Whole Health Curriculum for Health Professions Trainees
This Whole Health training experience at VA Boston is designed to provide Health Professions Trainees (HPTs) with a foundation in the principles and practice of Whole Health and the tools to enhance their ability to provide care to patients.
Whole Health Curriculum
Welcome to the VA Boston Whole Health Training Site for Health Professions Trainees. This free, student-directed, innovative curriculum is offered to health professions trainees and faculty across the country through VA Boston Healthcare System Education Academy. The Student Guide and Faculty Implementation Guide below provide learning objectives and content outlines for a range of topics related to Whole Health and are immediately accessible via the links provided. Also included in these guides are several measures to evaluate the program in order to demonstrate that trainees are acquiring essential knowledge, skills, and confidence to apply Whole Health principles to care for patients and themselves. These measures are not yet validated and are currently used solely for the purpose of internal quality improvement at VA Boston. There will be periodic updates to the curriculum content as well as the program evaluation measures, so we encourage viewers to check back regularly. We welcome your input and encourage you to contact:
Edward Phillips MD
Chief of Whole Health
VA Boston health care
Phone: 617-967-2454
Email: Edward.Phillips@va.gov
Laura Fiore PA-C
Director of PA Education
VA Boston health care
Phone: 857-364-2692
Email: Laura.Fiore@va.gov

Claire Stauffer PA-C, MPH
Physician Assistant-Bariatric surgery
VA Boston health care
Phone: 857-203-4023
David Topor PhD, MS-HPEd
Psychologist; Deputy Associate Chief of Staff for Education (ACOS-E)
VA Boston health care
Phone: 774-826-1010
Email: david.topor@va.gov
Whole Health Training Faculty
- Coming soon!
Required activities
- Direct observation of patient care in clinical settings, including sites throughout the VA Healthcare System
- Small group didactic sessions
- Self-directed readings, case studies, and videos
- Personal Health Behavior Change Project: you will select a particular area of health to change/improve, set personal goals, and monitor your behavior across the rotation
- Research a topic of interest related to Whole Health and present an evidence based summary of the topic supplemented by your rotation experience in a 10-min PowerPoint talk
Note: Participants must attend 80% of all activities and meet all core requirements (see performance evaluation section below) in order to document completion of the rotation.
Performance evaluation
Participants’ knowledge/skill in Whole Health gained during the required activities of this rotation will be evaluated by:
- Pre/Post multiple choice test of knowledge related to Whole Health
- Pre/Post treatment approach for two clinical case vignettes
- Pre/Post self-efficacy questionnaire
Handouts and Test Materials
- Behavior Change Project: The personal health of a medical provider plays an important role in his/her patient encounters.
- Whole Health Pre-Rotation Self-Efficacy Questionnaire.
- Whole Health Rotation Pre/Post Test. Educators may contact susan.mcglynn@va.gov for more information about this multiple choice test.
- Whole Health Pre/Post Clinical Vignettes Assessment.
- Whole Health Post-Rotation Self-Efficacy Questionnaire.