GI Functional Medicine Advanced Practice Module® (APM)
Restoring gastrointestinal (GI) equilibrium: practical applications for understanding, assessing, and treating gut dysfunction
Conference Overview
How often are overt GI-related symptoms a chief complaint in your practice? It is estimated that up to three billion people worldwide are affected by digestive diseases. Intestinal permeability or ‘leaky gut’ may play a precipitating role in dysfunction in the digestive tract and beyond, with changes in intestinal bacteria composition connected to a range of inflammatory conditions such as obesity, diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease, endocrine diseases, and autoimmune conditions. What are the far-reaching impacts of gut dysbiosis, and more importantly, which clinical approaches can move the GI tract back toward a state of balance?
In functional medicine, the GI tract is often an important starting point for improving overall health. The GI APM investigates the multifaceted gut microbiome, looking upstream to how several factors, including diet, lifestyle, and environmental stressors contribute to chronic dysbiosis and inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. This module takes a whole systems approach to evaluating and treating not only local gastrointestinal disease, but many systemic diseases that are linked to GI dysfunction. Our expert educators will discuss the important laboratory evaluations to be considered, the appropriate clinical connections that must be made, and the treatment approaches that support restoration of function.
New Online Cohort Format — Learn at Your Own Pace!
The GI APM is now offered as a six-week online cohort course! Learners can access course materials and review lectures when it is most convenient for them. The new format expands access to functional medicine education, allowing clinicians to balance the demands of their practice and their training.
Learning Objectives
Advanced Practice Modules apply the foundational tools presented in Applying Functional in Medicine Clinical Practice (AFMCP)TM within a specific area of health. At the GI APM, you'll learn how to:
- Understand the role of gastrointestinal dysfunction in extraintestinal and systemic diseases.
- Restore GI function using lifestyle modifications, nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals, and botanicals.
- Explain to patients the root causes of their GI dysfunction and improve their engagement, motivation, and treatment adherence by establishing a therapeutic partnership.
- Identify and interpret the most important and reliable laboratory biomarkers associated with gastrointestinal dysfunction.
- Use a systematic approach to assess patients who present with vague GI symptoms.
- Identify and address the root causes of GI dysfunction, including dysbiosis, intestinal permeability,
- hypochlorhydria, pancreatic exocrine insufficiency, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, and adverse food reactions.
- Identify the five domains of GI dysfunction that may explain vague intra- and extraintestinal symptoms and other complex syndromes tied to gut health.
- Engage your patients in meaningful dialogue about their health concerns, working together to establish the optimal treatment plan for their needs.
- Expand upon the functional medicine tools and concepts presented in Applying Functional Medicine in Clinical Practice (AFMCP)TM.
2025 GI APM: September 15 - October 26, 2025
Unlock the secrets of the gut microbiome
Who should attend this course?
One of the things that distinguishes this module is its focus on practical tools for assessing and treating GI and systemic issues by looking at underlying mechanisms."
Pricing
The standard pricing of the program is reflected below. When logged in to your IFM account, available discounts are automatically applied to pricing in your cart. Please note that CME is available for an additional $160. Cancellations are subject to our program cancellation fees.
Regular
IFM Member
Military/VA
Student/Resident
Group Rates*
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REFERENCES
- Sperber AD, Bangdiwala SI, Drossman DA, et al. Worldwide prevalence and burden of functional gastrointestinal disorders, results of Rome Foundation Global Study. Gastroenterology. 2021;160(1):99-114.e3. doi:10.1053/j.gastro.2020.04.014
- Oka P, Parr H, Barberio B, Black CJ, Savarino EV, Ford AC. Global prevalence of irritable bowel syndrome according to Rome III or IV criteria: a systematic review and meta-analysis [published correction appears in Lancet Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2020;5(12):e8]. Lancet Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2020;5(10):908-917. doi:10.1016/s2468-1253(20)30217-x
- Lee K, Kwon CI, Yeniova AÖ, et al. Global prevalence of functional dyspepsia according to Rome criteria, 1990-2020: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Sci Rep. 2024;14(1):4172. doi:10.1038/s41598-024-54716-3
- Gupta RS, Warren CM, Smith BM, et al. Prevalence and severity of food allergies among US adults. JAMA Netw Open. 2019;2(1):e185630. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2018.5630
- Gupta RS, Warren CM, Smith BM, et al. The public health impact of parent-reported childhood food allergies in the United States [published correction appears in Pediatrics. 2019;143(3):e20183835]. Pediatrics. 2018;142(6):e20181235. doi:10.1542/peds.2018-1235
- Jiang J, Warren CM, Brewer A, Soffer G, Gupta RS. Racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic differences in food allergies in the US. JAMA Netw Open. 2023;6(6):e2318162. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.18162
- Wang R, Li Z, Liu S, Zhang D. Global, regional and national burden of inflammatory bowel disease in 204 countries and territories from 1990 to 2019: a systematic analysis based on the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. BMJ Open. 2023;13(3):e065186. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2022-065186
- National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. People with IBD have more chronic diseases. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Reviewed April 15, 2022. Accessed May 14, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/ibd/features/IBD-more-chronic-diseases.html
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What’s Included in the GI APM?
On-Demand Video Lectures
Downloadable Course Materials
Live Q&A Sessions
IFM Clinical Toolkit
Online Clinical Community Forum
Post-Conference Benefits
Video + Audio Recordings
Downloadable Post-Course Materials
Certificate of Completion
Want to Become Certified in Functional Medicine?
Certification makes a difference and sets apart your knowledge and achievement in the field of functional medicine. Course hours at the GI APM are eligible toward the 100 hours of accredited education required to qualify for the Functional Medicine Certification ProgramTM. Other eligible courses include Applying Functional Medicine in Clinical Practice (AFMCP)TM and the five other individual Functional Medicine Advanced Practice Modules (APMs): Cardiometabolic, Immune, Hormone, Bioenergetics, and Environmental Health.
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Who is this course for?
Passionate healthcare providers who are dedicated to helping their patients and clients achieve the highest expression of health possible should attend the GI APM*. Common degree types include MD, DO, NP, PA, ND, and DC, as well as nursing professionals, nutritionists and dieticians, health coaches, pharmacy professionals, dentists, and other disciplines. Clinicians within the field of gastroenterology are encouraged to attend.
*APMs are advanced functional medicine courses that build upon foundational concepts presented in AFMCP. To make the most of your experience, we strongly recommend taking AFMCP to start your educational journey.
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Meet the GI Educators
With years of experience practicing functional medicine within the area of gastrointestinal health, our educators provide practical clinical insight to help you master course concepts and effectively apply functional medicine with your patients.
The conference schedule will be available at a later date. Please check back soon.
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What would you tell your friends or colleagues about the GI APM?
This course is a wealth of knowledge that can be implemented into practice right away. If you want to understand the GI system, what to look for and how to create a plan to improve a client's quality of life, I highly recommend this course."
IFM's GI APM is an essential training for practitioners interested in truly delivering solutions to their patients. Without the approaches presented here, health care is not only incomplete, it is just incorrect. Attend the next one!"
The advanced GI module is a course with a new evidence base approach to gastrointestinal pathologies, with diverse strategies for treatment according to the matrix model of understanding human physiology.”
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Participate in Accredited Functional Medicine Training
Learn About ACCME Accreditation
Details coming soon.
CME/CE credits are subject to change.
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Opportunities to Support
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Fill out the form below, and a member of our team will connect with you to provide detailed information on exhibit and sponsorship opportunities, helping you discover how your brand can make a lasting impact at an IFM Core Program.
Why Support?
Reach dedicated functional medicine practitioners
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GI APM Course Policies
Registration Policy
Participation Policy
Remember, it is required that you participate in this program. To fulfill the participation requirements necessary for the course to count toward certification, you must log in and complete the course, as applicable, and also complete any required knowledge checks and/or evaluations by the stated deadline. Where applicable, course knowledge check and/or evaluation instructions will be emailed to you after registration and/or at the conclusion of the course. For courses that qualify for continuing medical education (CME) credits, to receive CME credits, you must complete any required course evaluation(s) and a timecard by the stated deadline within the course. Where applicable, course evaluation and timecard instructions will be emailed to you. No partial CME/CE credit will be awarded.
Cancellation Policy
Cancellation requests must be submitted via the Course Cancellation Form. IFM will reply with a written acknowledgement once processed.
Cancellation Policy
Cancellation Request Received | Eligible Refund |
---|---|
Date of registration/purchase – August 16, 2025 * | Refund less 10% administrative fee |
August 17 - September 14, 2025* | Refund less 25% administrative fee |
September 15 - September 25, 2025* | Refund less 50% administrative fee |
September 26, 2025 – End of course | No refund |
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Frequently Asked Questions
More Information About the GI APM
This course will supply you with the foundational background, insight, and in-depth clinical thinking to confidently work up and treat patients who may present with conditions, signs, and symptoms indicative of gastrointestinal dysfunction.
18 hours of on-demand clinical presentations so learners can come and go as they please within a six-week timeframe.
PDFs of the slides and recordings of the presentations are included. Learners are provided access to downloadable content from IFM’s Toolkit, including patient handouts, customizable food plans, and other tools to assist in guiding patients through making sustainable lifestyle changes. Please note that for attendees who are not currently IFM members, the course comes with access to the IFM Toolkit for six weeks only.
Have additional questions?