Survey of clinical nutrition training programs for physicians

Clinical nutrition training programs for physicians were surveyed to determ ine their number, demographic characteristics, primary teaching focuses, nu mber of available trainee positions, funding bases, trainee numbers, backgr ounds, and career positions taken. Twenty-two active programs were identifi ed, compared with 38 programs in 1993. Thirteen of the programs were primar ily focused on adult nutrition and 7 were focused on pediatric nutrition. T welve programs appeared to have nutrition as their sole subspecialty focus, 8 were housed within gastroenterology fellowships, and 2 were within endoc rinology fellowships. Most programs included training in research, which is conducted during a second or third year, or both. The decrease in numbers of programs appears to have resulted not only from relocation, retirement o f key faculty members, and loss of training grants, but also because of the clearer definition of clinical nutrition training programs in this survey. The changes also reflect a national trend toward decreasing subspecializat ion. Within this climate, it is apparent that a new model for the training and career activities of physician nutrition specialists is needed that wil l attract more physicians into the discipline of nutrition. Intersociety ef forts are underway to address this need and to develop a unified voice that can guide clinical nutrition training for physicians into the 21st century .