Description

The presenter, a DO, created the first Functional Medicine residency track at Western Michigan University Stryker School of Medicine (WMed). In 2018 she created a database to capture patients’ micronutrient deficiencies and related variables, comprising 1200 records to date. These data document malnutrition in a community like many in the US, and guide successful focal micronutrient interventions, resolving conditions for which medications typically are prescribed, when improved nutrition also should be included. Functional medicine training, similar to naturopathic training, equips residents to evaluate and remediate nutrient status for improved health and elimination of often unnecessary tests and medications.

Janet Mindes, PhD and Ramona Wallace, DO: Janet Mindes, PhD is an independent researcher, educator, writer, editor; her appointment as Adjunct Professor at Western Michigan University Homer Stryker School of Medicine (W Med) is pending. Dr. Mindes is a research psychologist (B.A., Harvard University, Ph.D., New York University) with thirty years’ experience, focusing since 1998 on integrative medicine (IM). Dr. Mindes taught at NYC universities; conducted research (1990 – 1995, Mt. Sinai Icahn School of Medicine; 1998 – 2015, Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons); taught Western science of acupuncture (former Tri-State College of Acupuncture, 2015-2018). At the Rosenthal Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Columbia (1998-2007), she mentored medical and doctoral students, co-created three prestigious CME courses, two with Dr. Andrew Weil; was on major NIH grants; from 2018-2022, was co-investigator on an NIH/NCI SBIR grant developing an app to teach acupressure. Dr. Mindes co-edited/authored Integrative Sexual Health, Weil Integrative Medicine Library, OUP, 2018. Ramona Wallace, DO IFMCP is Assistant Professor of Family and Community Medicine at Western Michigan University Homer Stryker School of Medicine (W Med), Battle Creek Campus. Dr Wallace is a clinician with thirty years of experience in communities in Michigan, providing Functional Medicine and Integrative Medicine in an underserved community. She is currently developing a nutritional deficiency database to help demonstrate to the learners the impact nutrition has on chronic disease, mental health, as well as substance use disorders. She received the Molina Community Champion Award in 2018 for her innovative approach to teaching nutrition to patients struggling with food insecurities, as well as addressing the social determinants of health. She developed the first ever residency track for Functional Medicine. She is currently working with the Institute for Functional Medicine to implement the curriculum in residency education. From the 2023 NYANP Annual Conference