Medical Schools Now Require Nutrition Courses Combating Chronic Disease

The Department of Health and Human Services is working alongside more than 50 of the nation’s top medical schools to incorporate nutrition classes in their medical school curriculum.

“Chronic disease is bankrupting our health system, and poor nutrition sits at the center of that crisis,” said HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. “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.” 

While some estimates claim more than 1 million Americans die from food-related chronic illnesses each year, over 70% of medical schools do not require any nutrition courses.

The 53 schools spread across 31 states have committed to offering 40 hours of required nutrition education starting in the fall 2026 semester.

HHS is not requiring the schools to implement any specific coursework and is letting the schools create the 40 hours of classes as they see fit. “We did not dictate the specifics, we just asked that they put forward their own unique approach,” said one senior HHS official.  

Kennedy was joined by Department of Education Secretary Linda McMahon, leaders from the American Medical Association, and the Association of American Medical Colleges at an event to honor the schools that have joined in the effort.  

“To make America great again, we must make it healthy—and today’s commitment by leading universities is a critical step down that road,” said McMahon.  

“We are sending a signal with this event to the medical community,” a senior HHS official said. “We have an important discussion that’s happening with the MAHA movement, and we want to work together and get things done and enthusiastically agree when we agree.”

“This is a real accomplishment. These are real commitments,” the senior official continued. 

HHS has also committed $5 million to medical schools, nursing programs, and residency programs that pledge to integrate nutrition into their curricula through the National Institutes of Health.  

The schools committed to the initiative include the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, the Tufts University School of Medicine, and the George Washington University School of Medicine.  

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