Applying Functional Medicine in Clinical Practice™ (AFMCP)
At AFMCP, expert educators provide case-based, interactive presentations using real-world situations to model the use of a suite of new clinical tools. These tools help clinicians make more personalized assessments, design appropriate treatments to address each patient’s unique combination of history, genetics, and lifestyle, and guide patients through the sometimes difficult process of making sustainable lifestyle changes that lead to better outcomes. Integrating the simple strategies of modifiable lifestyle factors in a healthcare plan can help patients feel more empowered to take charge of their own health, thereby increasing overall health and well-being.
AFMCP May 2024
90-day online cohort
May 13 - August 11, 2024
- Online Learning
- Up to 33.5 CME Credits Available
+ Elimination Diet Challenge
Included in the Applying Functional Medicine in Clinical Practice course is the opportunity to participate in an experiential, five-week Elimination Diet course with support from a certified health coach, a $400 value. This course increases your confidence in applying this critical tool into practice and provides a first-hand experience of the value that health coaches can bring to a care team.
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- The evidence base for the functional medicine paradigm, principles, and practice.
- How to design dietary, nutraceutical, and lifestyle interventions to improve patient engagement in treatment and their resulting outcomes.
- How to integrate assessment tools to evaluate and diagnose patients using a functional medicine approach.
- How to apply key elements of the functional medicine model in clinical practice.
- Effective strategies for establishing a mutually empowering partnership between clinician and patient.
ACCME Accreditation Statement: The Institute for Functional Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
AMA Credit Designation Statement: The Institute for Functional Medicine designates this other activity (a semi-synchronous online cohort) for a maximum of 33.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Who is AFMCP designed for?
IFM encourages a multidisciplinary approach to patient care. We welcome a variety of licensed healthcare disciplines to AFMCP, including MDs, DOs, NDs, DCs, physician assistants, nursing professionals, and nutrition professionals.
Can I take another course before taking AFMCP?
Many learners find taking AFMCP first helps them to understand IFM’s proprietary tools, such as the Functional Medicine Matrix, and provides context for the skills, processes, and science behind incorporating Functional Medicine principles into practice. The course is offered multiple times each year in order to meet the needs of clinicians wishing to begin their IFM education with AFMCP. AFMCP is not, however, a prerequisite to take any IFM course if you are comfortable with the material to be presented.
Will I be certified as a Functional Medicine practitioner after attending AFMCP?
No. AFMCP is one of seven required courses in the IFM Certification Program. In addition to AFMCP, you must complete the six Advanced Practice Modules as required coursework for the IFM Certification Program.
Will I be listed on the Find A Practitioner search after I attend AFMCP?
After attending AFMCP, you will be eligible to list your profile in our Find A Practitioner search as long as you are also enrolled in the IFM Membership Program. Before your profile is listed, however, you must fill in your practice information within your account profile to activate your profile to appear in the search.
Learn New Tools for Treating Common Conditions
A mutually empowering patient-practitioner relationship is a key element of the functional medicine model.
Insights and Research Discussed at AFMCP
Who is AFMCP designed for?
IFM encourages a multidisciplinary approach to patient care. We welcome a variety of licensed healthcare disciplines to AFMCP, including MDs, DOs, NDs, DCs, physician assistants, nursing professionals, and nutrition professionals.
Can I take another course before taking AFMCP?
Many learners find taking AFMCP first helps them to understand IFM’s proprietary tools, such as the Functional Medicine Matrix, and provides context for the skills, processes, and science behind incorporating Functional Medicine principles into practice. The course is offered multiple times each year in order to meet the needs of clinicians wishing to begin their IFM education with AFMCP. AFMCP is not, however, a prerequisite to take any IFM course if you are comfortable with the material to be presented.
Will I be certified as a Functional Medicine practitioner after attending AFMCP?
No. AFMCP is one of seven required courses in the IFM Certification Program. In addition to AFMCP, you must complete the six Advanced Practice Modules as required coursework for the IFM Certification Program.
Will I be listed on the Find A Practitioner search after I attend AFMCP?
After attending AFMCP, you will be eligible to list your profile in our Find A Practitioner search as long as you are also enrolled in the IFM Membership Program. Before your profile is listed, however, you must fill in your practice information within your account profile to activate your profile to appear in the search.
Improving Access to Functional Medicine Care
Delivering cost-effective collaborative care with tools such as group visits helps support health in underserved communities.
Chronobiology & Circadian Medicine
The consideration of an individual’s regulatory clock genes and “chronotype” may help create a more personalized treatment.
Hearing Loss: Risk Factor for Dementia?
Hearing loss is a common condition affecting adults as they age. What is the connection between hearing loss and cognitive health?
Connections Between Leaky Gut and Arthritis
Research suggests that gut dysbiosis may contribute to the pathology of some rheumatic diseases.
Nutrigenomics: Personalizing Diets
A person’s gene-nutrient interactions as well as variations of gut microbiome composition are informing new dietary therapies.
Understanding PTSD with Polyvagal Theory
Research on polyvagal theory and the autonomic nervous system is expanding care options for trauma & mental health concerns.
Leer artículos de AFMCP en español
- Micronutrientes, fitonutrientes y salud mental >
- El microbioma y el dolor en los pacientes con enfermedades autoinmunitarias >
- Determinantes ambientales y del estilo de vida en las enfermedades alérgicas >
- La naturaleza multidireccional de la enfermedad mental, la enfermedad crónica y el sueño >
- Las necesidades espirituales, el estrés y las respuestas cardiovasculares >
AFMCP provides so much useful information and tools regarding functional medicine and is led by practitioners with such an enormous wealth of knowledge. The online course is great and allows you to work at your own pace when your personal life schedule permits. I 100% enjoyed this course and would recommend it to any practitioner who is interested in true patient healing. I am looking forward to studying and utilizing all of the wonderful handouts in the toolkit. Thank you IFM for such an amazing course led by the best of the best.
AFMCP Online Attendee
AFMCP provides a forward-thinking approach to health that applies functional medicine and patient care techniques to expand conventional practice. AFMCP has quality instructors with diverse clinical experiences, interactive demonstrations of content that take large concepts and break them down into an easy to understand information, and tools already written up to take the information to patients Monday morning. This is a great program!
AFMCP Online Attendee
A great overview of many topics that really ignite the curiosity about looking at patients differently through the lens of functional medicine. Since the course I keep these tools at the forefront of my mind, and I can't wait to gain experience in implementing these tools.
AFMCP Online Attendee
Connecting to our patients through functional medicine helps us empower them to become participants and advocate for healing. Watching such a fusion of science and art in medicine is fascinating. So if you want to be proactive, learn the tools of this modern 21st-century medicine.
AFMCP Online Attendee
It is an amazing course to take because it opens your eyes to the importance of providing holistic care and taking a careful history. There are so many factors that can contribute to disease and dysfunction and we will most likely miss them if we don't take time to listen.
AFMCP Online Attendee
Eye-opening course! You discover a new way to approach symptoms, treat patients as a whole person, dive into the deepest causes of their imbalances, and engage with them to discover ways to return to optimal health. Plus IFM offers an excellent toolkit for use in clinical practice.
AFMCP Online Attendee
Functional Medicine for All Scholarship
IFM is committed to ensuring access to functional medicine for all, and that begins with providing more opportunities for our practitioners and clinicians. Learn more about the Functional Medicine for All Scholarship & sign up to be notified about additional opportunities >
Learn About Our AFMCP Educators
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