There is compelling evidence that the science of nutrition offers humanity a way to achieve a better quality of life. Nutrition provides ways not only of treating, but preventing illness, whether derived from genetic or environmental sources. A recent New York Times article reported growing attention to the study of nutrition in our nation's medical schools.
Two years ago, the University of Texas Health Science Center at Dallas recognized the importance of nutrition in medical research and education and established the Center for Human Nutrition. One of only two such institutions in the country, the Center was established through an anonymous gift to Southwestern Medical Foundation. According to James K. Keay, the foundation's president, the gift created an endowment fund for use by the health science center "to place the entire field of human nutrition on a firm scientific foundation."
The Center for Human Nutrition is directed by Dr. Scott M. Grundy, a nationally recognized leader in nutrition research. Under Dr. Grundy's leadership, the Center has established three goals: to conduct scientific research into the role of nutrition in the prevention and treatment of disease, to promote the teaching of nutrition as a regular part of the medical school curriculum, and to foster nutrition education within the community.
According to Dr. Grundy, "The first purpose of the Center is to establish a strong scientific program in nutritional research." As a leader in the field, Dr. Grundy has been awarded a five-year $1.3 million research grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). He also has a major five-year grant from the Veterans Administration (VA) and smaller grants from Frito Lay, Inc. and other companies.
The key to the Center's research program is the ability to conduct research on human nutrition. Ten metabolic beds have been established for the Center for Human Nutrition at the VA Medical Center. In addition, three beds are available for nutrition research in the university's General Clinical Research Center. While in many leading medical school, nutrition research is still conducted on animals, the valuable metabolic beds allow the Center for Human Nutrition to stay on the "cutting edge" of human nutrition research.
The Center's role at the health science center permits its staff--including physicians, research scientists and registered nurses--to conduct its own research and to stimulate more nutrition research in other disciplines throughout the medical community. Dr. Charles C. Sprague, president of the health science center, says the Center for Human Nutrition adds an "extra dimension to the work of nearly every department and every member of the faculty at the Health Science Center," adding that there is a "nutritional component in almost every health problem we deal with."
The Center's multidisciplinary focus is vital to its second goal--promoting the teaching of nutrition. The Center's staff works with faculty members of many departments to encourage them to strengthen the teaching of nutrition within their respective disciplines.
Under the guidance of Dr. Grundy, a nutrition education committee with representatives from all of the major departments periodically evaluates the educational curriculum for medical students, graduate students and allied health personnel, recommending nutritional components to upgrade nutrition education throughout the health science center.
The third goal of the Center--to foster nutrition education within the community--will be aimed at the health science center community and the entire Dallas community. The Center operates the Obesity Clinic at Parkland Memorial Hospital, where patients are taught good nutrition and behavior modification to control their weight. Plans for a weight control program for teachers at the Dallas Independent School District are underway, as are plans for regular lectures and educational programs for health science center students and the general public.
