53 Medical Schools Pledge to Beef Up Nutrition Education

"Chronic disease is bankrupting our health system, and poor nutrition sits at the center of that crisis. Today medical schools are committing to change how America trains its doctors-by putting nutrition back where it belongs: at the heart of patient care."

"Starting next fall, those medical schools-including programs at Tufts University, the University of Florida and George Washington University- will require students to complete at least 40 hours of nutrition education. While all of the nearly 200 medical schools in the United States already require some form of nutrition education, it averages just 1.2 hours per year."

"HHS is launching a $5 million nutrition education challenge led by the National Institutes of Health. The funding will help medical schools and nursing, residency, nutrition science and dietitian programs develop coursework, clinical training opportunities and research initiatives focused on sound nutrition science."

In response to the Trump administration's initiative, 53 medical schools are significantly expanding their nutrition education requirements, mandating at least 40 hours of instruction starting next fall. This represents a substantial increase from the current average of 1.2 hours per year across U.S. medical schools. The Department of Health and Human Services is launching a $5 million nutrition education challenge through the National Institutes of Health to support curriculum development, clinical training, and research initiatives across medical, nursing, residency, and dietitian programs. Additionally, U.S. Public Health Service officers must complete nutrition-focused continuing education. While described as voluntary commitments, the administration has indicated willingness to leverage federal funding to encourage compliance with its nutrition education vision.

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