W1: Fundamentals and Introducing the Toolkit

Welcome to LearnSkin's Integrative Dermatology Certificate Program and the Class of 2021-22!

You are now part of a select group of dermatologists in one of the fastest growing areas of healthcare: integrative medicine. Increasingly patients are seeking physicians with knowledge of integrative approaches, which is why we developed this program.

Here's what we hope you'll take away over the next 9 months:  

1. A new way to think about your patient care and expand your “toolkit”
2. Practical clinical and business skills to grow your practice
3. A community of like-minded lifelong colleagues

We want this to be a collaborative and rich experience. Please be sure to attend the weekly round table discussions on Thursdays from 5:30-6:30pm PST live via Zoom. These are like mini masterclass sessions and will be very interactive, often with guest speakers and case studies. We hope you bring your cases to the discussion too!

If you have any questions along the way, please feel free to reach out to us! There's a discussion board for our group in this course. Please be sure to list the name of a course or faculty member you'd like to direct a question to, so we can be most helpful in our response.

For any logistical or administrative questions, the LearnSkin team is available to help at [email protected].

We look forward to embarking on this educational journey with you!

Apple, Peter, and Raja

IDCP 2021-22 Curriculum Overview

IDCP Recommended Resources Including eBooks

A New Toolkit for Integrative Dermatology

An introduction to the concept of an integrative toolkit.   After completing this activity, participants will be able to:

1. Describe the rationale for an integrative approach to dermatology
2. Identify a framework for organizing and building a base of knowledge from different domains

Introduction to Ayurveda and Bridges to Clinical Exam and Biochemistry

Ayurveda is a traditional form of medicine from India that has been in use for thousands of years. The concepts of Ayurveda are focused on defining the balanced and imbalanced state. This session will provide an overview of Ayruveda and how it can be mapped to conventional approaches within medicine.   After completing this activity, participants will be able to:

1. Define the central tenets of Ayurveda typing
2. Differentiate the vata, pitta, and kapha doshas and their biochemical correlates
3. Distinguish clinical exam features that correlate with vata, pitta, and kapha imbalances

Yin and Yang: An Introduction to TCM Dermatology

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is a medical system which has thousands of years of history and is still widely used today. The TCM approach to dermatology seeks to identify the disharmony in the body and use personalized therapies to bring balance to the body. This course covers an introductory overview of Chinese Medicine dermatology. We will cover TCM basic concepts, diagnosis, and therapies.   After completing this activity, participants will be able to:

1. Describe TCM fundamental concepts
2. Define TCM methods of diagnosis
3. Review therapeutic methods

Naturopathic Approach to Dermatology

Naturopathic medicine focuses on finding and treating the root cause and is an important part of the integrative medicine landscape. This course will explain the fundamental tenets of naturopathic medicine and how naturopathic doctors approach the treatment of dermatological conditions.   After completing this activity, participants will be able to: 

1. Describe the basics of naturopathic medicine, including education, therapies, and philosophy
2. Explain licensure and scope of practice for Naturopathic Doctors
3. Discuss a naturopathic approach to dermatology

Mind Body - Overview

This lecture will give a broad definition of what mind body means and the different practices that it encompasses.   After completing this activity, participants will be able to:

1. Define mind - body in the context of health and healing
2. Demonstrate examples of mind - body practices
3. Identify mind - body practices that have evidence for being helpful in skin disorders