With a high‑profile symposium, the newly established Professorship for Integrative Healthcare and Prevention, led by Prof. Dr. Christian Keßler, presented itself at the Medical Campus of the University Hospital Augsburg. The full‑day event brought together leading experts in integrative medicine, research, and healthcare, marking an important step in advancing integrative medicine in Bavaria and beyond.

Five thematic fields – one shared vision. Renowned specialists discussed current scientific insights and future perspectives:

• Forest, Nature & Planetary Health – nature‑based therapies and ecological determinants of health

• Integrative Women’s Health – evidence‑based approaches to prevention and care

• Traditional Medicine & Herbs – international perspectives on traditional medical systems

• Mind‑Body Medicine & Mental Health – resilience, spiritual care, and psychosocial well‑being

• Prevention & the Future of Healthcare – new models for sustainable, patient‑centred medicine

• Interdisciplinary Cross‑Talk: Rethinking our healthcare system – moving beyond repair‑oriented medicine

The day was complemented by interactive activities such as Vocal Painting, yoga breakout, and an optional early-morning forest bathing session.

A strong signal for the future of integrative academic healthcare

The potential impact on the future of integrative academic healthcare was highlighted by the strong messages from representatives of politics, the University of Augsburg, and the University Hospital Augsburg. Prof. Keßler and his team outlined the department’s objectives, emphasizing the importance of evidence‑based, patient‑centred, and prevention‑oriented medicine as well as the value of interdisciplinary health research. With the establishment of the statewide network BayKIM, integrative medicine is set to gain stronger regional and international visibility.

Download of the keynote impulse lectures:

Session 1: Prof. Claudia Traidl‑Hoffmann – Forest, Nature and Planetary Health

Session 2: Prof. Claudia Witt – Integrative Women’s Health

Session 3: Prof. Jost Langhorst – Traditional Medicine, Herbs and Mechanisms

Session 4: Prof. Tobias Esch – Mind‑Body Medicine, Mental Health & Spiritual Care

Session 5: Prof. Dobos – Health Promotion, Prevention and Future Perspectives Interdisciplinary

Cross‑Talk: Prof. Boris Augurzky – The End of Repair Medicine – Rethinking Healthcare Systems