The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (the Academy), in collaboration with the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND), is advancing an initiative to strengthen evidence-based nutrition education in medical schools and prepare future physicians to better understand nutrition's role in preventing and managing disease and improving health outcomes.
The Academy continues its decades-long commitment to integrating nutrition into medical education and establishing registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs) as experts in evidence-based nutrition care. Growing national attention, including from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), creates an opportunity to build on that commitment and accelerate progress.
To turn conversations into action, the Academy is bringing together the expertise, resources, and partners needed to support medical schools. This includes connecting schools with nutrition and dietetics programs and RDN educators, identifying flexible education models, and developing practical resources. Central to this work is ensuring RDN expertise remains at the heart of nutrition education, so future physicians can better recognize nutrition needs, collaborate with RDNs, and refer patients for specialized care when appropriate.
"The nutrition education in medical schools initiative builds on the A Seat at Every Table campaign and the Academy's ongoing commitment to improving patient care and health outcomes through the transformative power of food and nutrition. This work will ensure nutrition has a meaningful place in medical education while keeping RDN expertise at the center," said Tamara Randall, MS, RDN, LD, CDCES, FAND, 2026-2027 President of the Academy. "With greater national attention and HHS helping advance the conversation, we have an opportunity to bring more partners to the table and accelerate progress. Together, we can better prepare future physicians to recognize nutrition needs, collaborate with RDNs and connect patients with specialized care."