Initial draft generated by ZotGPT and edited by Debra Curran
The UC Irvine Sue & Bill Gross School of Nursing has been selected as one of the first two California universities to participate in a groundbreaking national program that will integrate evidence-based psychedelic-assisted therapy education into mainstream nursing curricula. This pioneering initiative positions UC Irvine at the forefront of a revolutionary approach to mental health treatment that could reshape how future nurses address some of society’s most challenging psychological conditions.
The selection represents a significant milestone in nursing education, as research increasingly supports the therapeutic potential of psychedelics in treating complex mental health conditions including depression, anxiety, PTSD, and addiction. By training faculty to incorporate this evidence-based approach into their teaching, UC Irvine is preparing the next generation of nurses to utilize innovative treatments that traditional therapies have often failed to address effectively.
Christopher Cleary, DNP, a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner and assistant clinical professor at the Sue & Bill Gross School of Nursing, is representing UC Irvine and UC Davis in the inaugural cohort of the University Psychedelic Education Program, supported in part by the 1440 Foundation and a growing network of funders. Dr. Cleary is also UC Irvine’s clinical faculty lead in the UC Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Certificate program, a key pipeline for training the next generation of advanced practice mental health nurses. The program plays a vital role in preparing nurse practitioners to integrate emerging therapies into safe, effective and compassionate care.
“This is a bold and timely step toward health education,” Cleary said. “Psychedelics are often misunderstood and stigmatized, but the science tells a different story, and through research, they’re poised to unlock potential paths to healing. My goal is to bring this to healthcare education in a way that supports holistic care – physical, mental, emotional and social well-being.”
Mark Lazenby, dean of the Sue & Bill Gross School of Nursing, said: “Dr. Cleary’s selection affirms our school’s commitment to preparing nurses for the future of mental health care. Psychedelic-assisted therapies are emerging as powerful tools in the treatment of conditions that have long resisted conventional approaches. As part of this national initiative, the Sue & Bill Gross School of Nursing will help lead the development of safe, evidence-based education that equips advanced practice nurses to deliver compassionate, holistic care in a rapidly changing field.”
This initiative directly aligns with the nursing school’s strategic framework, particularly to lessening human vulnerability by committing to expanding treatment options for patients suffering from mental health conditions that have historically been difficult to treat.
Additionally, the psychedelic therapy education program aligns with the school’s core values and intentions to seek out knowledge, leverage technology, make the invisible visible and promote inclusive excellence and antiracism.
By embracing this emerging field of evidence-based practice, UC Irvine demonstrates its commitment to staying at the cutting edge of healthcare innovation while maintaining the rigorous scientific standards that define professional nursing practice.
Mental health conditions, particularly treatment-resistant depression and PTSD, often represent invisible suffering that traditional approaches have struggled to address. By preparing nurses to understand and potentially support psychedelic-assisted therapy, UCI is working to make these hidden struggles more visible and treatable.
Mental health disparities disproportionately affect marginalized communities, and innovative treatment approaches like psychedelic-assisted therapy could help address these inequities by providing new pathways to healing for populations that have been underserved by traditional mental health care systems.
The UC Irvine Sue & Bill Gross School of Nursing strives to produce leaders in research, education, and clinical practice who will champion collaborative, compassionate, and interdisciplinary evidence-based practice. This psychedelic therapy education initiative exemplifies this commitment by preparing nursing faculty and students to engage with an inherently interdisciplinary field that requires collaboration between nurses, physicians, therapists, and researchers.The UC Irvine Sue & Bill Gross School of Nursing’s selection for this national program supports its efforts to promote the profession, attract increased investment, and position the nursing school as a leader in innovative mental health education.
