How to Become an Integrative Medicine Doctor and Provide Whole Person Care

Integrative medicine is a holistic approach to healthcare that blends conventional medical practices with complementary and alternative therapies, focusing on treating the whole person—body, mind, and spirit. (3) For those drawn to this personalized and patient-centered method of care, becoming an integrative medicine doctor involves advanced training, a deep commitment to patient well-being, and a willingness to explore multiple healing modalities. Keep reading to learn about how to become an integrative medicine doctor, the necessary education and certifications, and the rewards and challenges of providing whole person care.

In this article, we’ll touch on:

• How to become an integrative medicine doctor and provide whole person care
• Integrative medicine doctor salary
• Becoming an integrative medicine doctor: Benefits and challenges of providing whole person care
• Frequently asked questions

Key takeaways:

• Integrative medicine focuses on treating the whole person—body, mind, and spirit—by combining conventional, complementary, and alternative therapies to provide patient-centered care. (3)
• To become an integrative health practitioner, you must first complete a conventional medical degree followed by advanced training through an integrative medicine fellowship. (1)
• Key benefits of being an integrative health provider include the opportunity to offer comprehensive treatment, build meaningful patient relationships, and experience intellectual fulfillment through continuous learning and synthesis of medical knowledge. (3)
• Challenges include navigating conflicting medical approaches, managing patient and peer skepticism, and the time-intensive nature of providing holistic care that addresses all aspects of a patient’s health. (3)

How to become an integrative medicine doctor and practice whole person care 

If you’re passionate about whole person care and want to start an integrative medicine practice, these steps will provide a starting point. 

1. Obtain a conventional medical degree

Medical education is a vital component of a successful integrative medical practice. To practice whole person care as an integrative medicine doctor, you must first complete your education and training in a conventional healthcare field (e.g., Doctor of Medicine (MD), Doctor of Osteopathy (DO)). 

You’ll need to complete an accredited four-year medical school program or its equivalent, followed by the relevant clinical training and residency for your specific medical track. (1)

Many functional and integrative medicine doctors have had some experience with non-conventional healing before pursuing their doctorate. Such was the case with integrative health provider and pioneer Dr. Ronald Hoffman, MD. “I was interested in alternatives long before med school,” explained Dr. Hoffman. “I learned about healing practices from different traditional cultures and then I studied acupuncture, herbal medicine, and nutrition several years before deciding to become a doctor.” Dr. Hoffman said that soon after completing his medical school training and residency, he chose to open up his integrative medicine practice and “never looked back.”

2. Enroll in an integrative medicine fellowship

Once you’ve completed your primary medical training, consider enrolling in an integrative medicine fellowship. This is an advanced program that expands your knowledge of complementary and alternative therapies for practicing whole person care. Thousands of doctors each year earn their fellowship in integrative medicine.

There are many integrative medicine programs online and through various universities throughout North America. There are 70 different medical and nursing schools presently offering fellowships within integrative medicine programs in the United States. (4) Many of these universities offer their integrative medicine programs online. A few of the most popular fellowships are listed below.

The Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona

The University of Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine offers the largest fellowship in the world. The program has graduated 1,600 fellows in 50 states in the United States as well as 15 countries. These providers now guide more than eight million patients worldwide. (5) 

Radiation oncologist and medical doctor Dr. Matt Mumber, MD, who earned his Integrative Medicine Fellowship from the Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona, feels the additional training was critical. “Most of the material I learned through the Integrative Medicine Fellowship was not covered in conventional medical education,” he explained. “In medical school, we did not receive foundational knowledge in areas such as nutrition, physical activity, stress management, and spirituality. Those areas were deemed not as important as the more reductionistic Western medicine-based approaches.”

American Board of Integrative Medicine (ABOIM)

The American Board of Integrated Medicine (ABOIM) also offers a fellowship program and board certification when a candidate meets the following criteria:

• Completion of residency training in a program approved by the Accreditation Council of Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), the American Osteopathic Association (AOA), or the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC)
• Current or past completion of board certification granted by the ABPS, the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS), the American Osteopathic Association (AOA), or a Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC) Board
• Completion of an ABOIM-approved Fellowship in Integrative Medicine
• Graduation from an accredited four-year naturopathic college
• Graduation from an accredited National Certification Commission on Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) college
• Graduation from an accredited Council on Chiropractic Education (CCE) college (1) 

There are also many complementary and alternative medicine programs in Canada offered by the Alberta College of Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine, Alternative College of Canada, Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine, and other organizations.

These programs typically cover areas such as nutrition, stress management, physical activity, spirituality, and other holistic therapies, which are often not covered in conventional medical school.

3. Consider additional specialized certifications

Depending on your interests, you can pursue specialized certifications to deepen your expertise in specific areas of integrative medicine. These certifications will add to your qualifications and allow you to better address patient needs in specialized areas of care. For example, doctors who would like to boost their nutrition knowledge can also gain a  Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS) credential from the American Nutrition Association. (2) 

As a fellow of the American Board of Naturopathic Oncology (FABNO), naturopathic oncologist Dr. Tina Kaczor, ND, FABNO, chose to get additional education in oncology. “Having that additional training was an integral part of launching our oncology practice so quickly,” she explained. “It also helped me establish relationships with colleagues within my specialty, which is a win-win for everyone, especially the patient.”

4. Stay current with continuing education

Integrative medicine is a continually evolving field. To stay at the forefront of the latest treatments, therapies, and research to provide optimal whole person care, it’s essential to:

• Attend conferences, workshops, and webinars focused on integrative health and whole person care
• Participate in ongoing continuing education programs
• Regularly review literature and research on emerging therapies and treatment modalities

By following these steps, you can build a rewarding career in integrative medicine, offering patients whole person care that goes beyond traditional treatments.

Integrative medicine doctor salary

While helping and inspiring patients through whole person care is a key motivator for integrative health providers, is there a financial upside? According to ZipRecruiter, the annual integrative medicine doctor salary range is between $111,000 and $251,000 with a national United States average of $195,000. (6) 

Becoming an integrative medicine doctor: Benefits and challenges of providing whole person care

As with any profession, there are benefits and challenges to practicing whole person care as an integrative health provider. Some of the main benefits include: 

• Comprehensive treatment: Combining conventional with complementary and alternative therapies, giving you a broader range of tools to address patient needs
• Intellectual fulfillment: Ongoing learning and synthesizing information from both conventional and complementary and alternative medicine, which can create a stimulating and rewarding career
• Meaningful patient relationships: Addressing all aspects of a patient’s health—physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual—to build strong, trusting relationships that lead to more impactful outcomes.
• Patient-centered care: Working closely with patients who are actively engaged in their healing process and appreciate the whole person approach to their care. (3)

One of the rewards of becoming an integrative health provider is that this form of medicine excels with patients who want to actively participate in their care. “The easiest and most rewarding aspect of integrative medicine is talking to patients and explaining their integrative therapies,” said Dr. Kaczor, who is the editor-in-chief of the Natural Medicine Journal and the founder of RoundTableCancerCare.com. “Since the treatments follow rational thought, patients are grateful and even relieved when they understand their treatments.”  

Some of the main challenges include: 

• Dealing with skepticism: Facing skepticism from both the medical community and patients questioning the legitimacy of integrative medicine, making it essential to advocate for and explain your approach effectively
• Higher perceived costs: Establishing new integrative medicine programs in existing clinics and the additional education required for providers (However, research shows that these programs may decrease costs long-term due to fewer patient follow-up needs.)
• Navigating conflicting medical approaches: Balancing both conventional medicine and alternative practices, questioning established dogma, and continuously asking what’s best for the patient
• Ongoing research and learning: Staying updated on both conventional and alternative therapies, which  requires continuous education and the ability to synthesize evolving medical knowledge (3)
• Getting integrative healthcare covered by insurance: Insurance companies being painfully slow to provide coverage for alternative and complementary medicine

“The most difficult aspect of becoming an integrative medical physician is swimming in the cross-currents of conventional medicine and alternative medicine,” said Dr. Kaczor. “Those who follow dogma have the luxury of not having to read, digest, and synthesize ongoing medical information. To be an integrative physician is to question dogma, to keep the patient at the center of all aspects of care, and to repeatedly ask yourself what’s best for the patient.” 

Dr. Kaczor reminds those interested in becoming an integrative health provider that “this is both the most inspiring work you can do and perhaps the most laborious way to practice medicine as well.”

Integrative medicine: A holistic approach to deliver better whole person care

Integrative medicine can take many different forms, whether it be naturopathic physicians incorporating osteopathic medicine, medical doctors using herbal remedies, or other integrative holistic medicine combinations. Across all these forms of treatment, integrative medicine providers always create a strong partnership with the patient to holistically address the patient’s emotional, environmental, mental, physical, and spiritual needs. (3) It’s a form of medicine that can be transformative for not only patients and providers in their clinical practice but the healthcare system in general. (5) 

Frequently asked questions

What’s the difference between an integrative medicine doctor and a functional medicine doctor? 

Integrative medicine doctors practice whole person care, combining conventional medicine with complementary and alternative therapies to address the whole person—body, mind, and spirit. Functional medicine doctors focus specifically on identifying and treating the root causes of chronic illness, often using personalized, science-based treatments like nutrition and lifestyle changes. While both emphasize holistic care, functional medicine is more disease-centered, while integrative medicine is broader, focusing on the overall health of the patient.

Is an integrative medicine specialist a doctor? 

Yes, an integrative medicine specialist can be a doctor. Many integrative medicine doctors hold degrees such as MD (Medical Doctor), DO (Doctor of Osteopathy), ND (Naturopathic Doctor), or DC (Chiropractic Doctor). They typically also have advanced training in both conventional and alternative medical practices. (1)

How long does it take to become an integrative medicine doctor? 

Becoming an integrative medicine doctor usually takes 8–12 years. This includes completing a standard medical degree, which typically takes four years, followed by residency or clinical training (3–7 years depending on the specialty). After that, an additional 1–2 years of fellowship training in integrative medicine is often required. (1)