”Growing up I always questioned if there were other ways to treating illness or ailments - or really just to healing - other than traditional Western medications,” says Beck Inglese ’22.

Becoming a yoga teacher at age 17 gave her a new vision of what holistic health and wellness could be. As a nursing student, Inglese gained certifications in Integrative Health Care and Integrative Health and Wellness Coaching. Now, she’s set to combine the two fields in her career.

“I get to be a nurse and a health coach,” says Inglese, who will join the oncology department at Massachusetts General Hospital after she graduates this month.

“I plan to integrate my integrative and health coaching skills into my nursing practice," she adds. For her capstone research project, Inglese studied the potential for reduction of prescribed opioids and increased utilization of evidence-based integrative therapies as first-line treatment for chronic pain.

“My dream is to empower other people to take care of themselves by listening to and tending to their bodies, minds, and spirits,” she says. "It's amazing to see where I am right now, where I am headed, and all of the invaluable experiences and resources UVM has given me."