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In the world of functional health, we frequently find ourselves standing on the uncomfortable edge of pioneering thought and “proven” mechanisms and therapeutic strategies. Oftentimes we’re working with tools that are a long ways from being accepted by conventional healthcare and it can feel like we’re working in the wild west. And yet, there is a substantial and growing body of research that supports the functional approach. That said, our relationship with research and the latest science isn’t always an easy one. Just like with mainstream medicine, it can take some time for new findings to make their way into the functional clinical practice. 

In this episode of the RWS Clinician’s Corner, we have a nuanced conversation on this extremely important topic with Dr. Jordan Robertson, a Canadian Naturopathic Doctor and founder of The Confident Clinician, a practice resource and database for Naturopathic Doctors to help elevate their professional practice by offering clinical practice guidelines, patient resources, and ongoing training for health professionals in the functional space.

In this interview, we discuss:

• How to navigate new, innovative approaches that get exceptional results in practice but that don’t yet have substantive evidence.  
• When is it appropriate to lean on the research? And how do we continue to pioneer within that context? 
• Bias – how do we detect our own, that of the researchers, and how do we navigate this in the context of making clinical decisions for our clients? 
• How do we navigate the research itself – what is credible and what is not? 
• How and when should we change clinical practice based on new evidence? How much new evidence is necessary before we change our ways? 

The Clinician’s Corner is brought to you by Restorative Wellness Solutions. 

Follow us: https://www.instagram.com/restorativewellnesssolutions/ 

Connect with Dr. Jordan Robertson:

Website: www.confidentclinicianclub.com 

Instagram: @drjordannd and @theconfidentclinicianclub

The Confident Clinician is the first resource for clinicians of its kind. With a complete database and clinical decision-making tool built for integrative medicine clinicians, there’s no more digging through studies on your own or wishing nutrition information was included in the major databases from the past. 

You can get a sneak peek of the full power of The Confident Clinician by unlocking access to the AI search tool for 24 hours. You can ask any clinical question, ask it for an opinion on how to support a specific type of patient, or ask it to give you the best research for a supplement you’d like to use in practice. Access the trial by creating a free account here:

https://discover.theconfidentclinicianclub.com/lm-ai-search-tool 

Timestamps: 

00:00 Undergraduate program fostered critical thinking skills.

10:05 Critical thinking bridges functional and conventional medicine.

12:22 Hold functional medicine to conventional care standards.

18:22 Functional medicine should collaborate with conventional medicine.

26:51 Nutrition research is complex and difficult compared to pharmaceuticals.

31:10 Multifactorial, subjective standards challenge effective care practices.

37:43 Probiotic research biases; clinical practice varies results.

41:57 Selective preference influences supplement purchasing decisions.

48:03 Integrative clinicians should collaborate with conventional medicine.

50:31 Embrace collaboration, avoid assumptions, understand diverse perspectives.

57:07 Dr. D’Agostino pioneers integrating diet and oncology.

01:00:23 Adapting recommendations based on evolving research evidence.

01:08:48 Join Clinician’s Corner podcast, share, suggest topics.

Speaker bio: 

I can’t think of anyone more qualified to have this conversation with. Not only is Dr. Robertson is the founder of The Confident Clinician, she is also the founder of Clarity Health, a Naturopathic Clinic in Ontario, Canada that has served over 20,000 patients, a podcast host with ambitions of making accurate women’s health information accessible to all, the off-site ND for the Endometriosis Clinic at McMaster hospital and instructor for the undergraduate Health Sciences program. And perhaps most importantly, Dr. Robertson is a fierce advocate for evidence-based approaches in functional health. 

Dr. Jordan is changing the way Naturopathic Doctors practice and integrate in medicine, with the Confident Clinician currently supporting over 600 NDs in North America and worldwide. She could see all of the problems in her industry that were holding practitioners back and built the program to solve them.

Keywords: 

standards of care, clinical strategy, integrative care research, evidence-based practices, commercial interest bias, supplement companies, self-reported symptoms, lab tests, unbiased clinical decisions, robust evidence, nutrition database, supplement information, clinician training, integrative medicine journal, social media controversy, Confident Clinician Club, cognitive bias, functional medicine, gluten-free diet, multifactorial health outcomes, guru wars, naturopathic practices, critical thinking, vitamin D dosing, estrogen dominance, collaboration with conventional medicine, industry-funded research, product efficacy, brand bias, dietary strategies.

Disclaimer:

The views expressed in the RWS Clinician’s Corner series are those of the individual speakers and interviewees, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Restorative Wellness Solutions, LLC. Restorative Wellness Solutions, LLC does not specifically endorse or approve of any of the information or opinions expressed in the RWS Clinician’s Corner series. The information and opinions expressed in the RWS Clinician’s Corner series are for educational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice. If you have any medical concerns, please consult with a qualified healthcare professional. Restorative Wellness Solutions, LLC is not liable for any damages or injuries that may result from the use of the information or opinions expressed in the RWS Clinician’s Corner series. By viewing or listening to this information, you agree to hold Restorative Wellness Solutions, LLC harmless from any and all claims, demands, and causes of action arising out of or in connection with your participation. Thank you for your understanding.