Access the “Advancing Health Care Innovation and Excellence Through Interdisciplinary Collaboration” white paper.
The U.S. healthcare system is experiencing significant transformation driven by rising rates of chronic disease, escalating mental health needs, and the shift toward value-based care. These pressures highlight longstanding fragmentation between physical and behavioral health services, which limits prevention, early intervention, and coordinated treatment.
To address this gap, The Chicago School has implemented a nationwide model that embeds clinical psychology training programs directly within hospitals, primary care practices, and health systems. This approach enables students to train in environments where behavioral and physical healthcare are fully integrated, fostering real-time collaboration with medical teams and supporting holistic, patient-centered treatment.
With the launch of the Illinois College of Osteopathic Medicine (IllinoisCOM), the university takes another step toward this integrated education model with a mind-body curriculum that unites medical and psychology students in shared learning and clinical experiences. This structure prepares both physicians and psychologists to collaboratively assess and address behavioral health needs commonly present in medical settings.
Evidence strongly supports integrated behavioral health as an effective, high-value care strategy. Integrated primary care models have been shown to reduce annual healthcare costs, improve mental health outcomes, and increase patient satisfaction and engagement.
Training students in real-time collaborative settings strengthens behavioral health assessment, brief intervention, and care coordination skills, while expanding health system capacity to meet escalating patient needs. This model also enhances access and equity for underserved communities.
With this publication, Lance Garrison, dean of the College of Professional Psychology at The Chicago School, demonstrates the benefits of integrating clinical psychology trainees into traditional clinical environments and presents the integrated medical education paradigm that leads to scalable, sustainable, and efficient care models across diverse settings. Dr. Garrison also proposes practical steps to accelerate the implementation of integrated care.
If your health system, policymaking body, or academic institution is exploring opportunities to strengthen integrated behavioral health or seeking a partner to embed clinical psychology training within your organization, The Chicago School welcomes the opportunity to collaborate. The Chicago School is committed to building strategic, mutually beneficial partnerships that advance whole‑person care and expand workforce capacity. To begin a conversation about how we can work together, contact Lance Garrison, Ph.D., at [email protected].