Seattle, Wash., and Washington, D.C. (December 18, 2025): The Institute for Natural Medicine (INM), in collaboration with Georgetown University and MedStar Health, is announcing a three-part digital continuing medical education (CME) course for clinicians to incorporate evidence-based whole person healthcare strategies into everyday practice.
The course is scheduled for release in the first half of 2026. CME credits will be provided by MedStar Health, Georgetown University’s academic health system partner. MedStar Health is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME). Early registration is available at https://naturemed.org/whole person-health-course.
Supported by a grant from Fullscript, the Integrative Whole Person Health certification course is designed and accredited for physicians, nurses, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants working in conventional medical settings. The course will provide participants with valuable strategies to support patient choice and build confidence in clinical nutrition, herb–drug interactions, mind–body therapies, natural approaches to pain relief, and more. Through lessons presented by leading integrative practitioners, clinicians will gain a clear understanding of how these systems of care, supported by relevant case studies and peer-reviewed evidence, can strengthen their practice.
With more than a third of the U.S. population regularly turning to complementary and alternative medical practices, especially for pain management, whole person and integrative health systems are increasingly in demand. Georgetown University School of Medicine has been a leader in providing education in this field, becoming the country’s first graduate school to offer a master’s degree program in complementary and alternative medicine in 2003. Co-founded and led by Hakima Amri, PhD, professor of Biochemistry and Molecular & Cellular Biology at the School of Medicine and program director of the Integrative Medicine and Health Sciences graduate program, Dr. Amri has encouraged students to objectively explore the evidence behind complementary therapies such as acupuncture, Ayurveda, naturopathy, clinical nutrition, and nutraceuticals for over 30 years. Now, as a co-director of the Whole Person Health CME certification course, Dr. Amri brings her wealth of expertise to advance INM’s mission of bringing comprehensive care approaches into the health mainstream.
“I am excited to work alongside INM and its leadership on this visionary initiative to expand healthcare professionals’ knowledge of scientifically rigorous integrative medicine and whole person health approaches,” says Dr. Amri. “I envision this course forging a critical path toward whole person health by combining the best practices of integrative and mainstream medical modalities and creating opportunities for additional professional development.”
The Whole Person Health certification course will offer a convenient asynchronous learning experience rooted in rigorous science. As INM’s first course to offer interprofessional continuing education credits (AMA PRA Category 1TM CME, ANCC contact hours, and AAPA Category 1 CME), it marks the beginning of a broader expansion of educational initiatives from a nonprofit with a 32-year history of advancing natural medicine and integrative care.
“Working with a leading academic institution like Georgetown University is both an honor and a responsibility,” says INM President and CEO Michelle Simon, PhD, ND. “I’ve long admired Dr. Amri, and working with her will help INM deliver on this course’s promise of effectively presenting the education, training, philosophy, and practice modalities of whole health practitioners, fostering more meaningful integrative care nationwide.”
For more details about this CME course or to register, please visit https://naturemed.org/whole person-health-course.
INM compensates Dr. Amri for her contributions to the development of the Whole Person Health certification program through a grant from Fullscript. Fullscript has no role in the development of the program. Dr. Amri reports having no other personal financial interests related to the work.
About INM
The Institute for Natural Medicine (INM) is a leading advocate for evidence-informed natural treatments and whole person approaches to health. As an independent nonprofit organization with more than 30 years of history, INM connects the public, practitioners, and policymakers to trustworthy information on natural health and wellness therapies, including clinical nutrition, botanical medicine, and preventive lifestyle-based interventions. At the heart of our mission is a commitment to reversing chronic disease in the United States by elevating integrative, whole person health and the providers who deliver it into mainstream health systems. Learn more at naturemed.org.
About Medstar Health
MedStar Health combines the best aspects of academic medicine, research, and innovation with a complete spectrum of clinical services to advance patient care. As the largest healthcare provider in Maryland and the Washington, D.C., region, MedStar Health’s more than 300 care locations include 10 hospitals, 33 urgent care clinics, ambulatory care centers, and primary and specialty care providers. We are also home to the MedStar Health Research Institute and a comprehensive scope of health-related organizations, all recognized regionally and nationally for excellence. MedStar Health has one of the largest graduate medical education programs in the country, training 1,150 medical residents annually, and is the medical education and clinical partner of Georgetown University. MedStar Health is an $8.3 billion, not-for-profit, regional healthcare system based in Columbia, Maryland, and one of the largest employers in the region. MedStar Health’s team of more than 35,000 includes physicians, nurses, and many other clinical and non-clinical associates who together support MedStar Health’s patient-first philosophy that combines care, compassion, and clinical excellence with an emphasis on customer service.
Media Contact
Wyn Delano
Chief of Staff, Institute for Natural Medicine
310-804-6661
wyn@naturemed.org
Accreditation
In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by MedStar Health, The Institute for Natural Medicine, and Georgetown University. MedStar Health is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
Credit Designation
This activity was planned by and for the healthcare team, and learners will receive 24.0 Interprofessional Continuing Education (IPCE) credits for learning and change.
Nurses
This activity is approved for 24.0 ANCC contact hour(s). Nurses should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Physicians
MedStar Health designates this enduring material for a maximum of 24.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Physician Assistants
MedStar Health has been authorized by the American Academy of PAs (AAPA) to award AAPA Category 1 CME credit for activities planned in accordance with AAPA CME Criteria. This activity is designated for 24.0 AAPA Category 1 CME credits. Approval is valid until 04/28/2029. PAs should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation.
