Live coverage of the 2021 Institute for Functional Medicine Annual International Conference

Photo Cred: Sarah Dorweiler/Unsplash

By Katherine Shagoury

The 2021 Institute for Functional Medicine (IFM) Annual International Conference took place virtually June 3-5, 2021. Leaders in functional and integrative medicine gathered virtually to discuss advancements in clinical research and innovative practices in integrative and functional medicine, in particular diversity, equity, and inclusion as well as the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). 

Integrative Practitioner reported live from the virtual sessions, bringing you the breaking news and insights from some of the top speakers and exhibitors.

Racial healing, equity, and transformation in medicine

We are experiencing converging pandemics with the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, economic vulnerability, and racial injustice, said Gail Christopher, DN, at the 2021 Institute for Functional Medicine Annual International Conference held virtually June 3-5.

Christopher described the Health Opportunity and Equity (HOPE) initiative, which measures 27 conditions that are modifiable by policy and action.

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Uncovering implicit bias and microaggressions in healthcare

Everyone has bias, but we can learn to do something about, said Shanta Zimmer, MD, at the 2021 Institute for Functional Medicine Annual International Conference held virtually June 3-5. Zimmer started the session by asking the audience questions about their preferred hobbies and where they grew up. She challenged attendees to consider how these experienced shaped their perspectives and how they view the world.

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Nutrients and social determinants of health in wound care management

Practitioners should consider an integrated strategy of wound healing, said James Carter, Jr., MD, FACC, RPVI, IFMCP, at the 2021 Institute for Functional Medicine Annual International Conference held virtually June 3-5. A wound is a cutaneous lesion related to a traumatic or surgical event. An ulcer is a cutaneous lesion related to an underlying chronic disease or comorbidity. A non-healing wound or ulcer shows no improvement in four weeks or has not healed in eight weeks.

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Interdisciplinary approach to preventing and treating pain

Chronic pain is a major health problem and disease in its own right, said Mylene Huynh, MD, MPH, FAAFP, IFMCP, at the 2021 Institute for Functional Medicine Annual International Conference held virtually June 3-5. According to Huynh, pain can be defined as, “an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage, or described in terms of such damage…Always subjective…always unpleasant; therefore, also an emotional experience.”

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Breaking News: Laurie Hofmann presented Linus Pauling Award

The Institute of Functional Medicine (IFM) announced the recipient of its Linus Pauling Award at the Annual International Conference online on Friday afternoon. The winner of this year’s award is Laurie Hofmann, MPH.

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Resilience and recovery for COVID-19 long haulers

As the healthcare industry continues to face the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic head-on, there is much discussion around post-COVID-19 syndrome, also known as long haul syndrome. The 2021 Institute for Functional Medicine Annual International Conference hosted Leo Galland, MD, Sue Haddow, MD, Imran Khan, MD, and Marwa Hazzah, MD, for a panel discussion on building resilience and supporting recovery in so-called COVID-19 long haulers.

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