Fifty-three U.S. medical schools have agreed to increase educational training on nutrition for students under a deal with the Trump administration, federal officials announced March 5.
During a press event held at HHS’ main office in Washington, D.C., federal officials said HHS and the Department of Education secured voluntary commitments from medical schools to provide at least 40 hours of nutrition education or a 40-hour competency equivalent for students beginning this fall.
Several leaders from national groups representing physicians and medical schools joined HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Secretary of Education Linda McMahon for the announcement, including Bobby Mukkamala, MD, president of the American Medical Association and David Skorton, MD, president of the Association of American Medical Colleges.
The effort aims to enhance future physicians’ ability to diagnose, treat and prevent diet-related diseases, leaders said. In a fact sheet, HHS said it developed 71 core nutrition competencies as a resource for schools that choose a competency-based approach to implementing nutrition training. The competencies were informed by a 2024 JAMA consensus statement and are intended as guidance for schools, not a mandate or directive on medical school curricula, according to HHS officials.
“There is real momentum to bring evidence-based nutrition education into medical school and residency training,” Dr. Mukkamala said in a news release. “We applaud the administration for recognizing that if we’re serious about prevention, nutrition must be foundational in medical education. Giving physicians the skills to have impactful conversations with our patients about food and lifestyle is one of the most practical, immediate steps we can take to improve health and prevent disease.”
The 53 participating institutions represent about one-quarter of the roughly 200 accredited medical schools across the U.S.
Federal officials say the effort addresses longstanding gaps in physician training. Nutrition historically accounts for less than 1% of total lecture hours in U.S. medical schools, according to HHS. The agency also cited a 2022 survey that found medical students receive an average of about 1.2 hours of formal nutrition instruction per year, and data as of 2024 that show roughly three-quarters of medical schools do not require clinical nutrition coursework.
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