How are anthroposophical doctors trained?
Every anthroposophical doctor undergoes conventional medical university studies: he or she obtains a degree in Medicine, and goes on to complete a specialisation.
Anthroposophical doctors are therefore active both in the field of general practice, as well as in all other major medical disciplines, from surgery through pediatrics (children), internal medicine, Cardiology (heart), Endocrinology (hormones), Gastroenterology (Digestive tract), Ophalmology (Eyes), Ear, nose and throat specialists, Oncology (Cancer), Gynaecology, Orthopaedics to Neurology (nerves), and Psychiatry.
This is followed by a further training of at least three years in the specific practices of anthroposophical medicine.
Training is offered at various clinics in Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Sweden and Switzerland. Practical experience in this different diagnostic and therapeutic way of dealing with the patient is gained in the co-work with the other colleagues in anthroposophical practices or, in the case of a doctor with his/her own practice, through the active supervision of mentors.
At the moment there are chairs for anthroposophical medicine at the University of San Francisco in the United States, Hamburg in Germany, and Bern in Switzerland. Introductory lectures to anthroposophical medicine are a common part of the curriculum at many universities in and outside of Europe.