Terms and Conditions

Last Updated: June 21, 2023

The following Terms of Use and Disclaimer are between Purpose Inc., 137 Concord Rd, Sudbury, MA 01776 (“School of Applied Functional Medicine™” and “SAFM”) and any user (“Participant”) of the SAFM Applied Functional Medicine Practitioner Directory (“Directory”). The Directory is accessible via the SAFM Applied Functional Medicine Certification website (“AFMC Website”), an extension of SchoolAFM.com (“Program Website”), for the purpose of connecting patients and clients, healthcare hiring managers, and health professionals working in various clinical environments with licensed and certified practitioners who have met all requirements of the SAFM Applied Functional Medicine Certification (“AFMC”) as the result of successful completion of the SAFM Applied Functional Medicine Training Program (“Program”) and signed agreement to the SAFM AFMC Terms and Conditions of Certification.

Disclaimer: There exists no functional medicine certifying body anywhere (in the U.S. or otherwise). For this reason, the AFMC credential, like those issued by similar educational programs, represents fulfillment of a set of rigorous requirements defined by SAFM but guided by key functional medicine tenets, a demonstrated understanding of a unique body of knowledge, and competency in the application of that knowledge. Neither access to the Program nor achievement of the AFMC credential convey any additional modality, license, or title to the participating practitioner. Furthermore, the AFMC credential is validated and awarded by a council of health professionals who have demonstrated expert integration and application of functional medicine science and principles within their own area of licensure or certification and chosen to share their clinical practice experience and passion for the purpose of developing other practitioners. It is, therefore, the responsibility of all users of the Directory to conduct their own investigation of any AFMC practitioner listed.

The Directory is for professional use only and offered as a benefit to AFMC graduates in good standing. The Participant acknowledges and agrees that:

• AFMC practitioners are responsible for entering and updating their Directory profile data. Purpose Inc is not responsible for any inaccurate, out-of-date, or missing information in an AFMC practitioner profile.
• Purpose Inc does not conduct education or credential verification for students enrolled in the Program.
• Purpose Inc does not rate or rank AFMC practitioners listed in the Directory and cannot advise users of the scope of practice of any AFMC practitioner.
• Purpose Inc reserves the right to inactivate any AFMC practitioner from the Directory at any time for any reason.

Users choosing to search the Directory agree to not hold Purpose Inc responsible for the background, education, licensure or certification, scope of practice, or clinical expertise of any AFMC practitioner they may choose to contact as the result of using this database. Furthermore, users who experience an unsatisfactory outcome due to using the clinical services of any AFMC practitioner represented in this database agree to not hold Purpose Inc responsible for that outcome.

Accessing the Directory to search AFMC practitioner profiles, in any manner, constitutes use of the Directory and your agreement to be bound by these Terms of Use and Disclaimer. If you take issue with any of the Terms of Use or Disclaimer outlined herein, do not proceed.

Purpose Inc reserves the right to change these Terms of Use and Disclaimer or to impose new conditions on use of the Directory at any time. The revised Terms of Use and Disclaimer will be posted on the AFMC Website.

For questions or technical issues with the Directory, please Contact SAFM Support.

See also the SAFM AFMC Practitioner Certification Terms and Conditions.

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Last Updated: October 22, 2024
These terms and conditions reflect the following updates:

• Inclusion of Essential Gut Deep Dive course
• Continuing Education Credit Claiming updates
• Program Commitment Terms
• General formatting updates applied for clarity.

The following Terms and Conditions (“Agreement”) are between Purpose Inc., 137 Concord Rd, Sudbury, MA 01776 (“Provider”, “School of Applied Functional Medicine™”, and/or “SAFM”) and you (the “Member” or “Participant” as identified by the name and address entered upon submission of your agreement to these terms and conditions), collectively referred to herein as the “Parties”, and covers the relevant tenets of the SAFM Essential Gut Program (“Program”, SAFM’s introductory program offering (includes both the Essential Gut Deep Dive course) and Essential Gut Case Practice).

Participant access to the Course website (“Course Website”) and/or associated Program benefits is subject to Participant compliance with these Terms and Conditions.

PAYMENT TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Upon purchase of the Essential Gut Program, the Participant acknowledges and agrees that:

• All payments are to be made in United States Dollars unless otherwise agreed upon in writing by Purpose Inc.
• The Member will provide Purpose Inc. with a valid credit card at the time of initial purchase and ensure an active payment method for the term of program access.
• Program access to the Essential Gut Deep Dive course is effective, immediately, upon first payment and access to the Essential Gut Case Practice is effective, immediately, upon completion of Module one (1) of the course.
• The Program is auto-renewed and debited on the first of each month unless the Participant elects otherwise per the cancellation policy outlined herein. The initial payment is made at the time of purchase, and the second payment is debited on the first of the second full month after purchase. Subsequent payments will continue on the first of each month.
• A three (3) payment commitment is required before a Participant may withdraw from the Program.
• Special Offer Exception: If Program was purchased with a special offer, Participant will not be invoiced according to the special offer agreed to during purchase.
• Monthly program fees are authorized by the Member to be automatically debited using the credit/debit card registered with Purpose Inc. by the Member at enrollment.
• Program enrollment may occur at any time.
• Changes cannot be made to a payment schedule once the monthly payment series for any Program or Course has begun.
• Purpose Inc. reserves the right to change program pricing at any time upon providing reasonable notice.

Program Exception

AFMC Certified graduates, in good standing, receive automatic and free-of-charge access to one or more components of the program (ie Essential Gut Case Practice) as a benefit of certification and as outlined herein. The aforementioned payment terms and conditions do not apply to these Participants.

REFUNDS/TRANSFERS/CANCELLATION POLICY

Refunds. Purpose Inc. does not offer any refunds for Program once payment has been received.

Transfers. The Program is non-transferable.

Cancellations.

Program access may be canceled at any time after the initial three (3) payment commitment by contacting SAFM Support. In the case of cancellation, Member access will end at 11:59 p.m. ET on the last day of the month in which the cancellation notice was confirmed received by Purpose Inc.

SAFM Support should be contacted regarding any assistance required by the Member to update billing information.

DELIVERY AND ACCESS

The Program is a fully online product. All content is delivered through SAFM’s Program Website via web-based tools and electronic files. No hard copy materials (e.g., textbooks) are distributed to the Participant.

Access to Program is provided via login credentials established for the Program Website by the Participant at the time of Program purchase.

Program Exception

AFMC Certified participants holding active status in the SAFM Practitioner Incubator or Activator Program may access all components of Essential Gut Case Practice . Should the Participant be an AFMC Certified graduate of SAFM and cancel or default on payment for the SAFM Practitioner Incubator or Activator Program, access to the Essential Gut Case Practice will, immediately, be limited to participation in live case practice webinars with no access granted to webinar replays, associated materials, or the member community.

DISMISSAL AND CODE OF CONDUCT

SAFM has established a set of standards and community guidelines to govern the actions and behavior of Program Participants when engaged in live learning opportunities. The principles outlined in the SAFM Code of Conduct, and the policies and practices aligned to it, are intended to nurture a safe, encouraging learning environment in which Participants feel welcomed and valued.

SAFM reserves the right to dismiss the Participant from the Program, without refund or recourse, any Participant who violates the SAFM Code of Conduct, in the sole discretion of SAFM.

PROFESSIONAL USE OF MATERIALS

Participants have no right, license, or privilege to use the SAFM trademark and registered logo, copyrighted materials, or subscription content for any purpose other than his or her own professional development unless explicitly stated in materials provided by SAFM as part of program.

REGISTRATION ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Upon enrolling in the Program, the Member acknowledges and agrees that:

• Program content has been designed to serve as advanced, continuing education for licensed and certified practitioners interested in exploring the value of functional medicine to their practice as a health professional.
• Training delivered by SAFM is not, and does not, in any way purport to be medical training.
• While no healthcare license or certification is required for purchase, this course is intended for practicing health professionals who, currently, possess an active and valid license or certification in a healthcare field and engage regularly with patients or clients, as appropriate for their modality.
• Participants who benefit most from this learning experience have available opportunities to apply specific functional medicine concepts and principles taught throughout the course in active professional practice regardless of health or wellness environment and/or business model. 
• Course teachings are intended to enhance the Participant’s current health care license or certification; it is not intended to enable the Participant to establish a business practice.
• SAFM does not recommend, counsel, suggest, or convey any scope of practice or additional modality, license, or professional title, regardless of certification status. All personal responsibility for any and all professional representations and endeavors is assumed, in full, by the Participant.
• The Participant agrees to act in a manner that protects the integrity of this SAFM offering and assumes full personal responsibility for all professional representations and endeavors.
• Completion of Module 1 of the Essential Gut Deep Dive course is required to open access to the Essential Gut Case Practice component of the Program.
• Completion of the Course does not relieve the Participant of responsibility for all requirements associated with the full course from which it is derived, Disease Begins in the Gut. Disease Begins in the Gut is a required component of the SAFM’s Training Program curriculum offering.
• All SAFM webinar instruction or case study practice is recorded then made available, on-demand, as part of the Program. The Participant consents, by signature of this Agreement, to being included in these recordings and to the use of these recordings by Purpose Inc without restriction.
• The Essential Gut Deep Dive course is eligible for continuing education credit with an SAFM accreditation partner, details are listed online at the SAFM Continuing Education web page. Instructions for claiming credit and a Certificate of Completion from SAFM will be provided inside the course. A $50 administrative fee applies.
• Any and all posts, testimonials, or other statements made through assignments, surveys, or other interactive components of the Course are the property of and may be used freely by SAFM.
• No portion of the Program fees may be applied to the cost of tuition for enrollment in the SAFM Training Program.
• Communication with the Participant will be conducted via the email address provided by the Participant at the time of Course purchase. The Participant is responsible for notifying SAFM support of any changes to the email address provided to avoid any service interruptions.

PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY AND RELEASE OF CLAIMS

SAFM retains the right to change the form, nature, and content of the Program (and all of its components) at any time without prior notice to the Member. Purpose Inc is not responsible for any impact these changes have on the Participant and/or the Participant’s business.

SAFM is committed to personal, professional responsibility. The Member must use any information gleaned from the SAFM involvement in accordance with the rules of the regulatory entity that has awarded the Participant’s license and/or certification. The Participant acknowledges and assumes full responsibility for the use of any and all information gleaned from the Program via any component for any purpose. It is the Participant’s responsibility to assess, decide, and accept responsibility for what (if any) information taken from this Program is appropriate for use in supporting any client or patient for any purpose at any time.

The Participant releases Purpose Inc. and its administrators, officers, directors, shareholders, employees, teachers, lecturers, agents, representatives and staff (collectively, the Releasee(s)) from any and all liability, damages, causes of action, allegations, suits, sums of money, claims and demands whatsoever, in law, admiralty or equity, which against the Releasee(s), the Participant ever had, now has or will have in the future against the Releasee(s), arising from the Participant’s past or future participation in or use of information and guidance gleaned from, or otherwise with respect to the Program.

SEVERABILITY

If any term or provision of this Agreement is determined to be illegal, unenforceable, or invalid in whole or in part for any reason, such illegal, unenforceable, or invalid provisions or part thereof shall be stricken from this Agreement, and such provision shall not affect the legality, enforceability, or validity of the remainder of this Agreement. If any provision or part thereof of this Agreement is stricken in accordance with the provisions of this section, then this stricken provision shall be replaced, to the extent possible, with a legal, enforceable, and valid provision that is as similar in tenor to the stricken provision as is legally possible.

GOVERNING LAW AND JURISDICTION

This Agreement shall be subject to and construed and interpreted in accordance with Laws of the State of North Carolina, United States of America without regard to its conflicts of law principles.  

All legal proceedings relating to the subject matter of this Agreement shall be maintained in the state or federal courts sitting in North Carolina and each party agrees that jurisdiction and venue for any such legal proceedings shall lie exclusively with such courts. 

In the event of any dispute between the Parties arising in connection with this Agreement or any associated Agreement entered into pursuant to this Agreement, the Parties shall use all reasonable endeavors to first resolve the matter on an amicable basis, within a period of Sixty (60) days. No recourse to arbitration by one Party against the other Party under this Agreement shall take place unless and until such procedure has been followed. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Clause will not apply to disputes regarding Confidential Information or Intellectual Property.  

Any unresolved disputes or claims which may arise out of or in connection with the Agreement may be referred to arbitration in accordance with the Federal Arbitration Act. The arbitration proceedings will be presided by a sole arbitrator to be appointed based on mutual consent of both Parties in writing. The award of the arbitrator shall be final and binding on both the Parties.

Under no circumstances may any party interrupt or seek an injunction of SAFM’s business.

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