The Institute for Functional Medicine

12/12/2025

Chronic pain is a complex condition that affects many people worldwide and has been increasingly recognized as a biopsychosocial condition. Due to the medical complexity of chronic pain, a multimodal treatment strategy that includes effective nonpharmacological approaches is important to consider. What are the foundational components of the functional medicine model that support personalized treatment strategies for chronic pain?

In the following video, IFM educator David Haase, MD, IFMCP, discusses the functional medicine approach to chronic pain and explores those perspectives that may help empower patients in their healing journey. Read more about chronic pain management here: https://go.ifm.org/4rRkNqy

12/11/2025

Important updates to the new Functional Medicine Certification Program™ will be announced soon. Sign up for notifications and be the first to know about the 2026 pilot program, application availability, maintenance of certification, and more. Learn more about Certification and sign up for updates here: https://go.ifm.org/3KG3OHc

12/10/2025

IFM is excited to announce key leadership appointments further strengthening our Medical Education department and expanding clinical expertise at the executive level. With demand for functional medicine education rising, these appointments enable IFM to broaden its educational impact, advance new initiatives, and prepare for the launch of the new Functional Medicine Certification Program™ in 2026.

Robert Luby, MD, IFMCP, current director of Medical Education, transitions to IFM’s Executive Office to serve as Strategic Advisor of Medical Affairs. To further strengthen and scale functional medicine education and position IFM for future growth, IFM is honored to announce Kelechi Uduhiri, MD, IFMCP, and Christopher Spooner, ND, BSc, to serve as codirectors of IFM’s Medical Education department alongside current director Michelle Harreld, MS in nutrition.

“Expanding our leadership team reflects both the momentum of functional medicine and IFM’s commitment to delivering high-quality education, certification, and practitioner support,” said IFM CEO Amy R. Mack, MSES/MPA. “With the addition of these new members to the IFM Team, we are even better positioned to ensure the widespread adoption of functional medicine for patients and practitioners worldwide.”

Read the full press release here: https://go.ifm.org/4pBsU9i

12/09/2025

Cardiovascular disease and metabolic syndrome continue to be leading causes of mortality for patients worldwide. Do you have the tools to effectively intervene? With functional medicine, you can change the trajectory of disease by providing patients with personalized dietary and lifestyle recommendations that transform their health. In the Cardiometabolic Advanced Practice Module (APM) you’ll learn how to deepen your clinical evaluation, apply risk assessment to identify early indicators of cardiometabolic dysfunction, and gain other therapeutic tools to support overall health. Join the experts starting February 2 for this 6-week online course. Sign up here: https://go.ifm.org/3Y44R6Z

12/08/2025

Is it just "growing pains" or something deeper?

Earlier this year, we invited pediatric gastroenterologist Rebecca Carey, MD, MS, CNSC, IFMCP onto our podcast to discuss foood allergies, intolerances, and sensitivities from a pediatric perspective. In the following clip, Dr. Carey reveals the non-GI symptoms of food intolerances that many parents and providers miss, including leg pain, attention issues, and delayed puberty.

Visit the following link to listen to the full episode on pediatric gut health: https://go.ifm.org/3MwGBaO

12/05/2025

There’s still time to submit your poster application for AIC 2026, but the deadline is approaching fast. Poster applications are due by December 15, 2025.

Showcase your research and the positive impact that functional medicine can have on several areas of healthcare and patient care. This opportunity can enhance your professional credibility and is your chance to:

🌎Present at the largest gathering of functional medicine practitioners in the world.
👩‍🏫Share your work through a 20-minute presentation and digital display throughout the conference.
📰Submit your manuscript for potential publication in a special edition of Integrative Medicine: A Clinician’s Journal (IMCJ).

Submissions must align with the functional medicine model of care and follow the functional medicine research checklist. Review poster requirements and submit your proposal here: https://go.ifm.org/48Qxt9L

12/03/2025

Gut imbalances and dysbiosis have been tied to an increased risk of developing colorectal cancer (CRC). To clarify the gut dysbiosis/CRC relationship, research studies have been investigating shared gut microbial signatures that may be associated with CRC development and disease progression. A recent meta-analysis collected and analyzed gut microbiome data from patients with CRC as well as healthy controls and identified gut microbiome profiles potentially predictive of CRC. Learn more about the findings in the following article:

Cancer Gut Health & Patterns of Dysbiosis in Colorectal Cancer Development Practitioner | Reading Time: 4 minutes | Written on: September 3, 2025 By Machell Collier, MSSenior Marketing & Clinical Content Specialist, IFM Gut health is closely tied to overall health, and a breakdown of the intestinal...

12/01/2025

What are the connections between chronic stress, inflammation, and chronic disease? The inflammatory pathway is pivotal in the pathogenesis of many diseases, and research studies continue to suggest that chronic psychological stress and negative life events are associated with increased inflammatory activity in the body.

How can the functional medicine approach and personalized, lifestyle-based interventions help? Read more in the following article:

Learn lifestyle-based interventions to help manage inflammation, chronic stress, disease, and improve the health of patients.

11/26/2025

IFM is closed Thursday and Friday in recognition of the federal holiday, Thanksgiving. In the spirit of gratitude, we would like to share a message from IFM CEO Amy R. Mack, MSES/MPA:

"One of the favorite parts of my job is having the opportunity to meet with scholarship winners of IFM’s Functional Medicine for All Scholarship Program as they begin their Applying Functional Medicine in Clinical Practice (AFMCP) course together. In October, I met with our most recent AFMCP cohort of winners and found their enthusiasm and joy to begin their functional medicine training contagious. My cup is always full after meeting each practitioner and hearing how they plan to serve their patients in medically underserved communities through the functional medicine approach to care. You can learn more about this year’s incredible recipients here: https://go.ifm.org/3LUOHKj

I know the next few weeks of the winter holiday season can be a time of great joy and sometimes a bittersweet feeling as we mourn those who are no longer with us. As I take stock of my blessings this year, personally, I am grateful for my family and friends and my dog, Diesel, who make me laugh and buoy me during difficult times. And professionally, I am grateful for the strategic leadership of IFM’s Governing Board of Directors, the new International Board of Functional Medicine Certification overseeing the Functional Medicine Certification Program, IFM’s Executive Leadership team, and most importantly, the IFM team, who make the work we do possible, and all of you, our functional medicine community of practitioners and patients.

Thank you for advancing the widespread adoption of functional medicine around the globe."

11/24/2025

Every year, IFM's Annual International Conference (AIC) attracts over a thousand healthcare professionals from all over the world who are eager to learn about the latest evidence-based patient care strategies. Your clinical insight and research can help transform health outcomes for the many populations and communities served by functional medicine practitioners.

Present at the upcoming AIC 2026 and position yourself as a thought leader in the field. Applications will be accepted until January 9, 2026. Submit yours here: https://go.ifm.org/3JU0ibX

11/20/2025

Functional medicine is making a positive impact on patient care, and your research in this field can contribute to the growing evidence base. Apply to present a poster at AIC 2026 and get the opportunity for potential publication in Integrative Medicine: A Clinician’s Journal (IMCJ). Poster session applications are open until December 15! Please submit your proposal with a potential topic and abstract here: https://go.ifm.org/489DHQI

11/19/2025

Earlier this year, we sat down with AIC 2025 speaker Donald K. Layman, PhD, FASN, an internationally recognized expert in protein metabolism and muscle health with a distinguished career in nutrition science, to talk about the importance of muscle health to overall health and the role that protein plays.

In the following clip from this podcast episode, Dr. Layman breaks down the significant gap between the minimum protein required for basic survival and the optimal amounts needed for muscle growth and healthy aging. He explains why standard dietary guidelines may be sufficient for young, active individuals but often fall short for older adults, highlighting specific nutrient components that become increasingly critical as we age. Listen to the full episode, or read a written transcript, by clicking here: https://go.ifm.org/43zvzYg