04/19/05

Expanding Physicians’ Knowledge of Nutrition: American Dietetic Association to Offer Continuing Medical Education Credits

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 19, 2005

Media contact: Lori Ferme, Kelly Liebbe
800/877-1600, ext. 4802, 4769
media@eatright.org

CHICAGO - The American Dietetic Association, the world’s largest organization of food and nutrition professionals, will offer physicians continuing medical education opportunities through its peer-reviewed journal for the first time beginning in May.

ADA will offer CME credits in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, the leading scientific publication in the field of nutrition, through the Journal’s publisher Elsevier Science, an American Academy of Continuing Medical Education provider.

“The mission of ADA is to lead the future of dietetics,” said registered dietitian Linda Van Horn, editor-in-chief of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association. “An integral part of this includes leading the future of nutrition education and counseling in order to prevent and treat disease.

“Because of the multidisciplinary nature of patient care, ADA is pleased to further contribute to the education and knowledge base of other clinicians, including physicians and allied health professionals who also interact with patients regarding their eating habits,” Van Horn said.

Although eight of the 10 most common causes of morbidity and mortality in the United States are linked to dietary practices, studies by organizations such as the National Academy of Sciences have shown nutrition education in medical schools is often insufficient to prepare physicians to address patients' needs in understanding how their diet affects their health. And recent studies have shown a continued need for improvement in physicians’ knowledge of treatment recommendations for some diseases.

“The new CME feature in the Journal is an innovative venue for physicians and other health professionals to update their knowledge of current nutrition research findings and related clinical applications,” said registered dietitian Eileen Vincent, assistant director of clinical nutrition research at Northwestern University. “In addition, in keeping with ADA’s organizational goals, the Journal is reaching out to the general medical community to expand, strengthen and diversify its readership.”

According to Ronald F. Kahn, associate professor of community medicine at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, “Physicians have a growing interest in nutrition. As the evidence base increases regarding the role of diet in the prevention and treatment of chronic disease, it is important that the multidisciplinary nature of nutrition be addressed. The Journal is meeting a major need in a timely and effective way.”

With nearly 65,000 members, the Chicago-based American Dietetic Association serves the public by promoting optimal health, nutrition and well-being. Visit ADA at http://www.eatright.org/.