news

Published June 5, 2019

The Institute for Functional Medicine has named two new members to its governing board of directors. During what has been a period of rapid growth and burgeoning interest in Functional Medicine, IFM continues to respond to these growing needs by engaging wider areas of expertise and spheres of influence to support the organization at every level.

The governing board is expanding its membership to include expertise and representation from diverse sectors including health systems and healthcare policy, strategic partnerships, patient advocacy, asset and intellectual property management, international collaborations, communications, business development, public affairs, and strategic planning. During the board of directors’ recent meeting, held in conjunction with IFM’s Annual International Conference, two new members were elected and join current directors Jeffrey Bland, PhD, Laurie Hofmann, MPH, Mark Hyman, MD, David Jones, MD, Joseph Pizzorno, ND, and Juliet Rogers, PhD, MPH.

New governing board member Terry Cook brings decades of expertise in the areas of financial asset and risk management as well as business development, strategic planning, and high-level problem solving. He is founder of The Cascade Group of UBS Private Wealth Management and leads a team of professionals who guide successful business owners through life-changing liquidity events. An established financial services professional of more than 25 years, Terry has been named the number one wealth advisor in the state of Washington for the last three years by Forbes.

Also joining IFM’s governing board is Kara Dowdall, MS, a highly respected executive and leader in the fields of health care and clinical operations management. Kara is vice president of operations for Proliance Surgeons, one of the largest surgical practices in the country. Additionally, she is one of the first national board certified health and wellness coaches and serves as a Functional Medicine health educator. She is also the founder of Intellect Health, LLC, a healthcare and practice management consulting firm. Kara’s record of success spans more than 30 years.

IFM chairwoman Laurie Hofmann states, “Terry and Kara are valuable additions to our governing board. As IFM continues to execute an ambitious strategic plan, the need to identify and engage individuals who represent wider fields of expertise is vital. We are excited to have Terry and Kara join us as we further our mission to advance the widespread adoption of Functional Medicine.”

IFM extends a warm welcome to them both.