“I think there were many reasons but I think one of them was my serious illness which made me question my work as a doctor and the context I was working in. It was a wake up call to realise that the kind of medicine I was practicing wasn’t really true to my real self and I felt there was something missing. 

It’s been beyond expectations, its been a really amazing experience. The most amazing thing about this diploma is that it teaches you the art of medicine; it covers so many amazing facets of what all doctors should know: the history of medicine, how to have a holistic consultation with a patients and all the different approaches there are out there, all the complementary approaches that work so well with conventional medicine. Conventional medicine is amazing but it needs the support of the complementary system to stop long term conditions becoming long term so I think it’s made a big impact in that sense. And of course learning how to critically appraise evidence which is key to understanding research.

It’s been phenomenal, first of all giving you permission for self-care which unfortunately I think is lacking in our conventional training in the sense you try and keep going despite whatever, but giving us a really good framework to learn from and look after ourselves. In terms of my practice, its revolutionised my practice. I can’t begin to tell you the difference it’s made to my patients the feedback I get. I feel like a proper Dr now because I feel like I have more tools to facilitate to people recovery to ask them to access their resources and the most import thing is the empowerment that patients feel. And just being out somewhere like this teaching people to go out in green care and having that experience of being with nature you know really reconnecting back to our roots which I think the modern world is slowly eroded from us, unintentionally but that’s what’s happened, so its reconnecting to yourself and to your fellow human.

I go and talk to schools and councils, to corporates, really just to try and get that message across there about self-care, and the power on empowerment and using the right medicine for the conditions you are faced with, I think it’s the best gift you can give to yourself. Yes, it’s hard work but if you are passionate about it then it really is. It’s also a discovery of yourself to be the true doctor that you really want to be. I finally feel that now I have finished my medical education in the sense of getting all the tools I need and now I am going to properly learn how this impacts the world, the universe and myself.”

“For a long time I felt very inadequate in the way I dealt with patients with long term conditions. I felt that whilst conventional medicine is very good for lots of acute medical problems, it was very limited in what it could do or offer to patients with long term conditions. I was looking for ways to bridge that gap and the Diploma seemed to have all those elements.”

“Throughout my career as a G.P. I have been aware of the limitations of conventional medicine in many presentations with some complexity, which is a fair amount of what we see. To make inroads in such cases, it’s necessary to see the patient holistically. The Diploma has given me many more tools to do this, and my practice has been significantly enhanced since taking it.”         

“I completed the Integrative Medicine Diploma two years ago, and it has profoundly opened my mind to new tools for understanding health. The curriculum seamlessly blended conventional medical knowledge with holistic approaches, offering a comprehensive view of patient care. The program introduced me to various modalities, from chinese and herbal medicines to mind-body techniques, that I had never considered before. Each module was rich in practical insights and evidence-based practices, equipping me with a diverse toolkit to better address my patients’ needs. This diploma has truly transformed my approach to healthcare, enabling me to promote wellness in a more integrative and patient-centered way. I highly recommend it to any healthcare professional looking to expand their horizons and deepen their impact.”

“The master’s Level 7 Diploma in Integrative Medicine has been an enjoyable and transformative experience for my healthcare practice. This accredited program provided me with a comprehensive understanding of holistic approaches, empowering me to treat patients more effectively and collaboratively. 

My background is as a Radiographer and more recently as a Craniosacral therapist. I was the first graduate of the course who was not a practising Doctor of Medicine.

The curriculum expertly blended conventional and complementary therapies, equipping me with valuable tools to assess and address complex health challenges. I’ve gained confidence in implementing integrative strategies and have seen significant improvements in patient outcomes.

Becoming a Fellow of NCIM upon graduation has connected me with a network of like-minded practitioners, fostering ongoing learning opportunities.  

I would recommend the course to anyone looking to broaden their medical perspective. You will enjoy learning about the many different aspects of the growing field of integrative medicine and I believe that this qualification will be an invaluable investment in your professional development and how you practice patient care.”

“The NCIM diploma is what I would call life-changing, both personally and professionally.

It started with a lingering suspicion that there was more to health than my medical school knowledge. Soon after starting, it opened my eyes to a world of new approaches to health and healing. Not only did I find my health improving, as I put into my practice what I learnt, but my job satisfaction also went through the roof.”

“Integrative Medicine helped me learn how to assess my patients health using a holistic approach. By getting to tye root cause, the healing process is patient centered and systemic based. It’s not just a pill for an illness.  This allows for improved quality of life and wellbeing. My family gets to enjoy what I learnt as well. “

“The Diploma helped me connect with like-minded healthcare professionals and have a sense of community around health and healing. This was part of my career transition support into therapeutic coaching, and it greatly supported my awareness and critical thinking skills about different healing modalities and how to make sense and best use of available evidence. There was great emphasis placed on therapeutic relationships and holistic consulting models which are extremely valuable teachings and tools to use to best support my clients in clinical practice. It was also played a pivotal role in my own health journey by giving me tools and reflective practices for self-care. Throughout the Diploma I felt very well supported by peers and tutors, which helped with fitting the course assignments and meetings around my work schedule.”

“I looked for a long time to find the right course for me- I lived and worked in France, where it is second nature to use complementary medicine alongside allopathic medicine, and knew that I wanted to use this model on my return to the UK. 

“As a nurse, the Diploma in Integrative Healthcare at NCIM has been truly empowering. This training gave me the confidence to blend conventional and evidence-based complementary medicine approaches, becoming a change agent.

The course encouraged me to approach clients with curiosity and an open mind, embracing a whole-person perspective. What stood out the most was the supportive network of like-minded healthcare professionals within the NCIM community. This networking has been invaluable.

Thank you, NCIM, for this transformative journey and for enabling me to advocate for integrative client care.“

“The Diploma has enriched my medical education in ways that will bear fruit for the rest of my life. Thanks to NCIM I have been empowered to strive for wellness rather than simply firefighting illness, and to bring together a constellation of seemingly separate symptoms throughout medical school. It has been humbling to see the impact on a patient feeling heard, understood and having their whole personhood considered. The Diploma has ingrained invaluable skills in me – particularly appraisal of research, allowing me to evaluate the quality of evidence for various complementary approaches. I couldn’t get enough of the fascinating content, which moved from the history and philosophy of Integrative Medicine to the practical skills of Holistic Consulting and building a business plan. The network that has blossomed from this venture has been irreplaceable and continues to flourish beyond the course itself. It is a privilege to be part of such a vibrant, supportive, creative community that keeps me thinking laterally and is unafraid to evolve with the shifting tides of medical practice. “

“I would recommend this Diploma to anyone feeling the gap between the way they are practising now and the healer they want to be. There is so much I could say about this life-changing course; being able to articulate and evidence my non-reductionist thinking with my mainstream colleagues, and the joy of finding my tribe, are highlights for me. At the end of the 2 years, I emerged with a clear vision of who I am professionally and how best I can serve my patients. In fact I enjoyed it so much, I stayed on to join the tutor team.”

“Since my medical studies, I have sought recognition for the integrative approach, which seemed to me to be the most suitable form of medicine. After completing my specialization in general medicine and then a subspecialization in Chinese medicine and acupuncture, I sought to bridge my allopathic and complementary identities. Unable to afford to go to the United States to find training that met my needs, I heard about NCIM. I couldn’t find information about this training in my home country because at the time, no Swiss had completed it. So, I embarked on the adventure, which provided a comprehensive overview of the various existing complementary approaches, training in critical literature review and critical thinking, as well as numerous human encounters. In the end, I obtained this Diploma, which gave me the recognition I needed. I still have to decide on the next step in the adventure, namely the complete training leading to a master’s degree. I am very satisfied with the experience and can only recommend this Diploma, currently the most recognized in Europe in the field.“

“The Diploma in Integrative Healthcare has been beneficial in so many ways, it’s hard to know where to start! It has provided me with deeper theoretical and practical knowledge, allowing me to talk confidently about a variety of integrative approaches to healthcare. Through exploring the wide range of therapeutic interventions, I have focused in on the tools that naturally ‘fit’ with my Nutritional training, such as Herbal Medicine, Lifestyle Medicine and Functional Medicine. This diploma has had a profound effect on me both professionally as well as with my personal growth. I would highly recommend the Diploma!”

“Having completed the Diploma of Integrative Health in 2023 at the NCIM has really pushed me forward on my path of transition from conventional medicine to Integrative health doctor.

It has expanded my horizon with a much better understanding of healing rather than treating and how we can restore this balance of natural health and human environment, tailored to the individual.

The Diploma has also triggered me to continue studying Herbal medicine (Irish School of Herbal Medicine) and Homeopathy (Foundation year at NCIM). Moving forward, I am looking forward to seeing my Integrative Health Paediatric Orthopaedic clinic develop and train future doctors in Integrative Medicine.”

“As a gynecologist and oncologist I got asked so many questions around complementary medicine that fits into the conventional medicine “What can I do myself?” – and I wanted to have sufficient answers.

The breadth of it – become a great overview to do holistic consulting. Understand the buzzwords holism, personalization and what they really mean and how it can be implemented.

I have started to consider the patient perspective in everything I do, give alternatives. As a consequence, communication today is next level, I have a completely different relationship with my patients. The impressive thing is the personal change you go through, it is not only a new skill, a new knowledge – it is a new mindset and purpose that I have found and that I am proud of.

What a decision… After two transformative years at the NCIM in Bristol pursuing a Masters Diploma in Integrative Medicine, I wish to extend my gratitude to the incredible team at NCIM, and my peers.

I was once asked, “What were you looking for when you started at the NCIM?” While my initial goals might be fuzzy, I’ve discovered: – A health and medicine philosophy I resonate with. – Cutting-edge medical integration based on holistic care and sound science. – The bravery to apply this knowledge. – Deep insights into the philosophy of TCM, Ayurveda, and modern medicine. – True holism and patient empowerment in practice.

This journey gifted me allies, mentors, and cherished friends. Choosing to develop broad medical knowledge over a niche was truly one of my best decisions. This range guides my way to NEW HEALTH.”

“As an NHS Emergency Medicine Consultant, and therefore a generalist physician, I am becoming increasingly frustrated at the fragmented nature of standard medical care and the lack of the whole-body approach towards health and disease. Through my work, I frequently encounter patients who feel distressed and hopeless – this is especially true when conventional medicine does not result in adequate symptom control.

The diploma has been vital in allowing me to understand and teach others about the whole-body approach that is required to live well and treat disease. I am now able to signpost NHS patients, private clients and colleagues towards evidence based therapies that can be used in addition to standard NHS treatments. This often leads to a greater sense of empowerment and hope and improved symptom control amongst my patients/clients.

The diploma has given me the scientific knowledge to be able converse with and educate my colleagues about topics that, traditionally, have not been included in undergraduate medical training. I am sure some of these fascinating topics will become central to our future medical curriculum and having access to this knowledge makes me feel ahead of the curve!”

“The early years of my career started in Pakistan. Since then I’ve experienced healthcare in several different countries and in varying capacities during my medical training and in the formative years. I worked in the Republic of Ireland for a year and a half, Australia for several months and have interned in the United States and New Zealand.

After completing my training as a GP in the UK I quickly realize that I wasn’t able to help many of the patients I had with their chronic problems so I looked to broaden my understanding of health. This is when the opportunity of studying with NCIM came up, the idea of merging my knowledge of convention medicine with evidence-based alternatives and lifestyle advice sounded like the perfect marriage of my cumulative knowledge and life experience with new ways of helping people to improve their health. I’m delighted to have completed the two-year-old diploma and I’m looking forward to establishing my own practice to offer better help and advice.”

“As a healthcare professional working in a busy city hospital, I started noticing how little we care about lifestyle, nutrition, sustainability, emotions and mental health. This made me start seeking other paths for my career and I became a Nutritional Therapist. I did not know this would be the beginning of my journey in Integrative Medicine/ Healthcare.

The NCIM IH Diploma gave me a wider scope about health, introduced me to new therapeutic approaches that can be applied to different health conditions alongside conventional protocols or working in disease prevention. This Diploma developed my sense of criticism on scientific articles and systematic reviews, feeling even more empowered to work on evidence based solutions in my clinical practice. Not only applied on food and supplements, but also working with patients holistically encouraging them as a whole and not treating them as an isolated condition.

Study at NCIM also provided me an excellent knowledge of other CAM therapies, allowing me to work together with other practitioners and supporting my own patients, as well being able to suggest other therapies as a complement to functional nutrition. I consider the Diploma essential to bringing back the human skills that have been lost in the practice of medicine throughout the years due to all the ongoing pressures the healthcare system is suffering. All the subjects explored during the Diploma encouraged us to see the person as a whole and to encounter the correct balance between science and nature. The community that comes with this Diplomas is also very valuable.”

“I graduated with my NCIM Diploma in Integrative Healthcare in 2023. I also have a Master’s degree in Management/ Artificial Intelligence (1992); Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) (Malaysia, (2002), and Shiatsu (London, 2003). I have practiced TCM and Shiatsu for over 22 years, integrating the diagnostic techniques of TCM with the hands-on head-to-toe acupoint therapy using Shiatsu.

My experience includes working in NHS hospitals, in Acute injuries, Orthopaedics, and Stroke wards, always striving to improve patient healthcare. I try restoring good health and mobility for patients, especially where conventional approaches fall short. I usually treat Sciatica and Back pain, but recently patients with serious illnesses and injuries: post-surgery Cancer, Multiple Sclerosis, MND, Long COVID, women’s fertility/ menstruation issues, severe stress, and mental depression.

Recognizing that no single approach always succeeds, I enrolled in NCIM to broaden my medical perspective. At NCIM, I met and learnt from international health experts, enriching my understanding and medical practice. I now deploy this integrated approach at Charing Cross Hospital, London (CCS sports annex), where I continue TCM patient care and Shiatsu acupoint solutions.”

“I have studied many complementary approaches during my medical studies and over the course of my career, so the Diploma came as an opportunity to update my knowledge and broaden my outlook – from practicing in a sort of „schizophrenic“ way moving back and fourth between two divergent ways of medical thinking, to a truly „holistic“ and integrative approach. 

This was the goal I set out to reach – but what I got was so much more. For the first time, I was taught in a systematic way exactly why „conventional“ medicine has the limitations it does, how historical and societal developments shaped the medical systems we have today, and how we as medical practitioners can broaden our understanding of the human being in health and disease, to overcome the limitations of these systems, by considering the wisdom and knowledge that has, for ages, served mankind well -to expand our „tool box“ beyond what conventional healthcare has to offer. 

The greatest surprise, however, was my exponential gain in confidence when it comes to critical appraisal – to really be able to critically read and understand scientific publications and come to a sound conclusion regarding their validity. But there was even more – learning from such a vast number of international experts online as well as in person in Bristol, becoming inspired by them sharing their experience, and most of all, becoming part of a close-knit, like-minded community striving to improve patient care and the future of medicine.“

“I wanted to do this course to gain a well-rounded understanding of the future of medicine and I wanted to better leverage how I serve others. I like that the course continues to develop how it serves and supports its students, year on year. I’m only in the first year but am already abundant with ideas for developing the future care that I will give.”

Pat was awarded an Honorary Fellowship as she played an active role in the development of the Diploma in Integrative Healthcare, and was part of the Modular Lead Team for many years. She is also a valued member of the NCIM Board. Her background is in nursing, having undertaken her nursing qualification at St Thomas’s Hospital in London, before moving to Bristol. She has always had an interest in education, undertaking an MSc in Social Policy (University of Bristol) and working in health and adult education for the NHS as a primary care facilitator, developing Coronary Heart Disease Prevention with General Practitioners. She also spent three years developing primary care research in the  Department of Primary Care at the University of Bristol, followed by a spell as Director of Education and Development with the (then) Bristol Cancer Help Centre – now Penny Brohn UK. She finished her working career as Principal Lecturer in Cancer Education at the University of the West of England (UWE), during which time she developed a strong programme of cancer education within UWE, linking with the Cancer Network at the time, and subsequently with Macmillan Cancer Care. She was also appointed as an External Examiner to four universities during her time at UWE.