Helene M. Langevin, M.D.
January 9, 2024

As we have explored factors that influence the health of the whole person, it has become increasingly evident that interrelationshipsbetween different body organs and systems, between genetics and environment, and between the mind and bodyare crucial in both health and disease. Even when were focusing on a single disease process, we need to consider multiple mechanisms and parts of the body, as well as peoples lifestyles and environments, to fully understand how best to prevent or manage it.

This emphasis on connections was a major theme of the 2023 Stephen E. Straus Distinguished Lecture in the Science of Complementary Therapies, presented by Ahmed Tawakol, M.D., of Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School. In his lecture,Novel Insights Into Heart-Brain Interactions and Neurobiological Resilience, Dr. Tawakol discussed his pioneering research on the neural and immune mechanisms through which stress, lifestyle, and resilience influence the risk of cardiovascular disease.