Biennial survey of physician clinical-nutrition training programs

This is the fourth survey of physician clinical-nutrition training programs. As in previous reports, current fellowship training programs were identified, descriptive information obtained, and program content surveyed. In addition, a questionnaire developed by the American Board of Nutrition Committee on Fellowship Training Programs was used to determine the degree of emphasis given to content in the areas of basic nutrition science, clinical applications, and research training. Among the 38 programs identified, uniform ratings of importance were found in all major topic areas. There was also uniformity in most subtopics, with minor exceptions. As expected, in the area of nutrition in the life cycle, pediatric training programs emphasized infancy and childhood whereas medical-surgical programs emphasized adulthood and aging. Alcoholism was emphasized in medical-surgical training programs whereas cystic fibrosis and inborn errors of metabolism were emphasized in pediatric programs. Nutrition in burn patients received minor emphasis in all programs. The overall uniformity of curricular content in training programs confirms the contention that clinical nutrition has a defined clinical scope and should be considered for establishment as a recognized subspecialty in American medicine.