Practitioner Training

Learn from the world’s pre-eminent Gerson Therapy experts and build a relationship with the Gerson Institute that can last a lifetime!

Our Gerson Therapy Practitioner Training is designed for licensed medical professionals with primarily the following degrees: MD, ND, DO, DC, NP (nurse practitioner). The purpose of this program is to train qualified medical professionals who are committed to guiding and medically managing people while on the Gerson Therapy. What you will learn is not a tool to be added to other therapeutic modalities, but rather a comprehensive, all inclusive Therapy that must be kept pure in its application and followed strictly for successful results. Altering the Therapy in any way may negate the effectiveness of Gerson Therapy.

Please read the requirements for the training below:

Eligibility

To be eligible for Module I as a Gerson Practitioner, you must hold one of the following credentials: MD, DO, *ND (see note), NP (nurse practitioner), PA (Physician assistant), DC (with appropriate clinical experience), or *OMD (see note).

Your license must be current and your standard of practice guidelines must allow you to treat people using nutrition on an out-patient basis. It is necessary to have the appropriate medical background in order to have the ability to do proper medical case management. Many Gerson clients are very ill and have a variety of metabolic abnormalities that require astute medical diagnostic and management skills.

We are also offering a Gerson Guide program for those who do not qualify for the above but hold a 4-year medically related degree in the allied health field. We will accept a limited number of qualified people to participate. They will take the same Module I and II training and after successful completion will be called Gerson Guides. We will only refer patients with either a non-cancer diagnosis or early stage cancer without complications to Gerson Guides. If you are interested in this option and think you might qualify, please complete the appropriate section of the screening application form. Graduates of correspondence schools are not accepted. Selections will not be made from the applications we receive until the early spring of 2013 and will be based on those most qualified by type of degree and license held.

*Note for NDs (Naturopathic Doctor) – In order to qualify for the Practitioner training you must have a degree from an accredited school. On-line courses not accepted. If you do not see your school please contact Amanda at aonken@gerson.org. See list below for schools that we accept:

USA:

• Bastyr University – Kenmore, WA
• National College of Natural Medicine – Portland, OR
• National University of Health Sciences – Lombard, IL
• Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine – Tempe, AZ
• University of Bridgeport – College of Naturopathic Medicine – Bridgeport, CT

Canada:

• Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine – Toronto, ON
• Boucher Institute of Naturopathic Medicine – New Westminster, BC

*Note OMD – Acupuncturists need a four year degree, including Western medicine and clinical skills with lab interpretations.

Training Requirements

The training consists of two modules. If your goal is to oversee people on the Therapy as a licensed Gerson Practitioner, you will need to enroll in Module II (a two-year minimum experiential phase) within three months of completing Module I in order to complete your training. Once you successfully complete Module I and Module II, you can become a licensed Gerson Practitioner and will be listed on our Gerson Institute Approved Referral List. Your role will be to guide people on the Therapy in an out-patient setting.

Prerequisites

It is required that you read Dr. Gerson’s book A Cancer Therapy: Results of 50 Cases, and Charlotte Gerson’s book, Healing the Gerson Way. These texts will give you an understanding of the scope of the therapy that you will be guiding patients in. We also recommend that you view the documentary The Gerson Miracle. You can view the film for free on YouTube or order the DVD through our online bookstore.

A great amount of time, energy, and expertise on the part of the practitioner must be expended to follow people on the Gerson Therapy, assisting them for two or more years. In addition to knowing the underlying philosophy, physiology and medical management skills, a Gerson Practitioner needs to have the ability to provide counseling in food and juice preparation, enema technique, setting up the non-toxic home, dealing with healing reactions and more.

If you feel that you meet the requirements needed for Gerson Practitioner Training please read through the details of Module I and II and follow the link to fill out the screening application. This is the first step in applying for the program and is necessary for us to get an idea of your medical background.

Module I

• Five days with approximately 35 hours of instruction over one week taught by a team of recognized Gerson Therapy Professionals. This will include the biological and physiological basis of the therapy, patient assessment, designing individual therapy protocols and ongoing case management skills.
• Demonstrations and hands-on experience with food preparation, juicing, coffee enemas and the application of adjunctive therapies.
• Experiencing the Gerson diet with breakfast, lunch , and fresh juices served daily.
• A complete set of Gerson Therapy instructional materials.
• A one-year honorary membership and subscription to the Gerson Healing Newsletter
• An optional trip to the Gerson clinic in Mexico.
• The pre-requisite to registering for Module II which allows you to immediately utilize your new acquired knowledge and skills, under supervision, with a limited number of clients.

Module II

• Management of a required number of cases within your own practice over a minimum of 18-24 months with remote supervision. The main emphasis being on clinical data collection, developing individual protocols and on-going case management through phone consultations and email with your Gerson supervisor.
• Supervision and guidance by an experienced Gerson practitioner. Initial case history, assessment and protocol design will be submitted for review. You will continue to have follow- up consultations with your supervisor.Free access to the Gerson Institute staff and your supervising Gerson practitioner for general inquiries and preliminary Gerson Therapy advice.

Module II is required before the Gerson Institute recognizes and certifies a practitioner to apply the Gerson Therapy to clients. The Module II fee is $1,500.00 (subject to change – optional payment plan available)
 
The Role of a Gerson Practitioner (PDF)
 

Schedule & Cost for Training

The next Module I training will be held in May 2014, dates TBD at the Holiday Inn Express in downtown San Diego, CA.

The fee is approximately $2200. This fee includes the Gerson Therapy classes, training materials, and a Gerson breakfast and lunch each day.
This fee does not include travel or accommodation expenses.

The training is held in downtown San Diego. An optional tour of the clinic in Mexico will be offered on the sixth day. There will be an extra fee for the tour.

How to Apply

If you are interested in being considered for this training, please follow the link below to the screening application form. If your degree was not listed and you think you may qualify as either a Gerson Practitioner or Gerson Guide, please email Amanda at aonken@gerson.org with details.

Other Options

If you do not qualify for this training, but want to know more about the Therapy, we recommend that you consider the Gerson Basics Workshop for a non- medical overview of the Therapy.

• Gerson Basics Workshop