Leaders from 53 medical schools across 31 states have committed to enhancing nutrition education for future doctors, following an announcement by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the U.S. Department of Education. Starting in the fall of 2026, these institutions will require at least 40 hours of nutrition education or implement a competency equivalent for incoming students.
This move is part of an initiative by the Trump administration aimed at addressing gaps in nutritional training among healthcare professionals. According to a 2022 survey published in the Journal of Wellness, medical students currently receive an average of only 1.2 hours of formal nutrition education per year. Additionally, three-fourths of U.S. medical schools do not mandate clinical nutrition courses, and just 14% of residency programs require a nutrition curriculum.
U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon stated, “Today's announcement demonstrates that medical schools can put nutrition and prevention front and center as they train tomorrow's doctors and healthcare leaders. It’s an honor to celebrate the dozens of medical schools stepping up to strengthen nutrition education — an essential but often overlooked aspect of public health.” She added, “To make America great again, we must make it healthy — and today’s commitment by leading universities is a critical step down that road.”
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., commented on the broader impact: “Chronic disease is bankrupting our health system, and poor nutrition sits at the center of that crisis. Today medical schools are committing to change how America trains its doctors — by putting nutrition back where it belongs: at the heart of patient care.”
American Medical Association President Bobby Mukkamala, MD, highlighted growing momentum for this approach: “Today, there is real momentum to bring evidence-based nutrition education into medical school and residency training. We applaud the administration for recognizing that if we’re serious about prevention, nutrition must be foundational in medical education. Giving physicians the skills to have impactful conversations with our patients about food and lifestyle is one of the most practical, immediate steps we can take to improve health and prevent disease.”
The HHS will allocate $5 million through a National Institutes of Health challenge aimed at supporting programs that integrate nutrition science into their curricula. The funding will support coursework development, clinical training opportunities, and research initiatives related to evidence-based nutrition.
In addition to changes in undergraduate medical education, Public Health Service officers will now be required to complete continuing education focused on nutrition as part of their career development process.
Further information on participating institutions can be found in an accompanying fact sheet.
