Integrative Medicine Fellowship
The goal of the U-M Medical School Department of Family Medicine Integrative Medicine Fellowship is to produce leaders in the field of integrative medicine who excel in clinical practice. This is a 12-month fellowship for family medicine physicians interested in pursuing post-residency training in the clinical practice of integrative medicine. The fellowship provides core clinical training for family physicians working to successfully care for diverse populations of patients.
The fellowship trains physicians to skillfully integrate the best of conventional and alternative medicine, and to assume leadership roles in the emerging field of integrative medicine. The Integrative Fellowship Program was developed with a generous grant from the Fannie E. Rippel Foundation.
The U-M Integrative Medicine Fellowship is an American Board of Integrative Medicine (ABOIM) approved fellowship program in integrative health and completion of a fellowship satisfies one of the eligibility criteria required by ABOIM to sit for the integrative medicine board certification exam offered by the American Board of Physician Specialties (ABPS). For more information on board certification in integrative medicine, see the visit the ABPS ABOIM.
Interested in Integrative Oncology? See our Integrative Oncology Scholars Training and Fellowship Programs.
For More Information
Program Highlights
Participants engage in a wide range of didactic and experiential learning activities during the course of the program. Formal interchanges with the program director occur on a monthly basis. Modality seminars, elective activities and special topic discussions also take place regularly.
Learn more about the Integrative Medicine Fellowship curriculum
Formal Meetings with core faculty touch upon a variety of topics but typically address issues related to:
- Defining Problems, Asking Questions, Making Change
- Challenges of Integrative Medicine
- Fundamentals of Integrative Medicine
- Healing Modalities
- Integrating Healthcare: Planning, Collaborating, Implementing
- Leadership Competencies
- Mentors, Mentoring, Advising
- Physician Self-Care
- Overview of Healthcare Organizations
- Philosophies of Healing and Therapeutic Systems
- Socioeconomics of Integrative Medicine, Cost-Effective Practice, Advocacy
- Therapeutic Relationships
- Transformational Leadership Development
Elective topics extend over the entire program. Featured experiential learning components are selected to align with each participant’s special interest area. Examples include:
- Acupuncture
- Aroma therapy
- Health System Management
- Herbal Therapies
- Holistic Nutrition
- Integrative Pharmacy
- Manipulative Therapies
- Mind-Body Medicine
Each month, fellows explore didactic material designed to complement the clinical training experience with each of our core faculty. The topics covered are an evidence based approach to integrative medicine and follow a body systems curriculum with each month focusing on a separate area or topic set. These sessions are case based with both developed cases and real clinic examples used in an interactive format to improve development of Integrative Medicine treatment plans.
Fellows spend sixty percent of their time devoted to the practice of integrative medicine at the University of Michigan Integrative Family Medicine Clinic and, in so doing, learn to apply a broad range of alternative therapies to patient care.
At the beginning of the academic year, fellows are provided with the overall educational goals of the program. The director reviews these materials with each fellow, then midway through the program, the director investigates how well each of these goals is being achieved. These same goals are reviewed at the exit interview, thereby serving as one component of a final competency assessment.
Over the course of the program, evaluation focuses on core competencies related to patient care, medical knowledge, practice-based learning and improvement, interpersonal and communication skills, professionalism, and systems-based practice. In an effort to identify strengths and weaknesses in a timely manner, the director meets with the fellow on a regular basis to review progress toward stated goals. Fellows are required to complete evaluations of each faculty member. They also periodically complete written evaluations of the overall program. This information is used to make continuous improvements to the program.
How to Apply
The application window for the 2026-2027 fellowship year is now closed. Recruitment for the 2027-2028 fellowship year will begin in late summer of 2026.
Recruitment for all of our family medicine fellowship programs will be done virtually this year. We anticipate all of our interviews and site tours will be conducted over a virtual meeting platform and applicants will not need to travel to Ann Arbor to apply. Thank you for your understanding.
Outside of the fellowship program, we are unable to offer rotations or preceptorships to individuals from outside of the University of Michigan at this time.
Application Requirements
Applicants are required to be residency-trained in the United States in family medicine, certified or board eligible by the American Board of Family Medicine, and have a significant commitment to a teaching and/or research career in integrative medicine.
- Interested qualified applicants may begin the application process by sending an email of intent to the Fellowship Coordinator.
- The formal application process then consists of submitting the required pieces of information listed below through this online application.
Please note - you will need all of the required items ready, with the exception of the letters of reference, in order to submit your application and it cannot be saved, so please have all items ready before proceeding with the application.
Submit Letters of Recommendation
Required Items:
- Cover Letter
- Curriculum Vitae
- Three (3) reference letters, one of which must be from your Program Director; and all of which must be from faculty with academic titles of Clinical Lecturer or above
- Medical School Transcript from a school on the approved California Medical School List
- Copies of Levels 1, 2 and 3 USMLE or COMLEX score
- ECFMG Certification (applies only to International Medical Graduates)
Learn more about prerequisites for residency and fellowship employment
Contact Us
Preston Zacharias
Fellowship Coordinator
Salary & Benefits
The University of Michigan offers highly competitive salaries and generous benefits to our fellows and advanced trainees. Trainee salary will be commensurate with that of a House Officer at an equivalent level of training based on the HOA contract.
Current Fellows
Current Fellows are developing skills to succeed as clinically skilled, compassionate physicians. We emphasize teamwork, excellence and leadership.
Program Leadership
Anup A Bhandiwad
Family Medicine
Clinical Assistant Professor of Family Medicine
Medical School
Preston Zacharias
See Where Training Takes Place
The University of Michigan Medical School campus offers numerous spaces dedicated to academic learning, research and clinical care, including specialty clinics, research labs, lecture halls, and clinical simulation centers. Each space and facility provides a collaborative and innovative environment for education, research and patient care.
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