The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the U.S. Department of Education have secured voluntary commitments from 53 of the nation’s top medical schools across 31 states to require at least 40 hours of nutrition education, or implement a 40-hour competency equivalent, for students starting in the fall of 2026.
Meeting an Urgent Need
America is in a preventable disease crisis. Even as our nation spends $4.4 trillion annually on treating chronic disease and mental health, an estimated one million Americans die from food-related chronic illnesses each year. To reverse the chronic disease epidemic, health care professionals must be trained to recognize, diagnose, treat, and prevent diet-related diseases.
Nutrition education is sorely lacking in America’s medical training. Historically, less than 1% of total lecture hours in U.S. medical schools has been devoted to nutrition education. As of 2024, 75% of U.S. medical schools required no clinical nutrition classes. Medical students surveyed in 2022 reported receiving an average of 1.2 hours of formal nutrition education each year. Only 14% of residency programs require a nutrition curriculum; only 14% of current health care providers feel comfortable discussing nutrition with their patients.
Historic Commitment
These agreements reflect the Trump Administration’s commitment to support nutritional education and today the medical education community stepped up to address this need.
These 53 medical schools, representing 31 states, voluntarily committed to provide 40 hours of nutrition education, or the competency equivalent, to students starting in the fall of 2026:
- Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM)
- University of Alabama - Birmingham
- University of South Alabama
- University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
- University of Arizona - Phoenix
- University of Arizona - Tucson
- California Health Sciences University
- Touro University California
- University of California, Irvine
- Western University of Health Sciences
- George Washington University
- Florida State University
- University of Florida
- University of Central Florida
- University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
- University of South Florida
- Indiana University
- Purdue University
- University of Iowa
- Kansas City University
- University of Kentucky
- Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center New Orleans
- Louisiana State University Shreveport
- Tulane University
- Xavier University of Louisiana
- Tufts University
- Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine
- Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine
- Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine
- University of Missouri
- University of Missouri Kansas City School of Medicine
- University of Mississippi Medical Center
- William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine
- University of North Dakota School of Medicine & Health Sciences
- University of Nebraska
- Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth
- Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine
- NYU Grossman School of Medicine/ NYU Grossman Long Island School of Medicine
- University of Cincinnati, Osher Center for Integrative Health
- University of Oklahoma College of Medicine
- Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine
- Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine
- Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
- University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville
- University of South Dakota Sanford College of Medicine
- Sam Houston State University
- UTHealth Houston - McGovern Medical School
- Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
- University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
- University of Utah
- Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences
- University of Wisconsin - Madison
- West Virginia University School of Medicine
Evaluating Nutritional Competency
For schools that preferred a competency-based approach, HHS developed 71 core nutrition competencies to allow for a commitment to 40-hour competency equivalent. The competencies were informed by the 2024 JAMA Consensus Statement, and expanded upon to create additional flexibilities for schools and as a resource. The additional competencies were developed with many of the original authors of the JAMA article, as well as additional experts from leading medical schools and HHS experts. HHS created this document at the request of medical schools looking for guidance on an alternative way to advance robust nutrition content. These competencies are not a mandate or curricular endorsement.
Foundational competencies include identifying nutrient-deficient states, interpreting metabolic biomarkers, the micronutrient contents of foods, pathological states affecting nutrient absorption, forming healthy lifelong dietary patterns for chronic disease patients, and the principles of a balanced diet according to the new Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Additional competencies encourage medical students to utilize the expertise of nutritionists, dieticians, and other professionals in the field.
Supporting the Adoption of Nutrition Education
HHS is dedicating $5 million to support medical schools, nursing, residency, nutrition science, and dietician programs that integrate nutrition education into their curricula through a multi-phase National Institutes of Health nutrition education challenge. The funding will help institutions develop coursework, clinical training opportunities and research initiatives focused on sound nutrition science.
Educating the U.S. Public Health Service
To bolster nutritional competency among U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS) officers, the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health will soon require USPHS officers to take a minimum number of continuing nutrition education hours as part of their ongoing continuing education requirements.