AACOM President Highlights Osteopathic Medical Schools’ Commitment to Nutritional Education at U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Event

Dr. Cain reaffirmed AACOM’s belief in the importance of nutritional education

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Bethesda, MD) - Today, Robert A. Cain, DO, president and CEO of the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM), delivered remarks at the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Nutrition Education Event. Dr. Cain joined HHS Secretary Robert Kennedy, Jr., 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.

Dr. Cain reaffirmed AACOM’s belief in the importance of nutritional education and that proper nutrition plays a vital role in the overall health of patients. Representing 46 accredited colleges of osteopathic medicine, with 73 teaching locations in 36 states, and more than 38,000 future physicians, 30 percent of all U.S. medical students, Dr. Cain delivered the following prepared remarks:

“I thank Secretary Kennedy, Secretary McMahon, Administrator Oz, Director Bhattacharya, and the Administration for elevating prevention and launching this national conversation about nutrition.  I’m honored to represent the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine here today. 

So what is Osteopathic Medicine? For those who are not familiar, put simply, it’s an approach to patient care that takes into account the full range of factors that affect health – and how the mind, the body and the human spirit are all interconnected.  

Since 1892, osteopathic medical education has remained grounded by a simple but powerful principle…that the job of the physician is to help the patient find health, not merely to manage disease.  We teach our students that lifestyle, environment, and social conditions influence health just as powerfully as prescriptions and procedures. 

Today, our colleges educate more than 38,000 future physicians with this philosophy. Nearly 30 percent of all U.S. medical students will become osteopathic physicians, or DOs, and our students are being educated across 73 campuses in 36 states. More than half of our campuses are located in rural and underserved communities – where prevention matters most. That is not accidental. It is reflective of our roots. The community-based education model reflects who we are, the patients we care for, and where we serve them.  

In the United States, an estimated eighty percent of health care happens in these community-based settings — not in tertiary medical centers that tend to get the most federal attention. If we are serious about prevention and addressing chronic disease, nutrition must be a part of the conversation. Our schools have long taught nutrition, but this initiative creates an opportunity to rethink learning outcomes, to innovate, and to improve interactions with patients when care plans are discussed. That will be a step in the right direction for patient care and may even be a way to start to restore some trust in medicine that has been lost. 

While nutrition education fits naturally withing the framework I’ve described, medical education must continue to evolve.

Strengthening nutrition across the continuum — from undergraduate medical education through residency and into practice — is both timely and necessary. But it must be done thoughtfully, and to be successful it needs to be integrated into a broader commitment to whole-person care.  

Osteopathic medical education stands ready to work with HHS, the Department of Education, and other partners across the healthcare system to advance this effort and bring our unique experience to the table. Thank you for including us here today and we look forward to contributing to a better, healthier future for the American people.”

About AACOM:   

Founded in 1898, the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM) is the leading voice for the education and training of physicians who practice osteopathic medicine in settings across the medical spectrum—from primary care to the full range of medical specialties. We support our member colleges of osteopathic medicine in their efforts to attract and train individuals who are fueled by a desire to make a difference in our healthcare system by treating the whole person and building a future emphasizing health and wellness for all people. Today, more than 38,000 future physicians—close to 30 percent of all U.S. medical students—are being educated at one of our 46 accredited colleges of osteopathic medicine, encompassing 73 teaching locations in 36 states. To learn more about AACOM, please visit our website.   

Contacts:   

Joseph Shapiro   
Director of Media Relations   
(240) 938-0746   
jshapiro@aacom.org   

Christine DeCarlo   
Senior Manager of Media and Public Affairs   
(202) 603-1026   
cdecarlo@aacom.org