The Nutrition in Medicine® series originated from the need to educate medical students about nutrition. For most medical schools, nutrition has not historically been a part of the core curriculum but instead dispersed throughout various courses as able, or not covered at all. The result: no consistent or comprehensive base of nutritional science for physicians to draw from. Practicing physicians are expected to provide information about disease prevention and health promotion; specifically, they will be expected to provide nutrition advice, ranging from weight loss to dietary supplements.
Incorporating additional topics into existing medical schools' standard curriculae remains a challenge, but progress is being made. Part of this has stemmed from the shift in medicine towards prevention and wellness, as well as cost-containment; the other large influence is from consumers themselves. Consumers are becoming more knowledgeable and aware of health issues and are actively seeking nutrition information from their healthcare providers. This comes at a time when technology is exploding and they are bombarded with information. Often, they are unable to discern misinformation from evidence-based information and need this type of guidance from their physicians.
The Nutrition in Medicine® series is a comprehensive guide to nutrition designed to educate medical students and healthcare professionals about this topic. It uses an interactive, multimedia approach to teach the basic nutritional science within the framework of a clinical topic such as disease, lifecycle period, or other special topic, and makes it relevant. The Disease Series covers the topics of nutritional anemias, the stress of trauma, sepsis, and starvation, cancer, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes. The Lifecycle Series addresses the nutritional needs of maternal and infant nutrition, growth nutrient requirements, pediatric overweight, and the nutritional needs in aging. The Special Topics Series addresses the growing interest and concerns related to supplements, fortified foods, and sports nutrition.
The Nutrition in Medicine series is designed to be flexible and portable, suitable for classroom, independent, small group, or distance learning. Currently over 60% of medical schools are using the modules in some way. While the mission of the project is to teach medical students, other groups have been interested in using these modules as well. As a result, the university entered into an agreement with PogoHealth Education to modify the modules for other audiences. UNC only provides these modules to medical schools for teaching medical students. All other users should contact PogoHealth Education for information and products.
About the Editor
Steven H. Zeisel, MD, PhD
Dr. Zeisel serves as series editor. His vision of an interactive, transportable nutrition curriculum that could be integrated into medical schools as a mode to deliver timely and consistent nutrition education to all medical students led to the birth of the Nutrition in Medicine project. Since its inception, he has been instrumental in its design, development, and funding. Dr. Zeisel serves as Professor and Chairman of the Department of Nutrition in the School of Public Health and School of Medicine, as well as Associate Dean of Research at the School of Public Health at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is internationally recognized as an expert in human clinical nutrition. Dr. Zeisel also serves as Editor of the Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry.
About the Authors
Kelly Adams, MPH, RD
Ms. Adams is an Educational Media Specialist for Nutrition in Medicine. She coordinates the modification of the modules for undergraduate teaching, and provides evaluation support expertise; she also assisted with content development of this module. She has experience in public health and private sectors.Karen Lindell, MS, RD
Mrs. Lindell is Project Director for Nutrition in Medicine and a Clinical Instructor at the Department of Nutrition in the School of Public Health and the School of Medicine at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She has experience in both acute care and clinical research settings.Joyce Harp, MD
Dr. Harp is Assistant Professor of Nutrition and Medicine in the Department of Nutrition in the School of Public Health and the School of Medicine at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is course director for the medical school nutrition course, and she heads up the obesity clinic at the university. Dr. Harp serves on the Advisory Board and as an author on this module.Jarol Knowles, MD, MPH
Dr. Knowles is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine and practicing physician at the School of Medicine, University of North Carolina. She holds an MPH in Nutrition and assisted with content development of this module.Martin Kohlmeier, MD
Dr. Kohlmeier serves as a Medical Content Consultant on the project and as a Research Professor with the Department of Nutrition, School of Public Health, and School of Medicine at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He teaches both medical and nutrition students. His primary research areas include genetic modulation of Vitamin K and other nutrients, lipoprotein metabolism and cardiovascular risk, and nutritional and genetic factors affecting bone health.Anita Lasswell, PhD, RD, CDE
Dr. Lasswell served as the past Project Director and contributed to development of this module. She has taught nutrition, medical, and other health professional students at Florida International University, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and Brown University. She is currently involved in a number of projects in private practice.Charles Lee, MD
Dr. Lee is a Board-certified physician trained in medical informatics and medical education. He specializes in the development of interactive medical education software. While he has contributed content to a number of the modules, his primary role in the Nutrition in Medicine® project is as Technical Development Director.Claudia Fernandez, MS, RD
Ms. Fernandez served as past Project Director of Nutrition and Medicine and is a Clinical Assistant Professor at the Department of Nutrition in the School of Public Health, School of Medicine, at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is an expert in weight management and disordered eating.
Other Members of the Team:
Beth Draminski, M.A.M.S.
Mrs. Draminski is a medical illustrator and programmer whose skills and expertise contribute to the scientific accuracy, quality, and sophisticated look of the Nutrition in Medicine series.