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The History of GFIM
For more than 40 years, Prof. Dr. Sir Anton Jayasuriya based in Sri Lanka treated over 2 ½ million patients free of charge, trained more than 40,000 doctors in complementary medicines and published 99 books on various complementary medicine topics - an inspiration to us all!
For more than 20 years Ravi Ponniah and Linda Lancaster supported Anton Jayasuriya through volunteer free clinic/charity work and helping in the organization of World Congresses annually.
In June 2004, Prof. Jayasuriya was invited to America by Linda Lancaster to chair the 1st World Conference for Integrative Medicines held in Washington D.C. During his address to the international delegates, Prof. Jayasuriya said “It is time to integrate all medicines into one single healing modality for the benefit of all mankind the world over”.
In November 2004 at the 42nd World Congress of Integrated Medicines held in Sri Lanka, Prof Jayasuriya, honoured Prof. Dr. Sir Ravi Ponniah as the recipient of the first Nobel Prize for Complementary Medicine and chose him to lead the global movement of integrative medicine.
After the sudden passing of Prof. Anton in April 2005, it was decided that if the work was to continue, it would need to take on a new form.
In May 2006 at the 2nd US based World Conference of Integrated Medicine held at the Harvard Club in New York City, 150 founding members honoured Prof. Jayasuriya’s lifework and embraced the theme:
“It is through healing we unite in peace!”
In May of 2007 at the 3rd World Conference of Integrated Medicine in Santa Fe, New Mexico, 300 International physicians, scientists, natural health practitioners and spiritual leaders gathered to launch the newly formed Global Foundation for Integrative Medicines (GFIM)
"As students of Anton Jayasuriya, we share in his vision of true Integrative Medicine and in keeping with his vision and dream have created the GFIM - Global Foundation for Integrative Medicine. GFIM brings knowledge of all medicines to be shared by all and helps to expand conscious awareness by bringing about a state of harmony in medicine."
"It is through healing and sharing we unite the world in peace."
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