Going to medical school as a mom of four, I totally get how intense it can be to fit study into an already full life. Please know that this is a rigorous course intended to put real-life actionable skills in your hands and to help you approach peeling back the onion on even the most complex cases in your practice. It will take your time, attention, and commitment. 

However, skills will be presented gently, and will build incrementally and naturally over time, starting with foundations and working our way together through the language and options of integrative and functional medicine for women’s health. I know, with careful planning and a commitment, it can be done.

That said, you are also welcome to work at your own pace. You have lifelong access to all of the study materials and 6 months after the end of the program to complete the quizzes and final exam. The live Q&A sessions are recorded and the audio is also posted to the website. If you know in advance that you will be unable to attend a live call but still have a question, there will always be a way to submit your question in advance.

Online learning is such an effective educational model that even major universities incorporate it into their programs. It’s a particularly excellent option for busy women, allowing you to learn in the comfort of your home or favorite study space, at your own pace, with a cup of tea (or glass of wine!) in hand, in large time periods, or smaller chunks. Online learning models offer multimedia personal touches like video and audio that you can download whenever you have the chance and access permanently. It allows you to drop those old-school academic anxieties and finally learn what and how you want to – with no pressure!

Sometimes life happens and it becomes difficult to keep up with something we enroll in. If you fall behind, don’t worry – you have access to the program for 6 months beyond the end of our time together. While you may miss live Q&A and Case Review sessions, these will be recorded so you can listen to them at your convenience.

The amount of food information out there is mind-boggling. On any given day you can get as many opinions on what’s best to eat as there are experts. Even health professionals can find it overwhelming. But there are some very clear threads of truth that leading health scientists have been able to extract from all of the food noise out there.

In this course, we will uncover those core truths, while also exploring the pros, cons, and actual science on the various therapeutic diets you might consider. Importantly, this program is based on the premises of replenishment and nourishment, time-tested information, and Dr. Romm’s unique vantage point of having personal and collegial relationships with some of the leading voices in the food and health movement including Dr. David Katz, Dr. Boyd Eaton, Dr. Tieraona Low Dog, and many others.

Gone are the days when any of us can do it all alone. We need teams and our patients and clients do, too. Most doctors, for example, don’t have time to help patients make the critical behavioral changes needed for effectively implementing their programs – and patients often get stuck in old habits, patterns, and self-sabotage.Enter the nutritionists and health coaches.

To be effective in this new model, we need to learn to speak a common language, understand the goals and protocols, and support each other in helping our patients and clients reach their health goals. A fully integrated professional team supporting women would ideally include a medical or licensed health practitioner, a nurse practitioner, a nutritionist, and a health coach, even if not all in the same office or practice. Therefore, my goal is to provide training that brings together these various members of the team in a collaborative learning space.

This course can be used solely as a self-study program and at your own pace without fulfilling any specific requirements. However, to receive the Certificate of Completion as well as CMEs, and to be able to say you completed this program with Dr. Aviva Romm, you must successfully complete a short, automatically graded 10-question quiz at the end of each module, and successfully complete a final exam that is also submitted electronically. The final exam is a closed book, no-surprise, no-trick-question test based upon the quizzes. You have 6 months from the end of the program to complete all modules, quizzes, and the final exam.

For now this is a women-only course. My experience with over 30 years of teaching is that this allows for a uniquely embracing and relaxed experience for students, a high level of openness in the course dialogue and forums, and eliminates politics that have been shown to negatively impact group and individual learning and sharing dynamics for women.

Completing this course does not provide certification nor does it in any way substitute for clinical experience under the supervision and guidance of an experienced herbal practitioner.

Completion of this program in no way confers the right or ability to practice any form of health care. Graduates will receive a Certificate of Completion and are welcome to advertise that they have completed this training program

This program is designed for health professionals and presupposes basic science and health knowledge – the Case Review and Q&A sessions will reflect this. However, you do not need medical training or prior functional medicine training to be successful and make use of the program. Dr. Romm is well known for her accessible teaching style and ability to make complex concepts understandable and applicable. A list of adjunct textbooks and resources will be provided should you feel you need basic functional and integrative medicine references.

You may withdraw your enrollment up until 21 days prior to the start date of the program. If you withdraw you will be given a refund of any amount you’ve paid minus your deposit of $2,000, which is non-refundable. After this time, no refunds will be issued.

We understand that personal and family emergencies can occur during a student’s time of enrollment that might prevent completion of the course within the allotted 16 months. Requests for deferment will be considered on an individual basis, by petition to the Course Director. Deferment is available only for the next two academic years of the program. The cost for deferment to the following class is $2,500; the cost for a deferment to a second year is $3,500. Any student granted a deferment must retake the entire program from the beginning.

If you withdraw at any time during the program, full payment is still due, as once registration closes, we cannot give your spot to another student.

Hopefully you will not have to withdraw from the program. That said, life happens, and if, for any reason you anticipate that you will not be able to complete the program during the allotted time, you can simply download all of the materials before the expiration of your access to the course website (16 months from the date of your first class). That way you will have everything you need to continue your studies when you are able.

Please note that no refunds are available outside of the refund policy and, if you are on a payment plan, you are still expected to make all of your monthly tuition payments until you have met your full financial commitment.

The concepts and model of functional and integrative medicine for women that I am teaching are relevant to practitioners globally, and in fact, are important as chronic disease is escalating around the world. I am accustomed to teaching students from all over the world—my Herbal Medicine for Women program has students from over 20 countries—and we welcome your participation and unique experiences based on your country’s health care system.

However, some of the specific tests and supplements I recommend may not be available in every country. In addition, in evaluating lab tests, I will be using US lab values and ranges.

Up to 36 Continuing Medical Education credits are available for the case-based learning sessions.

The Women’s Function and Integrative Medicine Professional Training is an educational program that aims to provide students a comprehensive foundation in the emerging functional and integrative medicine paradigms. Aviva Romm Enterprises (provider #1044, 413-591-0543) has been approved by the California Acupuncture Board to grant up to 50 Category 1 CE credits for this course. The live program begins each September but students have through December to complete graduation requirements. Our policy on refunds can be found in the FAQ section at the bottom of this page. No products are offered for sale during or after completion of this program.

Commission on Dietetic Registration: up to 151.5 credits

Approved for up to 36 continuing education units by the National Board for Health & Wellness Coaching (NBHWC) – Provider #CE-000040-1.

Upon successful completion of required online quizzes and evaluation forms, you may request a Certificate of Continuing Education Credits.