Enhancing the level of nutrition education at Tufts University's Medical and Dental Schools.
The current medical and dental curricula at Tufts were evaluated to ascertain the breadth and depth of their nutrition programs. The program, which both schools plan to initiate, to enhance the level of nutrition education involves (1) development of nutrition units for the first and second year, (2) expansion of required nutrition courses in the second year, (3) diet lunches in the third year introducing the role of nutrition in the clinical setting, and (4) nutrition rounds in the fourth year. A combined medical-dental seminar will be presented each year. At the end of the five-year funding period, it is anticipated that a manual will be available to all medical and dental schools that includes (1) nutrition units, (2) methods of dietary assessment in medical-dental practices, (3) nutrition interaction for the prevention of chronic disease in medical-dental practices, and (4) nutrition support for chronic disease and cancer, and case studies on nutrition and disease. The success of this program will be evaluated on the basis of goals and a national nutritional literacy exam.