Brief Summary of the Top 3 Comprehensive Functional Medicine Programs

Posted on by Meg McElroy MS, PA-C

The following programs are the longest running, and the ones that most seasoned functional medicine clinicians are most familiar with. There are many more options, some comprehensive and others that are covering specific topics, which you can find in the Detailed Guide to Functional Medicine Education (for clinicians).

Institute for Functional Medicine (IFM)

The concept for this was developed by Dr. Jeffrey Bland and his wife, Susan, in 1990.  It officially became the IFM nonprofit foundation in 2001. This is what many consider to be the “mothership” of functional medicine education, and tends to have a high proportion of allopathic providers in the conferences.  Like any functional medicine course, you often have to listen to the lectures 3-5 times to truly grasp the concepts and education, and there are long lists of scientific references provided in most lectures.  Most conferences also throw in classes on mind-body medicine and lifestyle medicine, provide healthy snacks during breaks, and provide optional classes on the business side and clinical application of functional medicine.  You receive access to recordings for 1 year, are invited to join a private Facebook group specific to that conference for 6 weeks after the course has ended (for questions and additional teachings), and need to complete all 7 modules to be eligible to sit for the very difficult certification exam.  All conferences provide CME, which can be frustrating for many (since CME is intended to be without bias, so they often cannot mention specific labs or supplements during the lectures).

Here’s an overview of each module. With the exception of the AFMCP, each module is 3 days long and are only held once a year (same time each year, different locations).  There is the option to purchase live streaming.  There is a limitation to how many can attend (don’t know why if there is live streaming available!), and most are often sold out by the week or even month before the event.

  • Gastrointestinal (GI) Module topics include:
    • Role of the gut in chronic disease, nutrition as medicine, IBS, IBD, dysbiosis, role of enzymes, dietary prescriptions for specific conditions, intestinal permeability, SIBO, food reactions, GERD, case studies, cooking demo
  • Energy/Bioenergetics Module topics include:
    • Optimizing energy with food, role of mitochondria in chronic disease, the therapeutic encounter (aka applying the art of medicine to achieve better results), mindfulness for practitioner and patient, functional approach to pain, functional approach to fatigue, neurodegenerative disorders, depression/anxiety, exercise and mitochondria, sleep and mitochondria, case studies
  • Environmental Health/Biotransformation Module topics include:
    • Science of biotransformation, concept of total toxic load, using nutrition to enhance natural detoxification, identifying impaired biotransformation/elimination,  using labs to evaluate toxins, how to decrease exposures, phytonutrients that improve detoxification, role of oral health and dentistry concerns, managing complicated cases)
  • Cardiometabolic Module topics include:
    • Managing cardio metabolic risk, metabolic syndrome, dyslipidemia, dietary approaches to cardiovascular disease, enhancing resiliency to stress, connection of metabolic conditions to other chronic conditions, hypertension, use of movement/exercise to address cardio metabolic disease risk/conditions, art of compassion in medicine, applicable genetic variations to cardiometabolic conditions, case studies
  • Immune Module topics include:
    • Underlying concepts of inflammation and immune dysfunction, role of diet in autoimmunity and chronic inflammation, laboratory testing, food sensitivities vs allergies vs intolerances, assessing chronic infections (Lyme, occult infections), therapeutic use of immunomodulators, therapeutic use of essential fatty acids, case studies in chronic infections/allergic diseases/autoimmune diseases
  • Hormone Module topics include:
    • Key principles of assessing and treating hormone dysfunction, adrenal dysfunction patterns, thyroid dysfunction, role of stress and spirituality in chronic illness, evaluation and treatment of hormonal imbalances in women (common conditions, perimenopause, post-menopause), evaluation and treatment of hormonal imbalances in men
  • AFMCP (week-long module if in-person): Overview of all modules noted above (with limited overlap on the topics, however).  This is where many also get a deeper understanding behind the core concepts in functional medicine evaluation and application (e.g. Matrix, Timeline)

School of Applied Functional Medicine (SAFM)

The instructor of this school, Tracy Harrison, has 3 MIT degrees and left her corporate career to follow her passion.  She received education from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition (IIN) and IFM, launched her own health coaching practice before officially starting SAFM in 2011.  The program is repeatedly given accolades by students, and often over 50% of students enrolled are MD/DO/NP/PA/nurses and they recently started providing CME for completion of each semester.

There are 2 core semesters, with enrollment only twice a year. Each semester has 4 foundational courses that focus on Root Causes of Disease, Nutrients/Supplements, SAFM Mapping, and Labwork.  Each semester also includes a choice of 2 deep dive courses, as well as 5 case studies and live coaching calls, and more bonus materials. Deep dive course topics (which can be purchased individually): 

  • ADD/ADHD
  • Adrenal and Thyroid
  • Anxiety, Depression, and Mood Imbalances
  • Asthma, Allergy and Immune Intolerance
  • Bone Health
  • Cancer
  • Cardiovascular Health
  • Gut, 202
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Headaches and Migraine
  • Hormones
  • Metabolic Dysfunction
  • Organic Acids Testing
  • Fertility and Pregnancy
  • Detoxification and Heavy Metals

American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine (A4M)

This educational courses officially started in 2004, but just like the IFM, its origins started in the early 90’s. This organziation is focused on longevity/regenerative medicine, metabolic health, and includes a fellowship on functional medicine.  There are a LOT of certificate options and online courses, with topics in stem cells, hormone replacement, IV treatments and more.  But for those interested in the foundational program on functional medicine, the FAAMFM (Fellowship in Anti-Aging, Metabolic, and Functional Medicine) is the preferred option.  CME is available for this as well, and just like IFM, course generally cost over $1000. The overview of the program is found here, but for information purposes, the core module topics are as follows: (https://www.a4m.com/fellowship-in-anti-aging-metabolic-and-functional-medicine.html)

  • Module I: Endocrinology
  • Module II: Cardiology
  • Module III: Neurology
  • Modulve IV: Gastroenterology
  • Module V: Triads and System’s Biology
  • Advanced Fellowship includes 3 other modules on immunity/mitochondrial dysregulation, autoimmunity, and longevity medicine