Not all doctors stay current on the research. Here’s how to tell

A lot of parents believe that if I just find a great functional medicine doctor, everything will fall into place. But here’s the truth. Even a great doctor can be the wrong fit for your child. Functional medicine doctors are not all the same.

Functional Medicine Doctors Are Not All the Same

They often have areas of focus, things they’ve spent years studying and treating. They also have lots of beliefs tied up in that.

Different Areas of Expertise Matter

For example, one doctor might be excellent at supporting mitochondrial health. But if your child’s main issue is something related to, let’s say, Lyme disease, you could work with that doctor for months and not see meaningful progress. Not because they’re not good, but because they’re not focused on what your child actually needs.

Start With Understanding, Not Just Finding a Doctor

This is why the first step is not finding a functional medicine doctor. The first step is understanding what’s actually going on in your child’s body. Because once you have that, you have that clarity. You can match your child to the right doctor.

Is Your Doctor Still Learning?

The second piece most parents don’t often think about is is this is your doctor still learning?

Real Learning Happens Beyond Lectures

In February, I went to the Integrative Healthcare Symposium in New York City. There were over 1,700 practitioners and more than 190 different vendors. And what really stood out is this. The best doctors aren’t just sitting in lectures. They’re actively exploring and asking questions and learning what’s actually working in real patients.

They’re talking to supplement companies, understanding what clinicians are prescribing and seeing how products are evolving based on real world use. This is where medicine becomes practical, not just theoretical.

Why Conferences Matter

The doctors who attend conferences like these are the ones that are staying current, learning from other experts, adapting their approach based on new science. They’re also earning continuing education credits for physicians. That’s called CME.

The One Question You Should Ask

So here’s a simple question that you can ask your child’s doctors. Where did you earn your CME credits last year?

That one question can tell you what they’re interested in, what they’re learning, and how they’re always evolving. As a clinician, if they actually are, you don’t just need a good doctor; you need the right doctor for your child. And that starts with clarity.

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