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FNWG Functional Nutrition Certification
A 100-Hour Advanced Clinical Education Pathway for Chiropractors developed through a partnership between the Functional Nutrition Working Group, the Pennsylvania Chiropractic Association, and the University of Bridgeport.
The Missing Link
Functional Nutrition & Whole-Health Chiropractic Care
The Clinical Reality
Musculoskeletal dysfunction rarely exists in isolation. Pain, instability, and delayed recovery are frequently reinforced by metabolic imbalance, chronic inflammation, and poor nutritional status. Manual care alone cannot fully overcome a nutritionally compromised body.
The Missing Link
Functional nutrition provides the scientific framework to understand how diet, nutrient status, inflammation, and metabolic health influence tissue repair, neurological resilience, and long-term functional stability. When integrated responsibly, it supports durable outcomes and moves clinicians from episodic symptom management toward longitudinal health stewardship.
Patients increasingly seek a single trusted source of conservative care. Chiropractors are uniquely positioned to fulfill this role — but only when nutritional education is grounded in evidence, bounded by scope, and taught with clinical discipline.
"The doctor of the future will give no medicine, but will interest his patients in the care of the human frame, in diet, and in the cause and prevention of disease."
— Thomas Edison
This certification pathway was developed to meet exactly that vision — equipping chiropractors with the knowledge, restraint, and confidence required to responsibly incorporate nutritional science into conservative care models.
FNWG Mission
Root Cause Focus
Equip chiropractors with knowledge and clinical reasoning frameworks to identify root causes and intervene thoughtfully in complex, chronic conditions driven by modern diet, lifestyle, and environmental stressors.
Evidence-Informed Practice
Prepare clinicians to interpret functional and conventional data with precision, moving beyond symptom management toward systems-based care that restores metabolic health and supports immune regulation.
Ethical Collaboration
Develop practitioners who apply nutritional understanding responsibly within scope, in collaboration, and in patient-centered decision-making — elevating the standard of care and reducing the burden of chronic disease.
Program Structure: 100-Hour Certification Pathway
The Certification in Functional Nutrition is intentionally structured in two sequential phases, ensuring foundational science and professional judgment precede applied clinical integration.
Phase I — Foundations & Core Science
50 Hours | This Catalog
  • Principles of functional nutrition and systems-based thinking
  • Nutritional biochemistry and metabolic foundations
  • Inflammation and its role in musculoskeletal and systemic health
  • Interpretive literacy for nutritional concepts and laboratory data
  • Ethical boundaries, scope awareness, and interdisciplinary collaboration
Phase II — Clinical Integration & Applied Competency
50 Hours | Advanced Application
  • Case-based learning and clinical synthesis
  • Application of functional nutrition within conservative care models
  • Integration into musculoskeletal and whole-health case management
  • Documentation, communication, and patient education strategies
  • Reinforcement of ethical practice, scope alignment, and collaborative care

Successful completion of Phase I is required for eligibility to advance to Phase II.
Phase I Certification Outcomes
Upon successful completion of Phase I, participants will demonstrate foundational knowledge and professional judgment for responsible integration of functional nutrition into chiropractic practice.
1
Foundational Knowledge
Understand core principles of functional nutrition, systems-based health, nutritional biochemistry, inflammation, and metabolic balance as they relate to musculoskeletal and whole-person care.
2
Interpretive Literacy
Critically evaluate nutrition-related research, recognize patterns in laboratory markers, and distinguish evidence-supported concepts from unsupported or commercially driven claims.
3
Clinical Integration Awareness
Identify appropriate opportunities to incorporate functional nutrition into patient education, recognize when nutritional factors influence outcomes, and know when referral or co-management is indicated.
4
Ethical & Professional Boundaries
Apply functional nutrition concepts within ethical and legal chiropractic boundaries, communicate responsibly, and demonstrate understanding of interdisciplinary collaboration.
5
Readiness for Phase II
Establish the conceptual foundation necessary for advancement to Phase II, demonstrating readiness to engage in applied clinical integration and competency-based application.
Course 2 — 12 CME Hours
Functional Blood Chemistry
An Integrative Approach to Inflammation, Autoimmunity & Metabolic Health | Instructor: Dr. Chris Turnpaugh, DC, DACNB
This advanced 12-hour program teaches clinicians to interpret routine and advanced laboratory data through a functional, systems-based lens — moving beyond isolated reference ranges to recognize adaptive patterns across metabolic, immune, endocrine, gastrointestinal, and cardiometabolic systems.
Emphasis is placed on pattern recognition over memorization. Participants correlate laboratory findings with underlying regulatory stressors — nutrient insufficiency, immune dysregulation, oxidative burden, intestinal permeability, and hormonal imbalance — to translate complex data into actionable patient-centered strategies.
1
Hour 1
Focus Area: Interpretation Foundations
Clinical Emphasis: Functional vs pathological ranges, subclinical dysfunction
2
Hour 2
Focus Area: Metabolic Panel Patterns
Clinical Emphasis: Hepatic, renal, protein metabolism, globulin patterns
3
Hour 3
Focus Area: Hematology & Inflammation
Clinical Emphasis: CBC indices, anemia patterns, nutrient deficiency
4
Hour 4
Focus Area: Thyroid & Autoimmunity
Clinical Emphasis: Full thyroid panel, antibodies, nutrient interactions
5
Hour 5
Focus Area: Acute Phase Reactants
Clinical Emphasis: CRP, ferritin, fibrinogen, haptoglobin patterns
6
Hour 6
Focus Area: Autoimmune Activation
Clinical Emphasis: Autoantibody interpretation, immune cross-reactivity
7
Hour 7
Focus Area: Intestinal Permeability
Clinical Emphasis: Zonulin pathways, barrier integrity, systemic impact
8
Hour 8
Focus Area: Dietary Antigens
Clinical Emphasis: Gliadin antibodies, gut-thyroid-immune connections
9
Hour 9
Focus Area: Glucose & Insulin Regulation
Clinical Emphasis: Functional glucose, insulin, A1c, cortisol interactions
10
Hour 10
Focus Area: Cardiometabolic Risk
Clinical Emphasis: ApoB, Lp(a), homocysteine, oxidized LDL
11
Hour 11
Focus Area: Systems Integration
Clinical Emphasis: Multisystem pattern recognition for inflammatory states
12
Hour 12
Focus Area: Clinical Synthesis
Clinical Emphasis: Translating blood chemistry into root-cause strategies
Course 1 — 8 CME Hours
Inflammation & Functional Medicine
An 8-Hour Clinical Immersion | Instructor: David A. Porcaro, DC
Hour 1
Foundations of Inflammation
Acute vs chronic, key lab markers, chiropractic relevance
Hour 2
Immune Pathways & Signaling
Cytokines, NF-κB, oxidative stress, autoimmune relevance
Hour 3
Drivers of Chronic Inflammation
Diet, dysbiosis, infection, stress, environmental triggers
Hour 4
Gut-Immune Axis
Intestinal permeability, microbiome, functional GI testing
Hour 5
Metabolic Inflammation
Insulin resistance, adipokines, cardiometabolic risk
Hour 6
Autoimmunity & Neuroinflammation
Chronic pain, neuroimmune signaling, autoimmune patterns
Hour 7
Functional Interventions
Nutrition, supplementation, lifestyle, chiropractic integration
Hour 8
Clinical Application
Case integration, protocol design, reassessment framework
Chronic inflammation underlies persistent pain, metabolic dysfunction, autoimmune activity, and delayed recovery. This intensive seminar delivers a clinically relevant understanding of inflammation through a functional medicine lens, examining how immune dysregulation, gut health, metabolic imbalance, and environmental stressors contribute to chronic inflammatory states.
Dr. David Porcaro, DC — 30+ years of clinical leadership in chiropractic, rehabilitation, and functional medicine. Practices at Turnpaugh Health in Strasburg, PA.
Course 3 — 10 CE Hours
Pharmacology: Introduction to Nutrition
Reduce risk. Improve outcomes. Apply nutrition with pharmacologic clarity. | Instructor: Gregory D. Gray Jr., DC
Effective nutritional intervention requires a working understanding of pharmacology. This 10-hour seminar covers how nutrients, botanicals, and medications are metabolized and eliminated — exploring pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic principles applied to nutrient depletion, herb-drug interactions, and compensatory physiological stress.
Dr. Gregory Gray DC
Assistant Professor of Basic Sciences at the University of Bridgeport School of Chiropractic. Certification status with the American Board of Chiropractic Internists and the American Clinical Board of Nutrition.
Course 4 — 10 CE Hours
Functional Medicine & Wellness in Clinical Practice
From complexity to clarity through clinical reasoning. | Instructor: Dr. Shannon Smith, DC, CCN, CCSMS, MAPS
Modern patients present with overlapping immune, metabolic, neuroendocrine, gastrointestinal, and structural dysfunction that rarely fits a single diagnostic category. This advanced, case-based seminar provides a practical framework for applying functional medicine principles — evaluating chronic illness through systems biology, regulatory capacity, and compensatory adaptation.
The seminar emphasizes clinical reasoning over protocol memorization. A significant portion is dedicated to guided case presentations, allowing participants to observe and engage in real-time clinical reasoning, refine root-cause identification, and design individualized intervention strategies.
Dr. Shannon Smith, DC, CCN, CCSMS, MAPS
Dr. Smith is a licensed Doctor of Chiropractic with over 30 years of experience in integrative care, functional nutrition, sports medicine, and complex chronic illness. Board Certified in Clinical Nutrition and a Certified Chiropractic Sports Medicine Specialist, he is a nationally recognized lecturer on neuroimmune inflammation, Lyme disease, hormonal dysfunction, and autoimmune conditions, and currently serves on the Pennsylvania Chiropractic State Board.
Course 5 — 10 CE Hours
A Functional Medicine Approach to DNA-Based Healthcare
Turning genetic data into clinically actionable care. | Instructor: Dr. Raymond Benedetto, DC, DACNB
This seminar provides a practical, systems-based framework for integrating DNA testing into functional medicine care — emphasizing the dynamic interplay among genes, environment, lifestyle, and physiology. Key pathways covered include methylation, detoxification, inflammation, and nutrient metabolism, with strong emphasis on integrating genetic reports with functional laboratory data.
Dr. Raymond Benedetto, DC, DACNB
Board-certified chiropractic neurologist. Clinic Director of multiple multidisciplinary practices in Bethlehem, PA. Former President of the Pennsylvania Chiropractic Association and 2018 Chiropractor of the Year.
Meet the Faculty
The FNWG Certification program is taught by a distinguished team of clinicians, researchers, and educators with decades of combined experience in chiropractic, functional medicine, and nutritional science.
Dr. Douglas Pfeiffer, DC
Chair, FNWG
Nearly 40 years of private practice. Palmer College graduate magna cum laude. Author of Dr. Pfeiffer's Guide To A Longer Healthier Life.
Dr. David Porcaro, DC
30+ years in chiropractic, rehabilitation, and functional medicine. Practices at Turnpaugh Health, Strasburg, PA. Expert in metabolic health and functional blood chemistry.
Dr. Shannon David Smith, DC, CCN, CCSMS, MAPS
Board Certified in Clinical Nutrition. 30+ years in integrative care, sports medicine, and complex chronic illness. Serves on the Pennsylvania Chiropractic State Board.
Dr. Gregory Gray , DC, DABCI, DACBN
Assistant Professor at University of Bridgeport School of Chiropractic. Certification in Chiropractic Internists and Clinical Nutrition. Published researcher in chronic inflammation and metabolic conditions.
Dr. Chris Turnpaugh, DC, DACNB
Board-certified chiropractic neurologist. Author of Lyme Disease: A Manual for Practitioners. International speaker on neuroinflammation, immune dysregulation, and metabolic resilience.
Dr. Alison Benedetto, DC
20+ years as practicing chiropractor and college-level instructor. Former President of the Pennsylvania Chiropractic Association and Chiropractor of the Year. Expert in anatomy, physiology, and functional medicine education.
Dr. Raymond Benedetto, DC, DACNB
Board-certified chiropractic neurologist. Clinic Director of multidisciplinary practices in Bethlehem, PA. Former PCA President and 2018 Chiropractor of the Year.
Dr. Collin Gill, DC
Functional medicine clinician specializing in autoimmune disease, neuroimmune dysfunction, tick- and mold-related illness, and complex GI and metabolic disorders. Sees patients in Pennsylvania and Illinois.
Dr. David M. Eisenberg, DC
Palmer College graduate with advanced postgraduate training through a three-year chiropractic orthopedics program. Strong focus on orthopedic assessment and conservative musculoskeletal care. Spent three years in Bosnia engaged in Christian service work, informing his whole-person, service-oriented approach to patient care.
Dr. Brent Carlini, DC
Functional medicine doctor and chiropractor focused on root-cause, integrative, patient-centered care. Graduate of New York Chiropractic College with additional training in massage therapy, craniosacral therapy, Reiki, and yoga instruction. Currently teaches healthcare courses and lectures publicly on holistic health and wellness.
Begin Your Certification Journey
The FNWG Functional Nutrition Certification represents a rigorous, academically grounded pathway for chiropractors committed to whole-health care. This 100-hour certification program — developed in partnership with the Pennsylvania Chiropractic Association and the University of Bridgeport — equips clinicians with the knowledge, judgment, and discipline to integrate functional nutrition responsibly into everyday practice.
100 Hours
Postgraduate education across two sequential phases
5 Courses
Phase I covering inflammation, blood chemistry, pharmacology, functional medicine, and DNA-based care
10 Faculty
Distinguished clinicians, researchers, and educators with decades of combined expertise