Celebrating Our 2024 Achievements: Thank You to Our Global Community

As we wrap up another incredible year at ACHS, we’re filled with gratitude and excitement for what’s to come in 2025. The integrative health and wellness field continues to thrive, offering boundless opportunities for students, graduates, and professionals to make meaningful impacts in their communities and beyond.

Each year, I am honored and humbled at the incredible ways our students, graduates, staff, and faculty bring our mission and vision to life, focusing each day on helping others and striving to bring health, wellness, and greener futures to global communities. Through their work as practitioners, educators, product formulators, advisors, coaches, and so much more, our community is helping individuals embrace wellness as a lifestyle. There are so many milestones we are proud of this year that inspire us all heading into 2025. Here are just a few highlights:

Passion Into Practice: Graduates Share Their Expertise

We’re incredibly proud of the expertise our graduates bring to the world and the diverse professions they pursue to promote wellness and foster well-being. From launching wellness practices to leading groundbreaking initiatives in integrative health, they inspire us with their dedication to helping others thrive. This year, several alumni and ACHS faculty shared their insights in our webinar series, showcasing their leadership and knowledge in wellness, business skills, building a natural product line, women’s health, and more:

Browse our full Webinar Archive for more inspiration.

Innovation at ACHS

New Courses

This year, we introduced new courses and micro-credentials, including the Wellness Business Operations Specialist™ to support graduates in diverse roles across the wellness industry. This micro-credential is designed for aspiring entrepreneurs looking to launch their own wellness ventures. It is also tailored for small business owners aiming to enhance their managerial or financial skills and increase their customer base.

ACHS ACE Initiative

In 2024, ACHS launched its ACE Initiative, AI for Community Engagement (ACE): Advancing Communication, Teaching, and Learning. This innovative program is designed to leverage AI tools to directly enhance the student experience, foster community engagement through individualized and adaptive outreach, and position ACHS at the forefront of using AI to support integrative health and wellness outcomes and graduate professional pathways.

Expanded Community Support

In partnership with TimelyCare, ACHS is proud to offer enhanced student services to support our community, including financial coaching, career services, and academic coaching, reflecting our commitment to holistic wellness. Current students can connect with these services online here.

Living Our Sustainability Mission

ACHS is proud to keep sustainability at the forefront of all we do, from supporting sustainability in raw ingredients, including botanicals and essential oils essential to wellness professionals, to supporting educational initiatives that promote sustainability on a global scale. Here are just a few of the achievements we’re proud of in 2024:

Announced Inaugural Sustainability Expo to be held in March 2025:

With renowned speakers and exhibitors who share our values for prioritizing the wellness of people, the planet, and plants, attendees will learn the latest trends and opportunities to support sustainability from regenerative farming to eco-conscious practices.

Participation in the Sustainable Herbs Initiative:

ACHS Dean of Herbal Medicine Dr. Judith Thompson represents ACHS as part of the Sustainable Herbs Initiative (SHI) Learning Lab and collaborates with suppliers and other participants to promote sustainability in the botanical supply chain. SHI works to address critical questions concerning the ethical sourcing and sustainable production of medicinal plants. Learn more here and visit the SHI website for resources to share with your community and more ways to get involved.

Looking Ahead

At ACHS, we’re proud to support your journey in integrative health and wellness. Together, we’re creating a healthier, more sustainable world and demonstrating the transformative power of education and community.

Here’s How You Can Prepare for 2025:

Stay Informed: Attend webinars, like our upcoming panel on mental health strategies and AI integration, to stay ahead of the curve. View upcoming events.

Expand Your Skills: Explore micro-credentials or certifications to deepen your expertise in emerging areas. Explore professional development opportunities.

Build Your Network: Connect with ACHS alumni and industry professionals through our LinkedIn groups and events. Follow ACHS and join the conversation.

Lead with Sustainability: Incorporate eco-conscious practices into your work, whether you’re creating products or providing services. Learn more about ACHS’s impact.

Thank you again to our entire community for your commitment to wellness and helping others. Together, we are making a difference, and we’re proud to do this important work with you all!

What are you most proud of for 2024? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Corporate Education Partnerships

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Tracey Abell, ACHS President

Tracey grew up in Portland, Oregon, where her grandmother, a nurse, professor, and organizational management expert with a background in holistic healing, introduced her to holistic health at a young age. Inspired by her grandmother’s dedication to healthcare and education, Tracey began her own education journey in the field of massage by attending the East West College of Healing Arts, where she developed a deep appreciation for the interconnectedness of body systems and how wellness can have an impact on quality of life. This experience reinforced her interest in pursuing a career where she could help others. In 2002, Tracey joined the American College of Healthcare Sciences (ACHS), where she gained expertise in admissions, academic operations, accreditation, compliance, and strategic growth. As an adult learner herself, earning her BS in Business Management from Western Governors University and an MS in Education with a specialization in Leadership in Higher Education from Capella University, Tracey understands firsthand the needs of post-traditional students. She is committed to ensuring ACHS meets students where they are, providing flexible, high-quality education that helps them achieve their goals. As President and CEO of ACHS, Tracey leads with a focus on academic excellence, innovation, and student success. She works with teams to expand opportunities for students and graduates, ensuring that ACHS remains a leader in accredited integrative health education. Her expertise spans higher education accreditation and compliance, program development, and strategic institutional leadership. She also has extensive experience navigating multi-state finance, HR, and academic regulations. Tracey is active in the distance education community, engaging in advocacy to enhance the recognition and value of online learning. Since 2014, she has served as a Business Standards and Title IV evaluator for the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC) and currently serves as a DEAC Commissioner and member of the DEAC Board of Directors. “I am inspired by our students and graduates and the work they are doing to transform healthcare and promote wellness in their community using the ACHS integrative health and wellness education. I'm also proud of our staff and faculty who live our mission through their dedication and passion for making a difference in the world and helping students make their dreams a reality. Education is about so much more than gaining knowledge. At ACHS, education is about community, innovation, and empowering others to embrace wellness as a lifestyle. It is an honor to lead an institution with a mission to make the world a more sustainable and healthier place for all.”