Division of General Medicine at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, where she serves as the Division’s Director of Mind-Body Research, and Director of the HMS Research Fellowship in Integrative Medicine (NIH T32 postdoctoral training fellowship). She also serves as the Director of Clinical Research at the Osher Center for Integrative Health at Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital.
Dr. Yeh’s primary research focus is efficacy and mechanism of mind-body exercise in complex chronic illness. She is an internationally recognized leader in the field of mind-body research, including tai chi, yoga, and meditation. Nationally, Dr. Yeh is currently serving as Vice Chair of the Academic Consortium for Integrative Medicine and Health and has served as a member of the NIH National Advisory Council for Complementary and Integrative Health.
An experiential reception was also held on Monday, October 28 from 5-7 p.m. at the UC Gardner Neuroscience Institute.
View pictures from the reception
September 17, 2024, from 7-8 PM: Music as Medicine
According to a growing body of research, listening to or making music affects the brain in ways that may help promote health and manage disease symptoms. Performing or listening to music activates a variety of structures in the brain that are involved in thinking, sensation, movement, and emotion. This type of brain activity may have physical and psychological benefits.
The Details: September 17, 2024, from 7-8 p.m. virtually via zoom. A recording of this event will be emailed to anyone who registers for this program.
Download and share the event flyer.
Meet Betsey Zenk Nuseibeh, MM, MEd, MT-BC
Betsey Zenk Nuseibeh, MM, MEd, MT-BC teaches the MEDs 2090 Music and Health course at the UC College of Medicine for undergraduate students. Betsey is a predoctoral research fellow at the Indiana University School of Nursing, building a program of research with a focus on improving health-related quality of life for cancer survivors through the use of music interventions. Betsey has worked in the field of music and music therapy for 20 years and founded Melodic Connections in 2008, a non-profit community music therapy studio providing services to all ages and abilities and creating partnerships with key institutions in the city including the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, The Alzheimer’s Association of Greater Cincinnati, and Cincinnati Public Schools. Betsey received her BM in Music Therapy from the University of Iowa. She has an MM in Oboe Performance from the University of Cincinnati, College Conservatory of Music, and her MEd from the University of Cincinnati in Special Education.
March 19, 2024, from 7-8 PM: Nature as Medicine with Barbara Walker, PhD in collaboration with the Cincinnati Parks Foundation
Learn the science behind the healing power of nature!
Did you know that according to the Environmental Protection Agency, Americans spend 93% of their time indoors? This is concerning because spending time in nature has been shown to have many health benefits. Being in nature can help reduce anxiety, lower blood pressure, enhance immune system function, and boost self-esteem and mood. People living with chronic conditions like hypertension, diabetes, cancer, depression, and anxiety, as well as those pre- and post-surgery, have been shown to have improved health outcomes when spending time in nature.
The Details: March 19, 2024, from 7-8 p.m. virtually via zoom. A recording of this event will be emailed to anyone who registers for this program.
Click here to download and share the Nature as Medicine event flyer!
Dr. Walker currently serves as an Integrative Health and Performance Psychologist within the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine and UC Health, where she provides consultations to a wide variety of patients to facilitate their optimal effectiveness, whether for performance in sport or within their career, coping with illness or injury, and/or a desire to improve areas associated with lifestyle for overall health and well-being. She specializes in the use of biofeedback, mind-body techniques, high performance strategies, and lifestyle medicine as tools for teaching self-regulation. Barbara also teaches Sport and Positive Psychology as an associate adjunct professor in the Psychology Department, as well as Nature-Based Therapies and Ecopsychology, and co-teaches The Science and Practice of Mind-Body Medicine within the College of Medicine at the University of Cincinnati.
Dr. Walker earned her master’s degree in health psychology, her doctorate in clinical psychology with an emphasis in exercise and sport psychology and is a licensed clinical psychologist. Barbara has consulted with multiple professional and university athletic teams and individuals, Fortune 100 and 500 companies and their executives, physicians, and first responders. Barbara is a regular presenter at local and national professional conferences and workshops, has authored multiple chapters in professional texts, and is a regular contributor to national periodicals. She has appeared as a guest expert on multiple radio and television programs. She currently serves on the board of directors for the Cincinnati Flying Pig Marathon. She is a member of the American Psychological Association, the Association of Applied Sport Psychology, the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, as well as a member of the sport psychology registry with the United States Olympic Committee. Barbara demonstrates a lifelong passion for peak performance principles applying them in her own professional and personal life as a former competitive athlete in the sports of marathon, triathlon, duathlon, and cycling. She now mindfully trains for life- currently cycling, hiking, practicing yoga, organic gardening and spending time with family, friends, being outside as much as she can!
Download the recipes. Choose to focus on your health and well-being this holiday season!
Culinary medicine is an educational and nutritional approach to improving eating behaviors and overall health by focusing on food shopping, storage, and meal preparation skills. During this virtual event, you will learn about the science and evidence behind a plant-based eating pattern and the benefits to your health as well as how to cook healthy, delicious meals you and your family will love this holiday season!
Date/Time: Tuesday, November 14 from 6-7:30 p.m.
Location: virtual via zoom
Cost: free!
Even if you cannot attend, all registrants will receive the event recording and recipes.>
Format: Pamela Sharpe, FNP-BC, nurse practitioner and trained chef, will give a presentation that includes tips to help you thrive this holiday season. Chef Stephanie Michalak-White will then lead participants through a healthy cooking demonstration followed of recipes you can use this season including:
Pamela Sharpe, FNP-BC
Nurse Practitioner & Chef, Osher Center for Integrative Health
Pamela Sharpe is a nurse practitioner for the Osher Center specializing in integrative and lifestyle medicine. Trained as a chef, her journey started with food as she wanted to create higher-quality nutritional meals for her family and friends, some of whom were affected adversely by chronic health and lifestyle-related conditions. Seeking to gain an even greater understanding, she went on to receive her Bachelor’s in Food and Nutrition with Pre-Med and Chemistry. This helped to provide a greater understanding of advanced nutrition, biochemistry, and human metabolism as related to wellness, diseases, and chronic conditions. Armed with this knowledge, she went on to gain graduate-level training and experience as an ANCC Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner.
Stephanie White, EdD
Chef, Osher Center for Integrative Health
Chef Stephanie Michalak White, EdD joined the Osher Center Culinary Medicine team in 2022. She has worked in the hospitality industry for over a decade and has a doctorate in Higher Education Leadership from Maryville University. During her doctoral studies, her research focused on food insecurity in higher education. Stephanie helps oversee two online academic programs for the Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts and works with the Osher Center for Integrative Health at UC teaching food as medicine principles.
January 9, 2024, from 6:30-8:30 PM: How & Why to Start a Mindfulness Practice with Sian Cotton, PHD and Meriden McGraw, MS, MPH
The benefits of a regular mindfulness practice may include decreased stress and anxiety, increased focus and concentration, and improved sleep, communication, relationships, and physical well-being. These benefits can come from brief practices integrated into your day, but habitual practice is key for sustaining improvements.
Learn simple techniques to incorporate mindfulness into your busy, everyday life and see how your life can change.
The Details: Tuesday, January 9 2024 from 6:30-07:30 p.m. virtually via zoom
Please note: a recording of this event will not be available afterward. You must attend the event to view the speaker's presentation.
Download and share the How & Why to Start a Mindfulness Practice event flyer! (PDF)
Registration is closed. Please email osher.integrative@uc.edu with questions.
Meet Meriden McGraw, MS, MPH | Certified MSBR Teacher | Wholebeing Institute Positive Psychology Coach
Meriden combines her master's level education in mental and public health with her training in mind-body modalities to teach individuals and groups techniques for optimal well-being. To date, Meriden has completed twenty-seven different teacher trainings both nationally and internationally and holds various certifications in prayanma (breath techniques), positive psychology, mindfulness, and yoga. Meriden has worked with a variety of populations such as professional athletic teams including both the Cincinnati Bengals and the Cleveland Browns, corporate lawyers and their clients, human resource departments, veterans, mental health professionals, families, and adolescent girls. Meriden’s mission is to make these techniques simple and applicable for life in the 21st century so she can help her clients be their best selves personally and professionally, thus enhancing overall organizational performance and societal wellbeing
Meet Sian Cotton, PHD | Director, Osher Center for Integrative Health | Professor, Department of Family & Community Medicine, UC College of Medicine
Dr. Cotton is a licensed clinical psychologist and founding director of the UC Center for Integrative Health and Wellness and UC Health Integrative Medicine. A Professor in the Departments of Family and Community Medicine and Pediatrics, Dr. Cotton has an active research lab with ongoing clinical studies focusing primarily on mindfulness-based interventions and integrative medicine practice-based research. In 2007, Dr. Cotton was awarded a K23 career development award by the National Institutes of Health to examine the role of spiritual coping and health-related quality of life in adolescents with a chronic illness. A former Board member for the Academic Consortium of Integrative Medicine and Health, she is often invited to speak with community organizations and businesses, healthcare audiences, and academics about mind-body medicine for stress reduction, and preventive and wellness-based approaches to healthcare.
The Osher Center partnered with the Cincinnati Parks Foundation on an exciting BLINK installation created in partnership with Kolar Design, Moerlein Lager House, Warm Construction, Hollywood Casino and Graphic Village, at the Schmidlapp Lawn of Smale Riverfront Park, adjacent to Moerlein. The Cincinnati Parks Foundation’s installation highlighted the healing nature of Cincinnati's parks, and their emerging partnership with the Osher Center for Integrative Health at the University of Cincinnati. The Foundation provided a mindfulness-to-movement experience with a focus on community and wellness to give attendees different ways to experience the park from day to night.
View photos from the event.
BLINK Class Schedule
Join Cincinnati Parks Foundation and the Osher Center for Integrative Health at the University of Cincinnati at the Schmidlapp Lawn at Smale Riverfront Park for special classes that emphasize the connection of nature and wellness.
Friday, October 18, 2024:
Saturday, October 19, 2024:
Sunday, October 20, 2024:
What is BLINK?
BLINK is the nation's largest immersive event. The awe-inspiring free public art event takes place over four nights in the urban core of Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky with large-scale projection mapping, media light sculptures, murals, and more by local, national, and international artists.
The immersive experience is made possible through the collaboration of the Cincinnati Parks, Osher Center for Integrative Health, Kolar Design, Moerlein Lager House, Clear Sound Design, Graphic Village, Warm Construction, and High Tech Signs.
VIew pictures from the event here!
An Evening of Wellness in Nature at Ault Park
An evening wellness retreat at Ault Park co-hosted by the Osher Center for Integrative Health at the University of Cincinnati and the Cincinnati Parks Foundation
Harness the healing power of nature and invest in your well-being through a myriad of experiential sessions led by Osher Center practitioners at beautiful Ault Park. Research shows that time in nature can improve your mood, mindset, and mental health.
The evening will include four wellness sessions (detailed below) in addition to a light, healthy picnic dinner.
Date Thursday, September 7 from 4 - 7 p.m.
Location Ault Park Pavilion 5090 Observatory Cir. Cincinnati, OH 45208 Head to the Great Lawn and giant flag pole (located below the fountain) to check in on the day of the event.
Registration & Cost
Parking
Free street parking is available along Observatory Circle and Heekin and parking lots along the north side of Observatory Circle. Head to the Great Lawn and giant flag pole (located below the fountain) to check in on the day of the event.
Additional Information
A light picnic dinner will be provided following the experiential sessions. Please bring a yoga mat/blanket and a water bottle. Water stations will be available for you to refill your water bottle throughout the event.
REGISTER NOW
Wellness Sessions
Spend an evening engaging in practices to build long-lasting wellness for your mind and body. Spend time with nature and the horses at the Saddlelake Equestrian Center and find your inner peace through a myriad of experiential sessions hosted by the Osher Center for Integrative Health at the University of Cincinnati.
Date
Thursday, May 18 from 4 - 7 p.m.
Location
Saddle Lake Equestrian Center 2369 Nelson Rd Camp Springs, KY 41059
Plant Based Power Hour with Dr. Chef Stephanie Michalak White
The Virtual Lifestyle Medicine and Wellness Series are free, virtual events scheduled throughout the year focused on different lifestyle medicine and wellness topics. These events are free and open to the UC + Cincinnati community.
Food as Medicine: From Farm to Farmacy
October 20, 2022
Healthy Sleep
July 14, 2022
Resources:
Gratitude as Medicine
November 18, 2021
An Introduction to the Health Benefits of Kombucha
April 28, 2021
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Medical Sciences Building Suite 4358231 Albert Sabin WayPO Box 670582 Cincinnati, OH 45267-0582
Mail Location: 0582Phone: 513-558-2310Email: osher.integrative@uc.edu