Patient & Family Educational Series

Learn the Language of CIRS.
Without Replacing Your Practitioner.

The Patient & Family Educational Series helps patients, families, caregivers, and advocates understand CIRS, the Shoemaker Protocol, environmental contributors, and the patient journey — in plain language.

Required Notice

The Patient & Family Educational Series is for educational purposes only. Completion of patient education courses does not certify an individual to diagnose, treat, advise, prescribe, interpret labs, or represent themselves as a Shoemaker University practitioner. Patients should work with qualified medical professionals for clinical care.

LEARNING LEVELS

Three Patient Education Levels

Level 1

CIRS Foundations

Introductory education on CIRS, symptoms, terminology, environmental exposure, and the overall Shoemaker Protocol framework.

Education Badge

CIRS Foundations Completed

Educational badge only. Not a practitioner credential.

Level 2

Informed Patient

Deeper education on the patient journey, labs, environmental concepts, common terminology, and how to communicate with practitioners.

Education Badge

Informed Patient Education Completed

Educational badge only. Not a practitioner credential.

Level 3

Patient Advocate

Advanced patient/family education designed to help individuals organize information, support loved ones, ask better questions, and participate responsibly in their care journey.

Education Badge

Patient Advocate Education Completed

Educational badge only. Not a practitioner credential.

COURSE LIBRARY

What You'll Learn

CIRS Foundations

What Is CIRS?
The Shoemaker Protocol: Big-Picture Overview
Why Water-Damaged Buildings Matter
Mold, Endotoxins, Actinomycetes, and Inflammation
Understanding Symptoms Without Panic
Why CIRS Can Affect Multiple Body Systems

The Patient Journey

How Patients Typically Discover CIRS
Working With a Practitioner
Understanding the Stepwise Nature of the Protocol
Why Treatment Sequencing Matters
Tracking Progress Without Overwhelm
Common Patient Questions

Understanding the Environment

Water-Damaged Buildings Explained Simply
Why Mold Is Only Part of the Story
Endotoxins and Actinomycetes for Non-Scientists
Dust, Small Particles, and Exposure
Why Remediation May Be Part of Recovery
How to Talk With Environmental Professionals

Understanding Testing and Terminology

Common CIRS Terms
Basic Lab Concepts
What Biomarkers Are
GENIE Explained at a High Level
VCS Testing Overview
Why Lab Interpretation Belongs With Practitioners

Patient Organization Tools

Building a Health Timeline
Creating an Exposure History
Organizing Lab Results
Preparing for Practitioner Appointments
Questions to Ask Your Practitioner
Family Communication and Support

PATIENT DASHBOARD

Track Your Learning Journey

Current learning level and progress
Courses completed and in progress
Recommended next lesson
Downloadable worksheets and resources
Glossary of CIRS terms
Educational completion certificates
Start Learning
Sample Dashboard
Current Level
Level 1 — CIRS Foundations
Courses Completed
4 of 6 courses
Next Lesson
Understanding Symptoms Without Panic

Begin With CIRS Foundations

Start with Level 1 — no prior knowledge of CIRS required. Learn at your own pace.

Educational Disclaimer: Shoemaker University™ Patient & Family Educational Series provides educational content for informational purposes only. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, treatment, lab interpretation, or clinical recommendations. Completion of patient courses does not confer practitioner status, credentialing, or clinical authorization.