A Physician's Path to Integrative & Functional Medicine: Mentorship - A Path Less Travelled
A Physician's Path to Integrative & Functional Medicine: Mentorship - A Path Less Travelled
By Yoon Hang Kim, MD, MPH
If you're reading this, you've probably felt what many of us have felt: the quiet frustration of writing another prescription when you know the patient needs something more. The administrative burden. The fifteen-minute visits that leave no room for the conversations that actually matter. The gnawing sense that medical school prepared you for disease management but not for healing.
I've been there. And I've spent years building a different kind of practice—one that honors the complexity of human health and the physician's role as guide rather than gatekeeper.
This post is for physicians who want to explore integrative, functional, and mind-body medicine but aren't sure where to start. These are the resources and training pathways I recommend to colleagues beginning this journey—many of whom I've had the privilege of mentoring.
First Principles: What to Prioritize
Before diving into courses and certifications, let me share something I tell every physician I work with:
Your MD license is your most valuable credential. Certifications can provide psychological reassurance and structured learning, but they are not essential to practice integrative medicine. Don't let anyone convince you that you need to spend $60,000 on training before you can help patients differently.
Hands-on skills will outlast AI. We're entering an era where artificial intelligence can interpret lab results and generate protocols as well as—or better than—many certified practitioners. Protocol-based functional medicine is vulnerable to disruption. But skills like medical acupuncture, therapeutic presence, and clinical intuition? Those remain uniquely human.
Start with what draws you. The path isn't linear. Most practitioners find their approach evolving as they deepen expertise in specific areas. Let your clinical experience and patient population guide your specialization.
Foundational Reading
Spontaneous Healing — Andrew Weil, MD
This is where I suggest everyone begin. Dr. Weil's classic offers a foundational understanding of the body's innate healing capacity—the premise underlying all integrative practice. It's accessible, evidence-informed, and will shift how you think about your role as a physician. Available on Amazon and most library apps (Libby, etc.) for audiobook learners.
Radical Remission — Kelly Turner, PhD
A Harvard psychologist studied over 1,000 people with advanced cancer who achieved unexpected remission. Her finding: seven of the nine common factors were non-physical. Only one was supplements; one was diet. If you're interested in mind-body medicine, this book will validate and deepen that interest.
Integrative Medicine — David Rakel, MD
The definitive clinical reference for integrative practice. I don't recommend reading it cover to cover—use it as a reference when you need practical protocols. An older, cheaper edition works fine; the foundational content remains valuable.
Formal Training Programs
Medical Acupuncture
Of the three main training areas (integrative medicine, functional medicine, medical acupuncture), medical acupuncture offers the strongest return on investment. It's a high-value clinical skill that AI cannot replicate, effective for pain management, brain fog, functional deficits from stroke, and much more.
Functional Medicine — Institute for Functional Medicine
IFM is the dominant force in functional medicine education—the "800-pound gorilla" of the field. Their training is comprehensive and well-structured.
Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine
Dr. Weil's program at the University of Arizona offers a fellowship and other distance learning options. The fellowship requires significant time commitment but provides an immersive foundation. Their CME offerings are also reasonably priced—set by universities rather than market-driven.
Complementary Skills Worth Developing
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)
Clinical Hypnosis
A Note on AI in Practice
I use AI daily—for learning, for patient education materials, even for SEO coaching during my commute. AI is more patient than people; you can ask the same question repeatedly without judgment.
But here's what I tell colleagues: AI is most useful when you remain in charge. Verify outputs with multiple sources and your own clinical knowledge. Use it as a tool, not a replacement for thinking. And invest in skills AI can't replicate: acupuncture, therapeutic relationships, the clinical art of listening.
Building a Sustainable Practice
The integrative medicine space has a problem: many practitioners pay tens of thousands for certifications, then struggle to build sustainable practices. I've observed that the more people pay, the unhappier they often become.
My approach has been different. I limit my practice to 99 patients. I started with accessible pricing and gradually increased as demand grew. I accept two new patients per month. This model has saved my life, improved my relationships, and made me a better physician.
If you're building toward private practice, start earlier rather than later with your online presence. Google trusts older domains. A simple blog can establish your voice and philosophy while you're still in training.
Mentorship
I offer 12-month mentorship programs for physicians transitioning into integrative and functional medicine. This isn't about selling courses or credentials—it's about helping colleagues find a sustainable path to whole-person care.
The mentorship includes weekly sessions, guidance on training pathways, help with scholarship applications, and the accumulated wisdom of someone who made this transition and built a practice that sustains both patients and physician.
My particular interest is supporting physicians who serve underserved communities—rural areas, populations without access to integrative care. This is where the need is greatest and where the work is most meaningful.
If this resonates, reach out. I'm happy to discuss whether mentorship might be helpful for where you are in your journey.
Starting Points, Not Endpoints
The resources above represent starting points rather than endpoints. Integrative medicine is inherently about continuous learning and remaining open to evidence wherever it leads.
Begin with foundational reading. Explore formal training as budget and interest allow. Develop complementary skills that align with your clinical interests. And throughout: let your patients teach you what they need.
The path from conventional to integrative practice isn't always smooth. But for those willing to walk it, the rewards—for both physician and patient—are substantial.
Questions about integrative medicine training or mentorship? Feel free to reach out.
Press Esc to exit editor.
