Elsevier

Public Health

Volume 140, November 2016, Pages 59-67
Public Health

Conference Report
Proceedings of the inaugural International Summit for Medical Nutrition Education and Research

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.puhe.2016.08.023Get rights and content

Highlights

  • Key points of 2015 International Summit on Medical Nutrition Education & Research.

  • Identified shared needs across regions.

  • Showcased opportunities to work together to improve medical nutrition education.

Abstract

Medical Nutrition Education (MNE) has been identified as an area with potential public health impact. Despite countries having distinctive education systems, barriers and facilitators to effective MNE are consistent across borders, demanding a common platform to initiate global programmes. A shared approach to supporting greater MNE is ideal to support countries to work together. In an effort to initiate this process, the Need for Nutrition Education/Innovation Programme group, in association with their strategic partners, hosted the inaugural International Summit on Medical Nutrition Education and Research on August 8, 2015 in Cambridge, UK. Speakers from the UK, the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Italy, and India provided insights into their respective countries including their education systems, inherent challenges, and potential solutions across two main themes: (1) Medical Nutrition Education, focused on best practice examples in competencies and assessment; and (2) Medical Nutrition Research, discussing how to translate nutrition research into education opportunities. The Summit identified shared needs across regions, showcased examples of transferrable strategies and identified opportunities for collaboration in nutrition education for healthcare (including medical) professionals. These proceedings highlight the key messages presented at the Summit and showcase opportunities for working together towards a common goal of improvement in MNE to improve public health at large.

Introduction

On August 8, 2015 in Cambridge, UK, the Need for Nutrition Education/Innovation Programme (NNEdPro) group hosted the inaugural International Summit on Medical Nutrition Education and Research. Speakers for the event were from the UK, the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand (NZ), Italy, and India. The presentations were divided into two main themes: (1) Medical Nutrition Education (MNE), with a focus on best practice examples in competencies and assessment; and (2) Medical Nutrition Research (MNR), with a focus on translating research into education opportunities. Key organizations in attendance are described in Table 1. Pre- and post-meetings provided opportunities for key attendees to discuss potential projects, collaborations and ideas generated by the Summit.

The NNEdPro group is an independent knowledge generation, transfer/exchange and evaluation platform.1 The group represents a strategic interdisciplinary partnership between doctors, dietitians, nutritionists, researchers, nurses and other healthcare professionals. It is composed of several partner organizations (Table 1). In 2014, the NNEdPro group launched the Global Innovation Panel (GIP), with the intent to promote international initiatives and knowledge exchange on nutrition education innovations relevant to clinical and public health practice. One of the key projects of the GIP was to arrange the inaugural International Summit on Medical Nutrition Education and Research.2

The NNEdPro group works closely with the American Society of Nutrition (ASN), and members of its Medical Nutrition Council (MNC) sub-committee.3 The MNC focuses on meeting the needs of those ASN members interested in clinical, research, educational, and/or training aspects of nutrition and metabolism as it relates to optimal health and the prevention and treatment of human disease. Objectives of ASN and MNC align well with the NNEdPro themes and the organizations collaborated to organize the Summit.

Section snippets

Aim of the Summit

The aim of the inaugural Summit was to identify needs across regions and showcase examples of potentially transferrable strategies related to implementation of MNE. Opportunities for collaboration in nutrition education for healthcare (including medical) professionals were identified. These proceedings highlight the key messages presented during the Summit and opportunities for future collaboration (see Fig. 1 for Summit goals and Table 2 for speakers and key points).

Theme 1: Medical Nutrition Education

The importance of nutrition in medical and healthcare education has traditionally been undervalued and widely neglected.4, 5, 6 Despite evidence of continuing nutrition education neglect in health care,4, 5, 6 the development of nutrition care guidelines7 and a medical undergraduate nutritional curriculum framework,8 medical schools rarely implement nutrition-related material. This situation poses a challenge to ensure that nutrition, whilst only a small element of the medical curriculum, is

Theme 2: Medical Nutrition Research

Translating research into practice through education is an important consideration in MNE and public health. With increasing focus on evidence-based medicine,33 mechanisms to provide appropriate evidence to the right professionals is crucial to support effective and safe medical practice and improve public health outcomes. The presenters in this section discussed how they have translated evidence into practice, including barriers and facilitators to this translation.

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank all those who attended the 2015 Summit, as well as all NNEdPro members for their continued supports. They also thank Alberto Battezzati MD PhD, and Simona Bertoli MD PhD of the International Center for the Assessment of Nutritional Status, University of Milan for providing data about the Center for the Italian section. The authors also thank the WellnessRx Team: Dr Leah Gramlich, Dr Katharina Kovacs Burns, Dr Karin Olson, and Dr Lana Bistritz for their

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