Grand Rounds: "Integrative Nutritional Counseling (INC): Traditional Chinese Medicine for Diabetes and Heart Health," Evelyn Y. Ho, PhD; Jane Jih, MD, MPH, MA; and Sunny Pak, MD, MPH
Evelyn Y. Ho, PhD, is a professor of communication studies, Asian Pacific American studies, and critical diversity studies at the University of San Francisco. Beginning with an understanding that communication is a cultural activity and that health care systems and beliefs are profoundly cultural, Professor Ho's teaching and research focus broadly on the intersections of health, culture, and communication, with a specific focus on the use and cultural meanings of acupuncture and Chinese medicine among monolingual Cantonese, Mandarin, and Spanish speakers. Her most recent work has been to co-develop sustainable integrative health equity programs based in Chinese medicine in partnership with On Lok and UCSF. She has led and participated in grant-funded research projects examining Chinese American dietary practices, health beliefs, and communication preferences and created patient education programs that integrate Chinese medicine and biomedicine. You can find some of that work at INCguide.org. Dr. Ho is co-editor of the Wiley International Encyclopedia of Health Communication and serves on the editorial boards of Health Communication, PEC Innovations, Journal of International & Intercultural Research, and the Journal of Intercultural Communication Research.
Jane Jih, MD, MPH, MAS, is an Associate Professor of Medicine in the Division of General Internal Medicine at UCSF where she is a practicing general internist and investigator. Dr. Jih's overall research program aims to reduce health disparities and promote health equity among multiethnic and linguistically diverse adults by developing and evaluating innovative, patient-centered interventions. Her work has focused on the impact of social determinants of health, including race and ethnicity, language and culture, on chronic disease care, particularly among those with multiple chronic conditions; patient-clinician communication about social determinants of health and unmet health-related social needs; and the use of photos as a tool to communicate about health and social factors important in chronic disease care. Dr. Jih is also the Director of the Asian American Research Center on Health (https://asianarch.org/). Previously, she has been a member and Chairperson of the Advisory Committee on Minority Health of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health (2024-2025). Dr. Jih is a member of the editorial board of the journal Health Equity after serving as an Associate Editor.
Sunny Pak, MD, MPH, MSTCM, is a family physician and Associate Medical Director recognized for his practice in both Western and Traditional Chinese Medicine. He currently serves as Associate Medical Director for On Lok PACE in San Francisco. He will begin a new role as Medical Director at the Silver Avenue Family Health Center of the San Francisco Department of Public Health in late 2025.
Dr. Pak received his medical training at the University of California, Davis, and advanced studies in Traditional Chinese Medicine at the American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine. He completed a combined residency in Family Medicine and Preventive Medicine at Loma Linda University Medical Center, a “Blue Zone” known for its population of long-lived Seventh-day Adventists who emphasize spirituality, plant-based diets, and lifestyle balance—values that deepened his appreciation for integrative approaches.
Previously, Dr. Pak practiced at the Chinatown Public Health Center, where he helped develop innovative integrative care programs including acupuncture services. Rooted in his upbringing in Hong Kong and influenced by both Western and Chinese traditions, he is dedicated to advancing holistic, community-centered models of care.
Learning Objectives:
- Describe how to integrate Chinese medicinal nutrition with biomedicine nutrition recommendations for type 2 diabetes and for promoting heart health.
- Explain how integrating Chinese medicine and biomedicine, using a deep culture perspective, can promote integrative health equity.
- Describe the components of the integrative nutritional counseling guide for diabetes and heart health.
Accreditation Statement
In support of improving patient care, the University of California, San Francisco Office of Continuing Medical Education is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
UCSF designates this live activity for a maximum of 10 AMA PRA Category 1 credit(s)TM. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. The credit maximum above reflects all Osher Center for Integrative Health Grand Rounds sessions in Fiscal Year 2026. Up to 1 credit may be claimed against any individual session.
CE for Acupuncturists: This live activity is approved by the State of California Acupuncture Board for 1 hour of Category 1 CE course credit.
Financial Disclosure Statement
Planners: Shelley Adler, PhD, Selena Chan, DO; and Patty Moran, PhD, have no financial relationships to disclose.
Speakers: Jane Jih, MD, MPH and Sunny Pak, MD, MPH, MSTCM have no financial relationships to disclose. Evelyn Y. Ho PhD, disclosed that she serves on the board of Eyes on Health (formerly Healthwise).