The Functional Medicine Academy was created for the following reasons:

There is a huge demand for Functional Medicine practitioners but not enough of them are trained to meet that need.

Some practitioners have completed advanced Functional Medicine programs (sometimes ALL of them!) but are overwhelmed with all the information or unsure how to put it into practice - they need a "cheat sheet" and systems to launch, be efficient, be confident, and profitable.

• Many traditionally trained physicians are lacking in nutrition or Functional Medicine knowledge.
• Many professionals with adequate nutrition training lack the needed business skills and marketing savvy to create a successful practice.
• Often licensed practitioners and non-licensed nutrition professionals do not speak the "same language" and miss an opportunity to refer to one another or work for one another in a holistic health clinic.
• Sometimes clinically competent practitioners lack the skills to effectively communicate with patients.
• Some health professionals need to learn how to blend cutting-edge Functional Medicine lab work with western and eastern healing modalities.
• There are "newbies" interested in Functional Medicine that want to get a running start and experienced docs making the switch to Functional Medicine that do not want to have to reinvent the wheel.

Whatever your reason is, FMA is here to help!

We offer:

• The Certification (this program - scroll down for an outline of classes)
• The Mentorship
• The Masterclass

The product/program you are viewing is The Certification and once purchased, you will have instant access to this online program. The Certification is primarily focused on practical, actionable, and efficient clinical skills. There is also a class on marketing. *The Certification must be completed within the terms of your agreement. Access to the course material after that time will terminate. Request an extension and inquire about fees if needed at Team@TheFunctionalMedicineAcademy.com.

The Certification classes:

• FMA 1 - Functional Health & Nutrition Exam
• FMA 2 - Bellyaches and Bloating (Part 1)
• FMA 3 - Bellyaches and Bloating (Part 2)
• FMA 4 - More Than Cholesterol
• FMA 5 - Food As Medicine
• FMA 6 - Waiting List Practice
• FMA 7 - Hormones Gone Haywire
• FMA Case Review
• FMA Certification Test

FMA 1 - Functional Health & Nutrition Exam “Mastering Patient Flow & Retention”

VIDEO RECORDED COURSE: A “Nuts-to-Bolts” class for getting started with your Functional Medicine & Nutrition Practice, or for converting to an Online/Telehealth practice, or for those that want to make sure they have all the KEY STEPS in place! Check out the detailed outline below. Includes a recorded Q&A. Class includes detailed notes and several key handouts.

• Welcome - Where to Begin

• Where you want to go, Practitioner Concerns, Creating Success
• Turning Worries into Vision, What do You Want, Finding Your Why
• You are Brave, Needed, Disease Care Model, Reconnect to Self

• Connection - The First Patient Encounter

• Communication, Medical Interview, Connection, Personality Profile
• Better Communication, Character Code System, Quiz
• Driving Needs, Practitioner to Patient Insights, Staffing Insights

• Getting Started - The Basics

• Concept + Legalities, Website Essentials, EMR/EMH Setup
• Online Presence, Helpful Services to Consider
• 5 Myths with Practice Building, Steps of Service, Service Goals
• Detailed purpose and sample plan for each service

• First Visit with Patient

• Greeting, Connection, Expectations, Permission, Process
• Making the Process Clear, New Patient Intake, Intake Mind Map

• EMR/EHR or paper notes

• Creating your Intake Forms, Sample Intake Paper & Electronic
• Informed Consent Forms, Office Policy Sheet, HIPAA, CC Auth

• The Exam

• Day of the Exam (In-person or Virtual), Patient’s Story, Modified Timeline
• Getting to Know the Patient, Key Digestive Questions
• See Appendix for Exam details

• Choosing Labs

• Deciding on Ordering Labs, Functional Testing Options
• Advanced Gut Health Tests, Sample Tests, and Other Lab Tests
• Blood Labs, Checklist to Differentiate which Lab to Use

• Food, Supplements, and Lifestyle Changes

• Choosing a Meal Plan, Starting Supplementation, Lifestyle Recommendations
• Patient Visit Sheet, Putting it All Together, Checking Out

• The ROF (Report of Findings) Visit

• Prepping for the ROF, The ROF visit, Digital & In-Person options
• Key Components of a successful ROF, FM/Nutrition Rx
• Food Journal 
• Where to go from here…

• Appendix: Nutrition Exam Details & Options

• • • Modified Timeline, Key Digestive Questions
    • Oral pH, Zinc Taste Test, NO test, Iodine Test, Pupillary Light Reflex
    • Uvula Drop/Deviation Test, Vagal Tone Handout, Brain Exercises
    • Calcium Cuff Test, Chapman’s Reflexes, Murphy’s Sign, GB Point
    • Abdominal palpation, Auscultate Bowel Sounds, Blood Pressure
    • Pulse Pressure, Ragland’s Test (Orthostatic Hypotension)
    • Other Techniques (TCM, Chiro/Osteo, Neuro, Ortho, Dental, Gait, etc)
    • Kinesiology, muscle testing, energy medicine, etc.

FMA 2 - Bellyaches and Bloating Part 1 “A Practitioner’s Guide to the Gut”

VIDEO RECORDED COURSE: Effective solutions for all the common gut health symptoms that bring patients to your office. Protocols that can be immediately put into practice with the option of lab testing as needed. Includes a functional crash course in digestion, dysfunction, lab selection & analysis, clinical tips & lifestyle recommendations plus a recorded Q&A. Class includes detailed notes and several key handouts.

• Welcome to The Gut

• Gut anatomy
• The digestive system
• Digestive disorders
• The gut microbiome
• Digestion best practices

• Bellyaches

• Heartburn
• Acid reflux
• Barrett's esophagus
• hypochlorhydria

• Fat metabolism and detox

• Gallbladder
• Cholecystitis
• Cholecystectomy
• Liver and digestion
• Liver and detox

• Nutrient absorption

• Small intestine
• Enzymes and malabsorption
• Leaky gut
• MMC ( Migrating Motor Complex)
• SIBO ( small intestine bacterial overgrowth)

• Yeast overgrowth

• Candida 
• 10 common candida signs
• Anti-candida diet - what to include
• Anti-candida diet - what to avoid
• Testing options for candida overgrowth
• OAT analysis
• Flushing candida overgrowth

• Colon health : Part 1 

• Large intestine
• IBS : Irritable Bowel Syndrome 
• IBD : Inflammatory Bowel Disease
• Loose stools/diarrhea 
• Floating or light colored stools
• Diverticulosis/Diverticulitis 

• Colon health : Part 2

• Constipation and Bowel training 
• SCFA, fermentation and dysbiosis
• Diet and lifestyle for colon health
• Testing options
• Clinical approach

• Leaky Gut

• • • Causes, signs and symptoms 
    • Vagal Tone
    • Improve Vagal Tone
    • Testing options + analysis 
    • Zonulin
    • Lipopolysaccharides
    • Intestinal Barrier Testing
    • Clinical Approach

FMA 3 - Bellyaches and Bloating Part 2 “A Practitioner’s Guide to the Gut”

VIDEO RECORDED COURSE: Advanced treatment protocols for SIBO, yeast/fungus, IMO, IBD + case studies. Class includes how to identify and explain these issues to your patients with optional testing to verify your findings. The ability to manage these conditions is an excellent practice builder, plus detailed lab selection & analysis,  plus a recorded Q&A. Class includes detailed notes and several key handouts.

• Pelvic Floor Health

• Anatomy of the Pelvic Floor
• The function of the Pelvic Floor
• Injury + Impact on Bowel health and function
• Vaginal splinting techniques
• At-home pelvic floor support
• Lifestyle, conditions, and support
• Hemorrhoids + pain
• Resolving hemorrhoids

• SIBO ( small intestinal bacterial overgrowth: Part 1)

• SIBO pioneers
• What is SIBO
• The digestive system
• Digestive disorders
• Signs and symptoms of SIBO
• Common causes of SIBO
• SIBO - secondary issues
• SIBO - Tell me more…
• Understanding/types of SIBO
• Testing for SIBO
• Diet and lifestyle support
• SIBO diet
• FODMAP acronym
• FODMAP foods
• FODMAP SIBO diet
• SIBO care

• SIBO ( small intestinal bacterial overgrowth: Part 2)

• SIBO care
• Antibiotic approach
• Herbal antimicrobial approach
• Elemental diet approach
• Prokinetics
• Migrating Motor Complex ( MMC )
• Stress - vagal tone
• SIBO care 
• Candida (yeast overgrowth)
• SIBO care 
• Hormone issues - slow motility
• Test to measure hormones + metabolism
• DUTCH test example
• SIBO - prevent relapse
• SIBO care
• SIBO - the patient experience
• The practitioner experience

• SIBO and SIFO combined

• Signs and symptoms
• Natural remedies
• Differentiating between SIBO and SIFO
• Testing options
• OAT analysis
• Advanced DNA/PCR stool test
• Support options
• Why is the patient not getting better?

• LIBO - dysbiosis - hydrogen sulfide

• Signs and symptoms
• Differentiating
• Protocol
• Testing options
• 5 R protocol
• Support options - low sulfur diet 
• OAT analysis
• Flushing candida overgrowth

• IBD (inflammatory bowel disease)

• IBD
• Celiac, Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis
• Signs and symptoms
• Testing options
• Lifestyle and diet support
• Low residue diet
• Clinical approach and co-management 

• Complex Cases Part 1

• When to refer + scoping options
• Weight gain, dysbiosis, and leptin resistance
• Allergies, leaky gut, and constipation
• Loose stools, acid reflux, and parasites

• Complex Cases Part 2 

• • • Abdominal surgery, SIBO, and TBI
    • Endometriosis, candida, UTI’s, and abdominal pain
    • Ulcerative colitis, bowel resection, and eating disorder
    • Worms, parasites, LIBO, and leaky gut
    • Autoimmune issues and SIBO

FMA 4 - More Than Cholesterol “Insights into Functional Heart Health”

VIDEO RECORDED COURSE: Cutting-edge solutions for heart health issues from a natural medicine perspective plus how to order and interpret advanced cardiac blood labs. This class includes an easy-to-implement system (with an outline for heart health class) that generates many new patient referrals. Includes diet, lifestyle, supplement protocols, lab testing tips + a recorded Q&A. Class includes detailed notes and several key handouts.

• A Functional Cardiovascular Tour

• Conventional Med vs Functional Med approach
• Basic Anatomy - How to Simplify for Patients
• Functional mechanisms (anatomy, CAD, immune, glycocalyx, vagal tone…)
• The Problem - CDC Stats vs symptoms
• Risk factors (well-known, rarely known)
• CVD - Crisis Symptoms

• Heart Health Perspectives

• Typical Medical Treatments
• Medications, Procedures
• Public Perspective
• History of Cholesterol
• Sugar vs Fat Controversy
• Lipids (fat, cholesterol)
• Metabolic Syndrome

• Cholesterol Revisited

• Cholesterol’s many roles
• Framingham Study
• Other Studies
• Liver Health
• ACC/AHA Task Force Guidelines
• Real contributors to CVD

• Sugar as the Star

• Role of Blood Sugar and Insulin
• Blood Sugar Rollercoaster
• Coronary Artery Disease
• Insulin Resistance and Diabetes
• Traditional Blood Sugar Markers
• Advanced Sugar Panel
• Sugar and Liver Health
• Cholesterol on the move

• Heart Health Blood Labs

• Traditional Heart Labs
• Advanced Heart Labs
• Fatty Acid Balance Test
• Genetics and Immune Health
• Viral Impact on Atherosclerosis
• Gut Immune Health Impact on Heart Health
• Communicating Labs to the Patient
• The Role of Blood Sugar and Insulin

• Inflammation Blood Labs

• Advanced Inflammation blood labs
• Independent predictors of CVD, MACE…
• Enzymes, oxidation, glycation…
• Endothelial Glycocalyx (EQ)
• Clinical Support & Guidelines
• Lifestyle changes
• Co-management, when to refer

• Nutrition & Lifestyle Support

• Heart Health-Friendly Foods
• Mediterranean Diet
• Saturated Fats
• Plant Sterols
• Movement, Exercise
• Habits, Weight, Sleep
• Nutrition, Supplementation, Herbs
• Stress
• Mindfulness, Meditation

• Clinical Connection

• Putting it all together
• Simple Cases
• Complex Cases
• Clinical Priority

• Q&A, labs, and more…

FMA 5 - Food As Medicine “Growing a Nutrition & Weight Loss Practice”

VIDEO RECORDED COURSE: The nuts and bolts of a nutrition practice including key supplementation, effective meal plans, how to run group programs, and lifestyle protocols. A "ready-to-launch" system that can be implemented by the practitioner or staff member in your office. Includes key forms, handouts, and clinical tips and covers a wide array of diets/meal plans including complex cases. When and what labs to order plus a recorded Q&A. Class includes detailed notes and several key handouts.

• Food As Medicine

• • • The Problem
    • The consequences
    • Key distinctions
    • New Revelations - Obesity Research
    • Obesity
    • Body Shape as a Tool for Health - Anthropometrics 
    • Why Food Matters
      • Anatomy and Function - Short Digestion Tour
    • Easy to Digest Foods
    • Hard-to-Digest Foods
    • History of Food in the US
    • Weight, Obesity, and Metabolic Dysfunction
    • Weight Loss Resistance

• Food Chemistry

• • • Calories and Energy
    • Macronutrients and Micronutrients
    • Protein
    • Carbohydrates
    • Sugar
    • Fat
    • Public Perspective
    • Sugar vs. Fat Controversy
    • Fat Classifications
    • A few quick fat notes
    • Essential Nutrients
    • The Role of Hormones
    • Rate of motility and digestion efficiency

• Sugar-burner vs Fat-burner

• • • Glucose vs. Ketones as Fuels
    • Sugar vs. Fat as Fuels
    • Pros/Cons of Standard Diets
    • Fat burning and Ketosis
    • Sugar Burner vs Fat burner
    • General Issues to Be Mindful Of
    • Bacteria and Microbiome Impact
    • Blood Sugar Balancing
    • General Healthy Food Tips

• Blood Sugar Rollercoaster

• • • Signs and Symptoms
    • Blood Sugar (Glucose) Cycle
    • Testing Options
    • Advanced Sugar Panel
    • Leaky Gut Test
    • DUTCH Test
    • Leptin Test
    • Number of meals vs. Timing of meals
    • Intermittent Fasting
    • Eating disorders - Risk and Referral

• What's the Best Meal Plan

• • • Comparing diets and food plans
    • Pros/Cons of Popular Diets
    • Whole Food Pyramid by Volume
    • Macronutrients vs Visual Plate
    • Meal Building Food Tips & Tricks
    • Quick Meal Prep
    • Helpful Food Tips & Tricks
    • Restoring Health
    • Protocols vs. Customized
    • How to use food
    • In Notebook and Portal

• Food and Nutrient Testing

• • • Testing Options
    • When indicated?
    • Clinical significance

• Focused Weight Loss

• • • 15 Things keeping you fat or sick
    • Meal plans for weight loss
    • Individual appointments vs. Groups
    • Coaching, Accountability, and Tracking
    • Food Journal
    • Lifestyle support
    • Nutrition, supplementation, and herbs

• Focused Nutrition

• • • Meal Plans to support health
    • Simple cases
    • Changing the focus
    • Other testing options
    • Complex Cases

• Group Nutrition Programs

• • • Group - Creation
    • Group - Market (fill it)
    • Group - Lead it
    • Sales Deliverables Worksheet
    • 6 Figure Launch
    • Signature System
    • Marketing Funnel
    • Detox Concept Flow Chart Example
    • Detox Webinar Market Wheel example
    • Detox Webinar Email Flow Chart Example
    • Examples of group programs, emails, opt-ins

FMA 6 - Waiting List Practice “Marketing Made Simple”

VIDEO RECORDED COURSE: A crash course in proven, effective and ethical marketing for today's modern patient. Excellent for generating a steady stream of patients to launch a new practice, expand an existing practice, or jump into a new field or specialty. Both in-person and virtual marketing methods are covered. Great for a beginner and advanced enough for the experienced practitioner. You will have plenty to do, worksheets to complete, action steps and a recorded Q&A. Class includes detailed notes and several key handouts.

• Pre-Marketing Crash Course

• • • The Vision: 11 Pillars
    • Personality, Purpose, People, Potential, Passion, Process, Problems, Plan, Promotion, Progress, Philanthropy
    • Rate Your Progress worksheet
    • The energy needed, language, Character Codes, Quiz, Driving Needs, Practitioner-Patient Insights,  Energetic connection, Ideal Client worksheet
    • The Offer, Sales Bucket worksheet, How Your Offers Connect, How Offers Evolve
    • Sales Funnel, Worksheet, Market Value, Generating Leads, Sales Deliverables Worksheet

• Marketing Crash Course

• • • Marketing Defined (Advertising, Promotion, Publicity, Public Relations, Sales)
    • Natural Medicine Marketing, Root Cause, Doctor as Teacher
    • Positioning vs Messaging, Ego vs Information, Positioning Worksheet, The Challenge
    • 6 Figure Launch, Core Message, Worksheet, The Signature System, Worksheet
    • Educational Class Examples

• The Marketing Wheel

• • • Modern-Day Marketing Methods, Marketing Wheel Details, Free vs Paid
    • Design Your Marketing Wheel, Marketing Funnel, Money

• Method to the Marketing Madness

• • • Getting organized, Marketing Calendars, Social Media Calendars
    • Creating Virtual Teams, Delegating
    • 4 Launch Levels
    • Launch Flow Charts & Examples
    • Marketing Plan

FMA 7 - Hormones Gone Haywire “Sex hormones, Adrenal & Thyroid Solutions”

VIDEO RECORDED COURSE: Hormone health is made simple with natural remedies for irritability, anxiety, fatigue, sleep issues & weight gain. Optional lab testing (what to choose and when) is covered along with intake and exam findings to help the practitioner make quick clinical connections that will immediately benefit your patients. Includes some Rx/supplement education, lifestyle issues, key nutrition protocols & lab analysis along with a recorded Q&A. Class includes detailed notes and several key handouts.

• Functional Endocrine System

• Endocrine organs
• Endocrine triangle
• Endocrine disruptors
• Where endocrine disruptors are found 
• Hormones - steroid path synthesis
• A new understanding - adrenal zones
• HPA axis dysregulation
• Passive hormone transfer
• Natural remedies and bioidentical hormones

• Welcome to the Thyroid

• They impact one another 
• Hypothyroidism vs. Hyperthyroidism
• Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis vs Graves’ Dx
• Welcome to the thyroid gland
• Thyroid hormones - full panel
• Thyroid hormones - essentials
• Where is the problem?
• Conventional vs. Functional lab values
• Thyroid care,
• Thyroid medication conversion chart,
• Autoimmune process,
• Opportunistic bacteria on a stool test,
• Leaky gut blood test
• Thyroid care support

• Workshop: Labs + Case Review

• Testing options
• Advanced sugar panel
• Glucose guidelines
• UK guidelines
• Glucose tolerance test
• Random blood sugar test
• Leptin test example
• Basic thyroid sample blood tests
• Parathyroid sample blood tests
• Basic thyroid testing concept
• Thyroid testing
• Welcome to the thyroid gland
• Thyroid testing considerations
• T4 -> T3 conversion inhibition
• The pituitary gland, hormone signaling, and feedback
• Thyroid autoimmune support
• Thyroid blood labs

• Welcome to the Adrenals

• Welcome to the adrenal glands
• Adrenal hormones
• “Adrenal fatigue” - HPA axis dysregulation
• Main contributors to adrenal stress
• Stress keeping you fat or sick
• 4 women of “adrenal burnout”
• Adrenal stages of dysfunction
• DUTCH test
• DUTCH test example (at-home urine test)
• Adrenal - common symptoms and complaints
• Conditions related to adrenal stress
• Main contributors to adrenal stress (HPA)
• Perception of stress matters
• Vagal tone
• Adrenal care support
• As you make changes
• Cholesterol’s many Roles
• Hormones - steroid path synthesis
• New understanding of “adrenal fatigue”
• Stop saying “Adrenal Fatigue”

• Welcome to the Reproductive Hormones

• Female Reproductive Cycle
• 4 Phases
• Cramping
• PMS, PMDD
• PMS Classification theory
• PMS Origin Theories
• PMS support
• Perimenopause
• Phases of Perimenopause
• Estrogen
• Menopause
• Passive Hormone Transfer
• DUTCH Test example
• “Estrogen Dominance”
• Herbal support
• Natural remedies, Bioidentical hormones

• Sleep 101

• Sleep
• Sleep hygiene
• CBT-i 
• Why we sleep
• Stages of sleep
• Sleep regulators
• PTSD and sleep
• Depression and sleep
• Nightmares
• Sleep apnea
• Medications
• New Sleep Rules

• Workshop: Clinical Fine Tuning, Troubleshooting

• • • DUTCH test examples
    • Adrenal testing
    • Q&A

*The Certification must be completed within the terms of your agreement. Access to the course material after that time will terminate. Request an extension and inquire about fees if needed at Team@TheFunctionalMedicineAcademy.com.

Want to learn more?

• Poke around this website to read more about the classes
• Check out https://TheFunctionalMedicineAcademy.com
• Email questions to Team@TheFunctionalMedicineAcademy.com

Enjoy!