Joan Borysenko, Ph.D., is a Harvard-trained cell biologist, licensed psychologist, and one of the founding pioneers of integrative medicine in America. She earned her undergraduate degree magna cum laude from Bryn Mawr College and went on to complete her doctorate in Medical Sciences from Harvard Medical School, followed by postdoctoral training in cancer cell biology. After a personal transformative experience following her father's death from cancer, she redirected her scientific expertise toward understanding the profound relationship between the mind, body, and spirit in healing.
Returning to Harvard for additional postdoctoral work in behavioral medicine under the guidance of Dr. Herbert Benson, Borysenko co-founded one of the nation's first Mind/Body clinics in the early 1980s. Her landmark 1987 book, Minding the Body, Mending the Mind, became a New York Times bestseller and sold over 400,000 copies, with a revised 20th anniversary edition released in 2007. This groundbreaking work introduced millions of readers to the science of psychoneuroimmunology—how thoughts and emotions directly influence physical health—and laid the foundation for the mind-body wellness movement that continues to shape integrative healthcare today.
Over the course of her distinguished career, Borysenko has authored or co-authored more than 16 books and produced numerous multimedia programs, including the widely acclaimed PBS special Inner Peace for Busy People. As a Founding Partner of Mind/Body Health Sciences, LLC, based in Santa Fe, New Mexico, she continues her mission of bridging the gap between science and spirituality, offering practical wisdom to help people heal, grow, and live with greater meaning. Her programs through Nightingale-Conant bring her transformative teachings directly to those seeking to harness the power of the mind-body connection for lasting well-being.
