Strategic Vision & Approach
JSSOM has a sustainable and comprehensive, longitudinal, and fully integrated nutrition curriculum spanning all phases of undergraduate medical education. This curriculum is designed to prepare future physicians to apply evidence-based nutrition principles in clinical care, public health, and disease prevention, aligns with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Competency Framework, including meeting the recommended 40 hours of nutrition education.
Grounded in University of Texas Medical Branch’s more than 130-year legacy of advancing medicine and aligned with the 2026 launch of the Blue Zones Project to foster a healthier community, this initiative underscores a sustained commitment to innovation and excellence in medical education. Through a dynamic integration of pedagogical approaches—including problem-based learning (PBL), case-based learning (CBL), team-based learning (TBL), didactic instruction, experiential and community-based learning, and virtual simulation—students develop the knowledge, skills, and competencies needed to effectively serve diverse patient populations and communities.
This initiative aligns with institutional priorities while supporting federal and state recommendations and accreditation standards, ensuring graduates are prepared to deliver high-quality, nutrition-informed care across healthcare settings.
Leadership
Dean Champions
Faculty Discipline Leaders
We are systematically identifying faculty across the University of Texas Medical Branch schools with expertise in nutrition by mapping specialty areas, reviewing teaching and research portfolios, and engaging department leadership. This effort provides a robust, interdisciplinary network of experts to support curriculum development, mentorship, and collaborative scholarship. By leveraging this network, we ensure the integration of nutrition across the curriculum and expand high-impact, meaningful opportunities for student engagement in both clinical and community settings.
Advisory Boards
Student Advisory Board
This interprofessional group will serve as a central component of program development and implementation, bringing together representatives from multiple student organizations who are deeply engaged in community service and experiential learning. Given their direct involvement in applying nutrition knowledge within community settings, these students provide essential, practice-informed perspectives that ensure the curriculum remains relevant, impactful, and responsive to real-world needs.
External Advisors
JSSOM will engage community and state partners as external reviewers and strategic collaborators. These partnerships will enhance program quality, align efforts with community and workforce needs, and provide valuable external perspectives to guide continuous growth and innovation.
Interdisciplinary Collaboration & Program Sustainability
The Nutrition Champions will collaborate closely with Faculty Discipline Leaders, the Student Advisory Board, and the External Review Board to guide program development and implementation. In this role, they will provide ongoing input on curriculum design, student engagement, and program evaluation, with a particular emphasis on strengthening community-based learning and translating evidence-based nutrition practices into meaningful community impact.
This collaborative structure will promote cross-disciplinary integration, enhance leadership development, and establish a formal, sustainable mechanism for continuous feedback, quality improvement, and long-term program sustainability, ensuring ongoing innovation and alignment with evolving educational and community needs.