HAGERSTOWN – The Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine is joining more than 50 medical schools nationwide in a federal initiative aimed at strengthening nutrition education for future physicians.
The partnership was announced in Washington, D.C., by U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The initiative calls for medical students to complete at least 40 hours of comprehensive nutrition education or demonstrate equivalent competency before graduating from medical school.
Brian Kessler, dean of the Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine, and Maulik Joshi, president and CEO of Meritus Health, attended the announcement.
Kessler said the initiative aligns closely with the school’s current approach to medical training.
“Nutrition, wellness and medical education all come together at MSOM,” Kessler said. “Nutrition education is woven throughout our medical training. We provide hands-on learning in patient care settings and we participate in Meritus Health programs that address food insecurity and health.”
One example is the Meritus Food Farmacy, a program that provides medically tailored food to patients based on their health conditions and financial circumstances. The initiative recently received a Best Practice Spotlight through the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award program.
Kessler said the school looks forward to collaborating with other institutions participating in the national effort.
“We look forward to working with the other schools that are leading this work,” he said.
More information about the school’s nutrition curriculum is available at msom.org/nutrition.
