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Integrative Medicine Is a Patient-Centered Model

Samanda Durand, DOSamanda Durand, DO, a Diplomate of the American Board of Physicians Specialties® (ABPS) and integrative medicine practitioner in Nevada, credits her patients for inspiring her to embrace integrative medicine. “I was seeing patients with lots of chronic conditions who were not only dealing with their illnesses, but who also had things like poor stress management, poor sleep, and sometimes pain,” Dr. Durand says, “and I wanted to be more than the person coordinating their care. I wanted to offer them options.”

In integrative medicine, there is no one right therapy option. Instead, an integrative medicine physician uses all appropriate therapeutic approaches to help patients achieve optimal health and healing. To establish what’s appropriate, physicians must first focus on the patient as a whole, as opposed to considering only the patient’s symptoms. Integrative medicine physicians examine virtually every aspect of their patients’ lives, including diet, exercise habits, and their ability to manage stress.

Evidence-Based Therapies and Lifestyle Changes

“Integrative medicine is a patient-centered model that uses evidence-based therapies,” Dr. Durand says.  This means practitioners are as likely to use conventional medicine, pharmaceuticals, or surgery, as they are to use complementary or alternative therapies. “The main focus of integrative medicine is the patient,” she emphasizes, “so we work with the patient on what their goals are in terms of health and wellness.”

Complementary or alternative therapies espoused by integrative medicine practitioners like Dr. Durand include healing traditions such as acupuncture, traditional Chinese medicine, and yoga, or lifestyle changes such as getting more exercise, eating a more nutritious diet, or adopting a mindfulness practice like meditation.

Ultimately, Dr. Durand says her goal is to educate her patients by informing them about other therapies they can use to improve their health and wellness. The ABPS proudly endorses the efforts of Dr. Durand and its other Diplomates who publicly advocate for the highest level of patient care in their chosen specialties.

Board Certification From the American Board of Integrative Medicine®

The ABPS offers physician board certification in integrative medicine through its Member Board, the American Board of Integrative Medicine® (ABOIM®).

To apply for initial board certification in integrative medicine, candidates must first meet the ABPS’s general requirements, which include graduating from a recognized allopathic or osteopathic medical school in the U.S., Canada, or internationally, and holding a valid and unrestricted license to practice medicine in the United States, its territories, or Canada.

Specific eligibility criteria set by the ABOIM include:

  • Completion of a residency accredited by ACGME, AOA, the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC), or the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC).
  • Holding current or prior board certification from a member board of the ABPS, the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS), the AOA, the RCPSC, or the CFPC.
  • Completion of an ABOIM-approved fellowship in integrative medicine.
  • Submission of an updated curriculum vitae detailing medical education, degrees, and work experience.
  • Providing three letters of recommendation from diplomates of an ABPS, ABMS, AOA, RCPSC, or CFPC board of certification.
  • Completing a self-query of the National Practitioner Data Bank and submitting the report.

Candidates who fulfill these criteria are eligible to take a computer-based written examination to achieve ABOIM board certification. Once awarded, ABPS certifications are valid for eight years, expiring on December 31 of the eighth year.

To learn more about the evidence-based practice of integrative medicine, or for information about earning physician board certification through the ABOIM, contact the APBS today.

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Patient Care Is Our Priority

Medical organizations throughout North America understand that our rigorous certification standards prove that ABPS Diplomates are capable of delivering the best patient care possible.

Far too often, medicine is led by less than 5% of non-practicing physicians taking away and replacing the voice of the 95% of physicians practicing and placing patient safety and care first on the front lines every day. The American Board of Physician Specialties has raised the standards in physician board certification not only in the quality of their boards of certification, but in hearing and allowing for the voice of those active physicians caring directly for patients. Having been a part of the ABPS over the last 28 years has allowed me to grow as a woman leader in a field often wrought with challenges. It helped me and others raise the bar of the standards of care in my specialty, Emergency Medicine, through their Board Certification in Emergency Medicine (BCEM). ABPS also helped raise the standards of care for 21st century medicine through their certifications in other specialties, particularly in Integrative Medicine & Disaster Medicine. Having physician voices heard matters to medicine and is essential in the betterment of patient safety and care.

Sarah E. Gilbert, MD, FAAEP
Sarah E. Gilbert, MD, FAAEP
Emergency Medicine
On October 18, 2007, President George W. Bush released Homeland Security Presidential Directive 21 (HSPD-21), calling on our nation, among other initiatives, to “collectively support and facilitate the establishment of a discipline of disaster health”. It is a great testament to the wisdom and foresight of the American Board of Physician Specialties that it immediately set to work and created, within the short span of only one year, an educational blueprint and set of certification examinations, both written and oral, for a new subspecialty of disaster medicine—and it is why I chose to be part this vital initiative and this wonderful organization. This is but one of the many innovative programs initiated by the American Board of Physician Specialties over the years, and why I am proud to support its work on behalf of our nation’s public health.

Art Cooper, MD
Disaster Medicine
When the American Board of Physician Specialties offered to host the American Board of Integrative Medicine, ABPS became a landmark organization working to move medicine into the twenty first century. Certifying physicians who have completed rigorous academic training in Integrative Medicine ensures that the field of Integrative Medicine will continue to develop academically, clinically, and professionally. The leadership of ABPS continues to impress me - they are diligent in constantly innovating to provide certifications for physicians who want to advance their careers and their areas of expertise. I am honored to be a part of this organization.

Ann Marie Chiasson, MD
Integrative Medicine
There are many ways board certification advances a physician career. ABPS Board examination verifies your accuracy, precision, and reflects your mastery of your residency training verifying your expertise. ABPS Board certification demonstrates your level of expertise beyond your practice experience, primary education degrees, and training which are necessary for insurance reimbursement and practice privilege requirements. Attaining your ABPS Board Certification will clarify your purpose, secure your practice growth, and expand into leadership positions. Board certification can serve as an indication of a physician’s commitment to medicine, beyond the minimal standards and competency of training, their measurement to quality of care, and attaining an award for excellence.

Chris Kunis MD
Internal Medicine
When I think historically, advancement in medicine and patient safety and care has been driven by the diversity of people and scientific thought. That’s what I found at the ABPS and more. For over 60 years that is just who we are. I found a physician certifying body that provides a choice and voice to all physicians ensuring that patients are always placed first.

Jerry Allison, MD
Emergency Medicine
When I decided to pursue a full time role as a physician executive it was important to me to obtain additional professional training, education and work experience. Board certification through the ABPS in Administrative Medicine is validation of my efforts and a demonstration of dedication to professional development. We need more physicians to become full time health care executives, knowing there is a board certification option in Administrative Medicine encourages physicians to take the leap from full time clinical practice to healthcare organizational leadership.

Richard Paula, MD
Administrative Medicine
The American Board of Physician Specialties has provided me with the opportunity to demonstrate mastery of internal medicine through board certification. As a hospitalist, board certification is an expected credential, and hospitals recognize the American Board of Physician Specialties (ABPS) as one of the three standard credentialling bodies for Internal Medicine. Additionally, the ABPS has helped me develop leadership skills as a Board member and Committee Chairperson. ABPS has also helped me sharpen critical thinking skills as a test question developer and reviewer. The Allopathic (MD) and Osteopathic (DO) physicians in the ABPS are lifelong learners and frequently pursue multiple board certifications. I enjoy the camaraderie of my peers in ABPS.

Loren Jay Chassels, DO
Internal Medicine
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