This year leading up to graduation has been nothing short of transformative. Since starting in the NUHS clinic, I have immersed myself in the intricacies of evaluating and managing chronic conditions—a dream I’ve held since childhood. During my preceptorship, I took this to the next level, gaining firsthand experience with functional lab testing, such as microbiome analysis, comprehensive hormone panels and nutrient testing. I learned to synthesize complex histories, physical exam findings and lab results, translating them into actionable treatment plans to help people heal naturally. Both the NUHS clinic and my preceptorship offered unique opportunities to work through multi-faceted cases requiring critical thinking and collaboration—skills I will carry with me for the rest of my career.

As I step into this next chapter, I’m excited to build upon the foundation I’ve worked so hard to create. This week, I will earn my Doctor of Chiropractic degree while also holding the title of “Certified Functional Medicine Clinician,” achieved through additional coursework. My focus now shifts to completing my board certification in functional neurology, which entails both written and practical examinations. Over the next several months, my focus outside of clinical care will be on studying the intricacies of clinical neuroscience. In the meantime, I’m thrilled to officially join the team at Integrative Brain and Body, this time as a doctor. This new role will allow me to apply the knowledge and hands-on experience I’ve accumulated, further refining my skills while helping patients achieve better health outcomes.

Closing this chapter of education is bittersweet. I have spent 3.5 years of my life at NUHS, and there are aspects I will deeply miss. I will miss the swans and their indifferent affection. I will miss the countless hours I spent at the gym job, studying neurological pathways amidst the sound of slamming weights and pounding bass. Most of all, I will miss the “goblin sessions”—the library study marathons shared with some of the guys in my cohort. Yet, I look forward to leaving these moments of joy and struggle behind as I embark on this new chapter. Graduation doesn’t signify the end of my academic journey; rather, it marks the beginning. My time at National serves as the foundation upon which I will build mountains of knowledge.

I’m excited about the opportunity to continue learning while contributing back by teaching. Since I’ll be practicing just down the street at Integrative Brain and Body, I plan to stay heavily involved—returning to teach at the Functional Neurology Club and sharing clinical pearls from my early trials and triumphs in practice.

As this is my final blog, I want to thank everyone who took the time to read these. I’ve loved writing since middle-school English class, though I’ve always known my greatest passion lies in studying the human body and helping others. Combining these two passions has been a beautiful experience. I hope you’ve enjoyed reading my posts as much as I’ve enjoyed writing them.

Cheers! – Matt Beyer

Read more about Matt’s journey here.