The Institute for Functional Medicine

11/07/2025

We are thrilled to share that exhibit and sponsorship opportunities are now available for IFM’s upcoming 2026 Annual International Conference (AIC)! By aligning with IFM, sponsors can foster meaningful connections with dedicated functional medicine practitioners, secure prime visibility for products and services, and play an integral role in shaping the future of functional medicine.

As the premier functional medicine conference, AIC provides an exclusive opportunity to engage with clinicians, health professionals, and thought leaders alike. You can review our AIC 2026 Exhibiting & Sponsorship Prospectus here: https://go.ifm.org/3LNpDEG

Don’t miss your chance to participate in the Exhibit Hall. Last year’s Exhibit Hall sold out in just a few weeks, and we expect an even higher demand this year! Apply to exhibit at AIC by clicking here: https://go.ifm.org/47MkSCK

11/06/2025

Autoimmune disease and pediatric chronic disease have both risen dramatically in the US over the years. For the autoimmune condition type 1 diabetes (T1D), genetic predisposition and immune markers may help indicate risk level for patients. From early life, whether related to maternal influences on fetal development during pregnancy or exposures during infancy and childhood, environmental factors may both impact T1D risk and progression as well as hold promise for prevention. Read more about the risk, progression, and prevention of T1D in the following article: https://go.ifm.org/497Pdy8

Read the latest data on type 1 diabetes prevention and how genetic predisposition and environmental factors contribute to its progression.

11/05/2025

Earlier this year, AIC 2025 speaker Aimie Apigian, MD, MS, MPH joined us for an episode of "Pathways to Well-Being" to discuss the lifespan impacts of psychological trauma and how it affects the body at the cellular and physiological level.

In the following clip, Dr. Apigian highlights how the state of the nervous system can be even more influential on a patient's health than traditional factors like diet. She explains that the degree of social support and feeling of safety can directly inform the nervous system's perception of danger. When patients feel isolated, an ordinary stressor can become overwhelming, triggering a trauma response. These insights emphasize the crucial role of social support in mitigating stress and preventing a trauma response. Listen to the full episode, or read a written transcript, by clicking here: https://go.ifm.org/4oNdduW

11/04/2025

Los campos electromagnéticos (CEM) son áreas invisibles de radiación que se crean tanto de forma natural (p. ej., el campo magnético terrestre y la luz solar) como por la actividad humana (p. ej., teléfonos celulares y líneas eléctricas). Las tecnologías avanzadas y el mayor consumo de electricidad han aumentado la exposición diaria a fuentes artificiales de CEM, y algunos estudios de investigación, desde estudios en modelos animales hasta estudios observacionales con humanos, sugieren posibles efectos negativos para la salud asociados a la exposición prolongada a los CEM. ¿Cuáles son las fuentes comunes de los CEM, las posibles implicaciones para la salud y los abordajes de la medicina funcional para manejar la carga tóxica ambiental total de los pacientes? Lea más en el siguiente artículo:

Campos electromagnéticos: impacto en la salud y reducción de la exposición Practitioner | Reading Time: 4 minutos | Written on: September 24, 2025 Read this article in English > Los campos electromagnéticos (CEM) son áreas invisibles de radiación que se crean tanto de forma natural (p. ej., e...

11/03/2025

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are a class of toxicants present in water and transportable by wind. The name is apt, as they persist for years and can accumulate throughout the food chain. What is the connection between the rising rate of metabolic syndrome and exposure to POPs? And how can clinicians manage exposures to these ubiquitous chemicals? Click through this gallery of graphics to learn more at a glance, and take a deeper dive in the following article: https://go.ifm.org/4nC8wmD

Learn more about how pollutants and toxic exposures may affect the health of your patients at IFM’s Environmental Health Advanced Practice Module (APM). A new cohort has just begun, and there are still a few days left to register at https://go.ifm.org/4nE0lX8!

10/31/2025

Functional medicine expands root cause evaluation and treatment options available to patients and equips practitioners with the tools and resources to deliver transformative, whole person care. The generous support of our sponsors helps to make our industry-leading functional medicine programs possible.

Who can you meet by attending the upcoming Environmental Health Advanced Practice Module (APM)? Connect with industry partners like Fullscript, Genova Diagnostics, Inc., Integrated Connections, and Vibrant Wellness to explore the innovative services and resources you need as a clinician to deliver the most effective patient care. Register to join us at https://go.ifm.org/4hFY2RS!

10/30/2025

A patient’s oral health may reflect overall health or indicate disease and is an important component to consider during comprehensive clinical assessments. Oral and dental health are closely tied to gut, immune, cardiometabolic, and brain health and may be negatively impacted by exposures to toxicants.

What are common sources of oral toxicity and their potential health consequences? What is the functional medicine approach to treatment and wellness? We invite you to read more about overall oral health and disease risk in the following article:

Toxins & Detoxification Oral Health & Disease Risk: The Effects of Toxic Environmental Exposures Practitioner | Reading Time: 5 minutes | Written on: October 23, 2025 Written by: IFM Medical and Editorial Content Team Chronic exposure to toxic environmental substances affects health and may contribu...

10/29/2025

As we close out National Dental Hygiene Month, we are looking back to an episode of our podcast, "Pathways to Well-Being," where functional medicine nutritionist Megan Barnett, MS, CNS joined us to talk about the oral-systemic connection and the role of personalized nutrition on the microbiome in these sites.

In the following clip, Barnett outlines the critical components of her dental health screening, including assessing for a history of root canals, gum sensitivity, and even wisdom teeth removal to identify potential sites of hidden infection or cavitation. She emphasizes that a detailed dental inquiry is essential for practitioners seeking to address systemic inflammation and symptom profiles not accounted for by other health factors.

To learn more about the oral-systemic connection & personalized nutrition interventions, listen to the full episode or read a written transcript here: https://go.ifm.org/49o4db6

10/27/2025

Thank you to everyone who joined us for this year's Gastrointestinal Advanced Practice Module (APM) cohort! Together we explored the root causes of gastrointestinal dysfunction, their role in local and systemic disease, and the personalized therapeutic strategies that can help restore function and improve overall health.

We would like to extend a special "thank you" to our program sponsors, Diagnostic Solutions Laboratory, Fullscript, Functional Lawyer, Genova Diagnostics, Inc., Integrated Connections, ResBiotic, and Vibrant Wellness. Our accredited educational programs are made possible in part thanks to their generous support.

10/24/2025

IFM is honored to support Food as Medicine Global's 2025 Food Justice Conference, taking place November 8-9, 2025. This year's conference theme is, "Uniting Agriculture and Medicine to Support Food Sovereignty and Health Justice for All." Members of our IFM community are encouraged to register for the event at a 50% discount by using the code IFM50 at checkout. Learn more about the conference, read written testimonials, and register to join us here: https://tinyurl.com/2025FoodJustice

10/23/2025

We are proud to announce the 2025 Functional Medicine for All Scholarship (FM4All) recipients! The FM4All program, supported in part by a generous grant from VoLo Foundation, expands access to functional medicine education for clinicians dedicated to serving medically underserved communities.

This year, IFM awarded 32 scholarships across nine different countries, reaching clinicians who collectively care for nearly 2,000 patients each week. Special awards were reserved for members of IM4US: Integrative Medicine for the Underserved and DNPs of Color (DOC), who partner with IFM to reach clinicians who may otherwise be unable to access further education.

Congratulations to this year's recipients; your work is vital in advancing patient-centered, root-cause care worldwide.

View the full list of 2025 recipients here: https://go.ifm.org/473RxVm

10/22/2025

Food and nutrients that support liver biotransformation may help alleviate toxic burden. IFM’s Detox Food Plan is a therapeutic nutritional approach that benefits patients by helping them eat more of those foods that support pathways in the liver for healthy elimination, as well as reduce additional exposures to toxic compounds.

In the following video, IFM Educator Deanna Minich, PhD highlights the liver as the main hub for metabolic detoxification. To support this process, Dr. Minich suggests supplying the body with key nutrients, particularly foods high in protein (for enzyme substrates and cofactors) and foods rich in sulfur (such as cruciferous veggies like broccoli and kale).

Learn more about IFM's Detox Food Plan and how it can support the biotransformation and detoxification of the liver in the following article: https://go.ifm.org/4hqrhIb