MY JOURNEY ON THE PATH OF INTEGRATIVE AND FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE BEGAN ABOUT 13 YEARS AGO. I HAD RECENTLY FINISHED MY TRAINING IN INTERNAL MEDICINE FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS WHEN I GOT SICK. I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A TERRIBLE ILLNESS CALLED FIBROMYALGIA. THIS HIT ME OUT OF THE BLUE. I WAS ALSO DIAGNOSED WITH HYPOTHYROIDISM AND IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME.