Skip to main content

Nutrition Education in Medical Training

Saint Louis University School of Medicine equips physicians to address the most pressing health challenges facing communities in the St. Louis region. In alignment with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Advancing Nutrition Education Across the Medical Continuum initiative, SLU SOM ensures medical students receive at least 40 hours of nutrition education —  or a competency-based equivalent — beginning with the incoming Fall 2026 class. 

Explore the HHS Nutrition Education Initiative

Why Does Nutrition Education Matter?

The HHS initiative spotlights top U.S. medical schools that implement comprehensive nutrition education and training. Diet-related chronic diseases account for a significant proportion of preventable illness and mortality in the U.S. Expanding this education prepares SLU-trained physicians to effectively counsel patients and address chronic metabolic diseases across the lifespan. 

How Does SLU School of Medicine Prepare Future Physicians to Prevent and Treat Diet-Related Disease?

SLU SOM is committed to providing a minimum of 40 hours of nutrition education or a competency-based equivalent. To do so, the University aligns its curriculum and assessment with the HHS Medical Education Nutrition Competency Framework. 

Featured Curriculum

  • Clinical Metabolic and Nutrition Elective: A four-week, immersive experience supported by the Divisions of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, and General Internal Medicine. 
    • Specialized clinics for metabolic-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and metabolic syndrome
    • Rotations through endocrinology, diabetes, metabolic weight management and sleep medicine
    • Focused didactics and research activities
  • Pre-Clerkship Nutrition Thread: A longitudinal nutrition thread focusing on food as medicine, with an emphasis in the organ modules (cardiovascular, pulmonary and renal).
  • Fourth-Year Elective: A signature elective with 19 hours of in-depth instruction on the role of nutrition in health and disease. 
    • Bridges historical perspectives and modern clinical nutrition
    • Reinforces evidence-based approaches to prevention and treatment
    • Prepares students for nutrition-focused patient counseling

Collaborative Partnership

Central to SLU SOM's commmitment is a partnership with the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics within the Doisy School of Allied Health. Faculty will collaborate to:

  • Integrate relevant, evidence-based nutrition content into pre-clerkship organ system modules
  • Ensure foundational nutrition concepts are reinforced throughout the curriculum
  • Designate a Nutrition Education Champion: F. Gerald Wade, M.D., co-director of the Comprehensive Metabolic Center at SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital