Medical Board Governance & Regulatory Framework

Our governing authority is the Deep South Cherokee Keetoowah Tribal Nations (DSCKTN) and its strategic alliances, under which all affiliated programs, protocols, and practitioner activities are organized and administered.

Within this framework, the (DSCKTN)Tribal FDA functions as the primary health regulatory authority, overseeing the review, development, and implementation of products and protocols in alignment with the Tribe’s health standards and governing principles.

Operating under this authority, the Tribe’s designated medical and licensing body is the International Research Coalition of Indigenous Medicine (IRCIM). IRCIM serves as the official medical board and licensing authority for practitioners operating within the Indigenopathic and Naturopathic Spiritual Medicine systems.

The International Research Coalition of Indigenous Medicine (IRCIM) licenses practitioners in:

• Indigenopathic Spiritual Medicine (ISMD) 
• Naturopathic Spiritual Medicine (NSMD) 

These disciplines encompass a broad spectrum of alternative, complementary, and integrative approaches to health and wellness.

IRCIM provides:

• Dual Licensure Pathways
  For conventionally licensed professionals (e.g., MDs, DOs), IRCIM offers an additional layer of recognition within the ISMD and NSMD frameworks. 
• Primary (Single) Licensure
  For practitioners in disciplines where no specialized board exists at the state level (e.g., NDs, OMDs, and similar professions), IRCIM serves as a dedicated licensing home, offering structured oversight within the Indigenopathic and Naturopathic Spiritual Medicine systems. 

This framework reflects the need for a governing body committed to advancing comprehensive health, wellness, and integrative care, distinct from conventional approaches centered primarily on disease management.

In addition to licensing, IRCIM supports the advancement of ISMD and NSMD through structured research initiatives. Practitioners are afforded the opportunity to contribute to and participate in clinical research through the Tribe’s Tribal Institutional Review Board (TIRB).

Through this research framework, IRCIM:

• Facilitates the development and sharing of ISMD and NSMD protocols 
• Promotes ethical, structured, and supervised research participation 
• Supports the ongoing study and advancement of integrative and indigenous medical systems 

Through its integrated structure, IRCIM provides both professional support and opportunity, enabling practitioners across the United States to engage in the continued development, understanding, and application of Indigenopathic and Naturopathic Spiritual Medicine within a unified governance and research framework.