Presented By: Andee James, University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine
Co-Authors: Pasquale Manzerra, University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine

Purpose 
The relationship between diet, disease prevention, and treatment is well understood yet, physicians often fall short in addressing the nutritional aspects of diseases such as cancer, obesity, and diabetes in their patients. Improving the nutrition counseling offered by physicians can produce changes in diet, weight, and blood lipids reducing the risk for chronic illnesses. However, medical students are not provided the necessary tools to practice high quality, effective nutrition counseling. This project aims to utilize the expertise of Registered Dieticians and senior medical students to increase the nutrition knowledge and clinical skills of pre-clerkship students.

Methods 
Pre-clerkship medical students were given the opportunity to attend a series of lectures given by registered dietitians supplemented with comments from upper-level students who shared their clinical experiences working with patients requiring dietary input. The series started with general nutrition and continued with lectures in subsequent systems blocks including cardiovascular, GI, and endocrine. The students were given a pre and post survey assessing their knowledge of nutrition related to the body system, their perception of the role of the physician in nutrition education, and their perception of nutrition as a part of improving health and preventing disease. 

Results 
Students particularly appreciated the sessions being presented by registered dietitians and medical student(s) in their clinical phase. Of the 157 responds from the five sessions, 87% strongly agreed or agreed having the session presented by registered dietitians provided valuable insight. They found the material aligned well and supplemented their basic science curriculum while adding valuable clinical applications. 

Conclusions 
Nutrition education provided by registered dietitians and senior student(s) represents an opportunity to provide medical students entering clerkships an interdisciplinary experience that increases their confidence to discuss diet with patients and broaden their understanding of the dietitian role in patient care.