If you're a doctor in today's world, you know helping your patients is becoming more challenging. In conventional medicine, doctors often face pressure to spend limited time with their patients, many of whom have complex chronic conditions. When you can spend only 10 to 15 minutes with a patient, it can be difficult to fully understand their health concerns. This is part of why there is a growing interest among conventional doctors in receiving functional medicine training.
Functional medicine allows doctors to focus on understanding the underlying factors that may contribute to their patient's chronic and acute conditions and support them on their journey to improved health. This article will explore the world of functional medicine training, what to expect, and how to get started.
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The History of Functional Medicine
Functional and Integrative medicine began gaining attention in the 1950s, ’60s, and ’70s. During that era, some healthcare practitioners started using “natural medicine” to address the overall health of individuals. By the 1980s, medical providers were using labs to test various health indicators such as amino acid levels, fatty acids, toxic metals, minerals, vitamins, antioxidants, and hormones. They were addressing chronic health concerns with nutrition, supplements, and exercise and observing positive outcomes.
In 1990, Jeffrey Bland, Ph.D., introduced the term Functional Medicine and began conducting seminars throughout the United States, sharing insights on topics such as gastrointestinal health, immune health, hormone balance, and detoxification. He, along with his wife Susan, founded the first Functional Medicine Institute in 1991.
Functional Medicine Training
Now is an exciting time for Functional Medicine Practitioners; the trend has been growing and gaining attention for the past 50 years. What was once considered “alternative medicine” is now becoming more widely recognized as patients seek support for their chronic health conditions. With this increase in interest, training and courses in Functional Medicine are becoming more available.
Eligible medical professionals can take classes with Rupa University, continuing education courses, or pursue certification in Functional Medicine. If you are interested in any of these options, this article will guide you through some of the most popular choices available.
Functional Medicine Doctor Eligibility
To be eligible for certification as a functional medicine doctor or practitioner, you must have a higher education degree in a health-related field with one of the following credentials: Medical Doctor, Doctor of Osteopathy, Doctor of Chiropractic (DC), Naturopathic Doctor (ND), Dentist, Nurse Practitioner (NP), Acupuncturist (LAc), Pharmacist, mental health professionals, or an equivalent degree from countries outside of the US.
Physician Assistant (PA), Registered Nurse (RN), Registered Dietitian (RD), Occupational Therapist (OT), and Physical Therapist (PT) must hold at least a bachelor’s level degree in their field as long as their education was completed prior to the entry-level education change.
Requirements are constantly changing to keep up with the times. If you have a specific question about eligibility, it is recommended you reach out to the program you are interested in.
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Rupa University
Rupa Health has recently launched Rupa University, an online platform allowing medical providers from various backgrounds to learn more about Functional Medicine.
The types of practitioners who join our programs are a mixture of new functional medicine practitioners, practitioners curious about Functional Medicine but not ready to commit to a complete functional medicine program or those who want to specialize in one area at a time and need more 1-1 guidance.
Bootcamps
Our most popular option is our Rupa Health Bootcamps, which are six-week programs taught by industry professionals and veteran educators. They are designed to teach you the fundamentals of labs, conditions, protocols, and studies surrounding them. They provide detailed, actionable curriculums that help practitioners understand specific topics.
Bootcamps are a combination of pre-recorded modules and live classes (recorded and sent out afterward) for your convenience. This allows you complete control and flexibility in your schedule.
Cost
Cost varies depending on the modules taught. You can learn more about upcoming bootcamps and their cost here.
Rupa University's Free Courses and Content
If you're not ready for bootcamps just yet, Rupa's Health also offers free live classes, podcasts, magazine articles, and case studies from some of the top healthcare experts in functional medicine.
The Institute for Functional Medicine (IFM)
IFM is best known for being one of the first FM institutes as well as its partnership with the Cleveland Clinic and some of its medical “celebrity” educators, including Dr. Mark Hyman and Dr. Terry Wahls.
The Institute for Functional Medicine holds a hybrid of classes including live streaming, online, and in-person seminars. The typical length of time to complete the IFM certification is 2 – 2.5 years. To maintain certification, you must pass a written examination every tenth year and provide a current healthcare practitioner license.
Cost
The program costs between $12,000-$16,000 (includes the price of all programs, application fee, exam fee, and case report fee). This cost does not include the maintenance and renewal of IFM Certification (every ten years).
Modules
- Gut Dysfunction & Chronic Conditions
- Environmental Health (formerly Detox)
- Immune
- Hormone
- Cardiometabolic
- Bioenergetics (formerly Energy)
Kalish Institute
The Kalish Institute for Functional Medicine has trained over 7,000 practitioners worldwide since 2006. The Kalish Institute offers a wide range of course offerings, updated each year to meet the growing needs of today's practitioners. Courses are all online with a live call component and range from 8-week training workshops, Business Essentials, and Lab Interpretation Bootcamps to a 12-month Mentorship Program covering all aspects of business operations and advanced lab interpretation.
Cost
Courses range from $299 for the short-format Bootcamps to $13,490 for the one-year Mentorship Program with Advanced Lab Interpretation. Monthly payment plans are available for most courses.
Modules
- Business Essentials
- Practice Building
- Lab Ordering - GI, Adrenals, Organic Acids
- Lab Interpretation - GI
- Lab Interpretation - Adrenals
- Lab Interpretation - Organic Acids
- Lab Interpretation - Female Hormones
- Mentorship with Advanced Lab Interpretation
- Primary Care
*Note: New courses are added regularly throughout the year.
Functional Medicine University (FMU)
Functional Medicine University is an entirely online functional medicine training program that Dr. Ron Grisanti founded in 2006.
FMU offers a Functional Medicine education program that you can complete at your own pace, but most students complete the training in 6-7 months, with about 10 hours a week of study. FMU’s primary instructor is Dr. Ron Grisanti, but he also has a panel of highly respected medical experts that guest teach many of the classes. At the end of your training, you will receive a Certified Functional Medicine Practitioners (CFMP®) Certification.
FMU is also an approved Continuing Education Provider throughout the US for a wide range of health care entities including MDs, DCs, DOs, NDs, Acupuncturists, Physician Assistants, Nurse Practitioners, Nurses, Dietitians, Pharmacists, and Dentists. (7)
Cost
The total cost of the program is $2,695, payable in six or twelve months—quite a substantial savings in comparison to other certification programs on this list. A unique feature that FMU offers is access to all course materials for up to 30 days once enrolled. If you discover Functional Medicine University is not right for you within those 30 days, you can cancel your registration get a full refund.
Modules
- Introduction to Functional Medicine
- GI System
- Immune System
- Oxidative Stress
- Inflammation
- Detoxification of the Liver
- Neuroendocrine Regulation
- Psychological, Emotional, and Spiritual Balance
- Structural Integrity
- Nutrition
- Case Reviews
Bonus
After completing your CFMP®, you can use your earned 200 hours of Functional Medicine Training towards the 300 hours needed for the American Clinical Board of Nutrition DACBN board examination.
Integrative and Functional Nutrition Academy (IFNA)
The Integrative and Functional Nutrition Academy (IFNA) is one of the industry’s most respected online functional nutrition training and mentoring programs. It was founded by two of the nation’s premier integrative medicine nutritionists, Dr. Sheila Dean and Kathie Swift MS.
One standout feature with IFNA is that anyone over the age of 18 is eligible to take IFNA training, which is an excellent option for anyone wanting to enter the field of integrative medicine but doesn’t currently hold a doctoral degree.
Depending on eligibility, the following options are available to meet your needs:
- Continuing Professional Education (CPEUs)
- Certificate of Training (COT)
- Advanced Practice Credential, Integrative and Functional Nutrition Certified Practitioner (IFNCP)
Cost
The total cost varies based on full-time student rate and optional add-on mentoring. You can check out their fee schedule for a more detailed description and breakdown of all costs.
Modules
IFNA offers 33 modules divided into 5 Tracks that are 100% online and self-paced.
A “food as medicine” approach is central to IFN therapy; thus, an understanding and application of culinary nutrition concepts to support health and wellness are inherent in the curriculum.
IFNA training includes skill-building and competencies in six key clinical areas:
- Whole body systems approach
- Root cause analysis
- Therapeutic elimination diets and food plans
- Conventional and functional diagnostic labs, including nutrigenetic testing
- The art and science of dietary supplements
- Mind-body modalities such as meditation, yoga, breathing techniques, and other lifestyle-oriented coaching practices to support behavior change
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