The Global Wellness Summit (GWS) is gearing up for its Future of Functional Medicine Symposium scheduled for 20 May in Bangkok, Thailand.

Functional medicine is described as a preventative, healthcare-meets-wellness approach that focuses on addressing the root cause of disease.

The upcoming event is a partnership between the GWS and functional health organisation Miskawaan Health Group (MHG). The event will bring together top medical specialists and scientists from around the world to explore new directions and future opportunities in the field of functional medicine.

The schedule will include a series of keynotes and panels, with more than 25 doctors, researchers and wellness experts presenting on what’s ahead for functional medicine.

Topics covered will range from new integrative approaches in cancer care to how functional approaches are rethinking fertility and preventative cardiology to the relationship between gut health, the immune system and long Covid and how hormones impact longevity.

Thai government officials, including Anutin Charnvirakul – deputy prime minister and minister of public health – will also discuss how Thailand is well-placed to become a world leader in functional medicine.

The symposium will be a hybrid event and will be held in person at the Anantara Siam Hotel in Bangkok from 8:30 AM - 5 PM (local time).

In-person registration is limited, and those attending will have the opportunity to interact with speakers and attend a networking lunch and evening cocktail reception.

Virtual attendees can interact with speakers during dedicated Q&A sessions. Register here.

Bringing clarity to functional medicine

According to the GWS, functional medicine is often mistakenly equated with alternative medicine, but it’s a distinct integrative medicine approach.

The Institute for Functional Medicine describes functional medicine as a systems biology-based approach where doctors focus on identifying and addressing the root cause of disease – in contrast to traditional medicine which is structured to manage symptoms.

Functional medicine takes all aspects of a person into account, including lifestyle, genetics and the environment to determine the triggers of diseases or chronic conditions.

The upcoming symposium is being hosted to create new clarity around, and awareness about, this whole-body approach to healthcare and wellbeing in the medical and wellness communities.

“Functional medicine is such an important and timely topic, as a prevention-focused, medicine-meets-wellness philosophy that could impact so many lives and tackle rising healthcare costs,” says Susie Ellis, chair and CEO of the GWS and the Global Wellness Institute.

“We‘ll bring the trademarks of the summit to this event: a stellar speaker lineup to spark a high-level conversation; evidence-based content; a C-suite invitee list; lots of networking opportunities; and media in attendance.”

David Boehm, co-founder and CEO of MHG, adds: “This is an important event for Thailand, and we believe that the country – with its centuries-old traditions of Thai Traditional Medicine, the regular application of over 2,000 effective Thai herbal remedies and the support of the Thai Government and the Thai FDA – is ideally placed to become the centre of functional medical excellence in Asia, and, indeed, the world.”

The symposium is a not-for-profit event and any excess revenue will be donated to Childline Thailand Foundation.