Secretary Kennedy Announces Historic Development in Nutrition Accreditation Standards, New Medical School Pledges

WASHINGTON — June 8, 2026 — The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the U.S. Department of Education today hosted eight of the nation’s leading accreditors, assessors, and medical organizations to announce a historic development to increase nutrition requirements at every level of U.S. medical education, competency-evaluation, training, and residency. Additionally, 19 medical schools across the country have signed the Trump administration’s Nutrition Education Pledge, vowing to incorporate 40 hours of nutritional education or its competency equivalent into graduation requirements starting this fall.

“Poor diets are the primary driver of America’s chronic disease epidemic, and today’s announcement reflects the shifting landscape toward placing nutrition and prevention at the core of patient health,” said Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. “Still, more work remains, and I look forward to seeing nutrition play an increased role as the latest science, data, and best practices develop.”

Last August, HHS and the Department of Education sent a letter to medical organizations encouraging them to improve their standards and place nutrition at the core of their programs.

“Making America Healthy Again begins with education, and we are encouraged to see accreditors and institutions of higher education working together to better prepare current and future physicians for success,” said Under Secretary of Education Nicholas Kent. “This commitment to strengthening nutrition education reflects the Trump Administration’s efforts to reform higher education and focus on what matters most: ensuring every student has access to a high-quality education and the knowledge needed to improve our communities.”

The U.S. is in a chronic disease crisis. Despite spending $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, the practice of medicine must continue to improve with the emerging science that nutrition is a key driver of better health outcomes.

A 2022 survey published in the Journal of Wellness found that medical students reported receiving an average of just 1.2 hours of formal nutrition education each year. Until recently, three-fourths of U.S. medical schools did not require clinical nutrition courses, and only 14% of residency programs require a nutrition curriculum.

Today, HHS recognized eight prominent medical accrediting, assessment, and board organizations that have voluntarily committed to implementing reforms aimed at instilling measurable nutritional education across key medical training programs.

Participating medical organizations include:

1. The National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME)
2. The National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners (NBOME)
3. The Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME)
4. The Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME)
5. The Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA)
6. The American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS)
7. The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)
8. The American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM)

The announcement took place at HHS headquarters with executive leaders from the newly committed accrediting bodies and representatives from participating medical institutions.

Adding to the 54 schools announced earlier this year, today 19 new schools have voluntarily pledged to require at least 40 hours of nutrition education, or implement a 40-hour competency equivalent, for students starting in the fall of 2026. Those schools include:

1. Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine
2. Florida Atlantic University
3. Orlando College of Osteopathic Medicine
4. Augusta University/University of Georgia Medical Partnership
5. University of Massachusetts
6. University of Maryland
7. University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine
8. St. Louis University School of Medicine
9. Cooper Medical School of Rowan University
10. Hofstra University
11. Temple University, Lewis Katz School of Medicine
12. Lincoln Memorial University, DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine
13. University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center
14. Texas A&M University
15. Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine
16. University of Texas Medical Branch
17. University of the Incarnate Word School of Osteopathic Medicine
18. Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine
19. West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine

Read more about HHS’ Advancing Nutrition Education initiative.