The Institute for Functional Medicine

The Institute for Functional Medicine Advancing the Transformation of Healthcare for Patients and Practitioners Worldwide We are excited to have you here. Please be respectful, kind, and safe.
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The Institute for Functional Medicine (IFM) advances the transformation of healthcare for patients and practitioners worldwide by supporting the confident and competent practice of , advancing health equity, expanding access, and improving the delivery of patient care. OUR COMMUNITY GUIDELINES

Thank you for following The Institute for Functional Medicine page. Please respect others’ intellectual property rights. Do not post articles, photos, or slides which were created by someone else unless you have his or her permission. Please keep your posts, comments, and discussions fact-based, relevant, well-founded, and civil. While we encourage the sharing of learning opportunities and networking events, promotion of products and services is not allowed. Any posts or subsequent comments that we deem to be disrespectful, promoting potentially harmful or unlawful behavior, or negatively impacting the advancement and community of Functional Medicine will not be tolerated. We hope that these general rules & guidelines can help foster thoughtful, respectful, and productive dialogue amongst our community. Page admins reserve the right to remove, at their discretion, any post or comment that does not meet the rules & guidelines outlined above. Thank you!

Applications for the 2026 Founders’ Scholarship and Debbie Sanstad Scholarship are now open!IFM’s annual scholarships su...
01/08/2026

Applications for the 2026 Founders’ Scholarship and Debbie Sanstad Scholarship are now open!

IFM’s annual scholarships support clinicians who are at the beginning of their functional medicine journey and planning to pursue certification. Candidates may apply for both scholarship opportunities but will need to submit a separate application for each. All applications must be received by January 28 at 5 pm PST. We look forward to learning about you and your clinical experiences! Learn more and start your application by clicking here: https://go.ifm.org/49xxLSh

Do you know a deserving clinician who would be a great fit for one of these scholarships? Please share this post with them or tag them in the comments below!

01/06/2026

Metabolic dysfunction–associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), formerly known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), is a multifaceted disorder that involves hepatic fat accumulation and at least one of five cardiometabolic risk factors. In recent years, a line of evidence has suggested a close association between intestinal health and liver health. What is the connection between the gut microbiome and MASLD, and how can lifestyle-based therapies affect the clinical measures of this disease?

In the following video, IFM Educator and Forum Health Chief Medical Officer Shilpa Saxena, MD, IFMCP, explores this topic further. Dr. Saxena discusses MASLD, the components such as genetic predisposition, stress, nutrition, and movement that may contribute to disease development, and biomarkers that may be important to monitor as part of a personalized prevention strategy or clinical intervention. Read more about the connection between gut and liver health in this article: https://go.ifm.org/49jhkdr

Final call to submit your application to present on stage at AIC 2026!Functional medicine is transforming health for pat...
01/05/2026

Final call to submit your application to present on stage at AIC 2026!

Functional medicine is transforming health for patients and practitioners around the world. You can contribute to this growing field by showcasing your clinical research, practice insights, and thought leadership at the largest gathering of functional medicine practitioners.

Application submissions will close this Friday, January 9, 2026. You can learn more about submission and selection criteria, review the timeline, and submit an application here: https://go.ifm.org/49i3JBK

Is social isolation an overlooked clinical risk factor in your care plans for older patients?Social disconnection is a s...
12/31/2025

Is social isolation an overlooked clinical risk factor in your care plans for older patients?

Social disconnection is a significant driver of physiological decline. Research correlates loneliness with increased risks for cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and cognitive impairment.*

Focusing on the mental, emotional, and spiritual components of a patient’s health journey is a foundational aspect of the comprehensive and personalized therapeutic approach of functional medicine care. Click through these graphics to learn more about patient-centered care for older adults, and explore the topic more in-depth in the following article: https://go.ifm.org/45r5E5N

12/30/2025

Does LDL or HDL particle size matter when evaluating total lipid burden? IFM's Cardiometabolic APM teaches you new clinical skills to evaluate each patient's individual cardiovascular risk factors, preventing disease before it occurs. IFM Educator and Absolute Health Medical Director Yousef Elyaman, MD, discusses some common myths around cholesterol and how a functional medicine approach can help you make more precise care recommendations. Join the upcoming cohort starting February 2. Earn up to 20 credit hours with CME available! Learn more and register to join us here: https://bit.ly/48Zx7xJ

Congratulations to everyone who completed our most recent Applying Functional Medicine in Clinical Practice (AFMCP) coho...
12/29/2025

Congratulations to everyone who completed our most recent Applying Functional Medicine in Clinical Practice (AFMCP) cohort last week! You now have the foundational tools and knowledge that prepare you to pursue advanced functional medicine training and begin your journey toward functional medicine certification. We look forward to seeing you at future programs!

We would like to take a moment to thank our AFMCP sponsors: Functional Lawyer, Fullscript, Genova Diagnostics, Inc., Integrated Connections, and Vibrant Wellness. Your support helped make this foundational program possible.

12/23/2025

Metabolic syndrome, characterized by abdominal obesity, insulin resistance, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia, may raise the risk of serious health problems such as cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. What are known contributing factors to metabolic dysfunction, and how can modifiable lifestyle factors benefit treatment and prevention? Interventional cardiologist and IFM educator Dr Sanjay Bhojraj, MD, FACC, IFMCP offers a preview in the following video. Read about this topic more in-depth here: https://bit.ly/3KNiPHj

Congratulations to every practitioner who completed the 2025 Environmental Health cohort! We enjoyed learning with you. ...
12/19/2025

Congratulations to every practitioner who completed the 2025 Environmental Health cohort! We enjoyed learning with you. We would like to take a moment to thank our program sponsors, Fullscript, Genova Diagnostics, Inc., Integrated Connections, and Vibrant Wellness for helping to make the program possible!

Save the date! Applications for the 2026 Founders’ Scholarship and Debbie Sanstad Scholarship will open January 7, 2026....
12/18/2025

Save the date! Applications for the 2026 Founders’ Scholarship and Debbie Sanstad Scholarship will open January 7, 2026.

By applying a comprehensive, personalized approach to care, functional medicine can help patients achieve a higher expression of health. IFM is proud to offer annual scholarships that expand access to functional medicine training for clinicians who are making a difference in their communities. These scholarships help clinicians gain new clinical skills and effectively apply the functional medicine model in diverse clinical settings.

Learn more about IFM scholarships here: https://go.ifm.org/4j8Lcwf

We are excited to announce five leaders are joining the 2026 Annual International Conference (AIC) Steering Committee. T...
12/17/2025

We are excited to announce five leaders are joining the 2026 Annual International Conference (AIC) Steering Committee. This distinguished group of medical experts and members of IFM Executive Leadership provide strategic input for IFM’s 33rd AIC, to be held in San Diego, CA, and via livestream May 27-30, 2026. Learn more about the AIC 2026 Steering Committee and register to join us at https://go.ifm.org/3L453Qy!

12/16/2025

The heart’s ability to store energy is limited. A focus of new heart failure treatment strategies is the continuous fueling of cardiac mitochondria to stimulate ATP production. What nutrients and exercise therapies have delivered favorable outcomes in heart failure patients through supporting mitochondrial function?

In the following video, IFM educator and Forum Health Chief Medical Officer Shilpa Saxena, MD, IFMCP, discusses the role mitochondria play in heart function and the importance of nutrition and exercise for mitochondrial health. Read more about energy metabolism in heart failure here: https://go.ifm.org/4j192K7

Are you a subject matter expert with a passion for sharing knowledge, or a practicing clinician developing clinical inno...
12/15/2025

Are you a subject matter expert with a passion for sharing knowledge, or a practicing clinician developing clinical innovations that can advance the field of functional medicine? Apply to be a presenter at next year's Annual International Conference (AIC) and inspire your peers by sharing evidence-based insights, emerging research, and clinical best practices that move our field forward.

Accepted presenters will receive complimentary registration to attend the full conference and an honorarium determined by IFM. Please review the application for additional details and content submission guidelines, and apply to present at AIC 2026 by clicking here: https://go.ifm.org/48OVkXD

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