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Nutrition in Medicine

Nutrition education is deeply rooted in the foundational principles and practice of osteopathic medicine, which views the body as an integrated system in which structure, function, behavior, environment, and lifestyle all influence health and disease.

Nutrition education is deeply rooted in the foundational principles and practice of osteopathic medicine, which views the body as an integrated system in which structure, function, behavior, environment, and lifestyle all influence health and disease.

Since its earliest origins, osteopathic medicine has emphasized prevention, wellness, and the body’s inherent capacity for self-healing. Consistent with this philosophy, nutrition education supports a whole-person approach to care that addresses the root causes of disease rather than simply managing symptoms.

AACOM emphasizes that future physicians must understand how healthy eating patterns influence patient and community health through prevention, lifestyle modification, and holistic care. In its landmark statement on nutrition education, AACOM affirmed that knowledge of nutrition, food access, and evidence-based nutritional counseling is essential to preventing and managing chronic disease while promoting physical and psychological well-being.

AACOM is committed to advancing osteopathic medicine’s longstanding connection to nutrition by integrating evidence-based nutrition education throughout preclinical and clinical training, experiential learning, community engagement, and interdisciplinary collaboration.

AACOM & Federal Nutrition Initiatives

AACOM Resources and Programs

Upcoming Events

  • Advancing Nutrition Education in Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine
    June 10, 2026, 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM,  EST


    This webinar discussion with a panel of nutrition experts will provide a platform for schools to share practical strategies, innovations, and lessons learned in integrating nutrition into medical training. The conversation will reference the HHS Medical Education Nutrition Competency Framework and the 40-hour nutrition education commitment, while remaining non-political and focused on educational innovation and best practices.

    Registration
     

Past Events

 

Food As Medicine

AACOM’s Food as Medicine statement, unveiled during Educating Leaders 2024, outlines guiding principles for integrating Food As Medicine into osteopathic medical education.

These principles include:

  • Integration of Nutrition Across the Medical Education Continuum
  • Curriculum Development
  • Experiential Learning Opportunities and Community Engagement
  • Interprofessional Collaboration
  • Clinical Training in Nutritional Counseling

AACOM Food as Medicine Grant & Awardees
AACOM offered a single-cycle grant in 2024 that supported curriculum development and clinical training in nutritional counseling, advancing the integration of nutrition education to strengthen holistic, patient-centered osteopathic care.

Medical Education Resources

Nutrition education is expanding in the medical curricula across COMs to ensure future physicians have the knowledge and practical skills to treat and prevent chronic diseases through evidence-based dietary habits. Initiatives include culinary medicine courses, training to apply nutrition science directly to patient care, and an overall increase in required nutrition education hours at several schools. Learn more about nutrition in medical curricula.

 

Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Initiatives

Make Our Children Healthy Again

Part of the administration’s Make America Healthy Again initiative, this strategy by HHS was released September 2025 with more than 120 proposals to combat childhood chronic disease.

Dietary Guidelines for Americans (2025-2030)

Updated guidelines jointly released January 2026 by USDA and HHS, representing a notable shift in federal nutrition policy.

HHS launch of the “Eat Real Food” initiative

AACOM attended HHS' event launching its Eat Real Food initiative in February 2026, which featured remarks from federal leadership, including HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and other stakeholders emphasizing the importance of dietary patterns rich in minimally processed foods. Federal officials framed the campaign as part of a larger strategy to combat diet-related chronic illness, which accounts for a substantial proportion of U.S. healthcare spending and disease burden.

The Advancing Nutrition Education Across the Medical Continuum initiative
With Secretaries Kennedy and McMahon

AACOM leaders and deans attended the March 2026 event with HHS Secretary Kennedy, U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Mehmet Oz, as well as leaders from the American Medical Association and the Association of American Medical Colleges.

AACOM President and CEO Dr. Robert Cain provided opening remarks, reaffirming AACOM’s belief in the importance of nutritional education and that proper nutrition plays a vital role in the overall health of patients.

For more information, view the live streamed event, a clip from Dr. Cain's remarks and the HHS press release.