About Us

The Dietitians in Integrative and Functional Medicine (DIFM), a practice group of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, consists of 4000+ Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs), Dietetic Technicians, Registered (DTRs), and dietetic students and interns who practice in, or have specific interest in a personalized approach to nutrition, health, and healing. The DIFM philosophy centers around a holistic “Food as Medicine” approach to wellness and is based firmly on the Integrative Medicine model. Whole-food therapies, targeted supplements, and mind-body modalities form the basis of “Integrative and Functional Medical Nutrition Therapy” (IFMNT). Integrative Nutrition RDNs apply this model to the nutrition care process in clinical practice and are instrumental in reshaping healthcare.

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What is DIFM?

Dietitians in Integrative and Functional Medicine (DIFM) is a specialty practice group of nutrition practitioners whose core philosophy centers around a holistic, personalized approach to health and healing. Our members integrate a variety of nutrition therapies including whole foods, tailored supplements, and mind-body modalities in clinical practice. DIFM RDs seek out and address the underlying causes of symptoms through evidence-based approaches including genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors in addition to nutrition, sleep, stress, and relationship to food.

What is Integrative Medicine?

Integrative Medicine is the practice of medicine that reaffirms the importance of the relationship between practitioner and patient, focuses on the whole person, is informed by evidence, and makes use of all appropriate therapeutic approaches, healthcare professionals, and disciplines to achieve optimal health and healing.

What is Functional Medicine?

Functional Medicine addresses the underlying causes of disease using a systems-oriented approach and engaging both patient and practitioner in a therapeutic partnership. Functional medicine involves understanding the origins, prevention, and treatment of complex, chronic disease. Hallmarks of a functional medicine approach include:

  • Patient-centered care. The focus of functional medicine is on patient-centered care promoting health as a positive vitality; beyond just the absence of disease. By listening to the patient and learning his or her story, the practitioner brings the patient into the discovery process and tailors treatments that address the individual’s unique needs.
  • An integrative, science-based healthcare approach. Functional medicine practitioners look “upstream” to consider the complex web of interactions in the patient’s history, physiology, and lifestyle that can lead to illness. The unique genetic makeup of each patient is considered, along with both internal (mind, body, and spirit) and external (physical and social environment) factors that affect total functioning.
  • Integrating best medical practices. Functional medicine integrates traditional Western medical practices with what is sometimes considered “alternative” or “integrative” medicine, creating a focus on prevention through nutrition, diet, and exercise; use of the latest laboratory testing and other diagnostic techniques; and prescribed combinations of drugs and/or botanical medicines, supplements, therapeutic diets, detoxification programs, or stress-management techniques.

What is Practice-Based Evidence?

Practice-based evidence promotes the value of the knowledge and evidence gained from the practitioner’s clinical experiences and observations.

Vision

Optimize health and healing with integrative and functional nutrition

Mission

Empower members to be leaders in integrative and functional nutrition

Goals

  • Be recognized leaders in integrative and functional nutrition
  • Increase DIFM membership, and retain members by providing significant value
  • Cultivate relationships with collaborators
  • Educate in integrative and functional nutrition

Operating Philosophy

  • Conduct a program of work in a professional manner within the strategic framework of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
  • Establish networks with organizations whose goals are compatible with those of DIFM in order to further our mission
  • Develop and implement technology and communication plans to help achieve the goals of DIFM
  • Invest proceeds of projects in furthering the development of DIFM, its members, and the profession

All registered dietitians are nutritionists – but not all nutritionists are registered dietitians. The Academy's Board of Directors and Commission on Dietetic Registration have determined that those who hold the credential registered dietitian (RD) may optionally use "registered dietitian nutritionist" (RDN) instead. The two credentials have identical meanings.

The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics is the world's largest organization of food and nutrition professionals. The Academy is committed to improving the nation's health and advancing the profession of dietetics through research, education, and advocacy. Visit the Academy at www.eatright.org.

IFMNT Radial and SOP/SOPP

The Integrative and Functional Medicine Nutrition Therapy (IFMNT) Radial was created in 2011 and updated in 2018 as a conceptual framework to assist RDNs in implementing IFMNT in practice.

Learn More

For more information, contact difmdpg@gmail.com

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