OCOM Launches “From Plate to Patient: Empowering Future Physicians Through Evidence-Based Nutrition”
Winter Garden, FL — Orlando College of Osteopathic Medicine (OCOM) is proud to announce the launch of From Plate to Patient: Empowering Future Physicians Through Evidence-Based Nutrition, an innovative, longitudinal nutrition medicine program designed to prepare future physicians to integrate nutrition into clinical practice and advance whole-person care.
As healthcare continues to shift toward prevention and lifestyle-driven interventions, this program represents a forward-thinking evolution in medical education, equipping student doctors with the knowledge, skills, and clinical confidence to incorporate evidence-based nutrition as a foundational component of patient care.
From Plate to Patient is built around a set of comprehensive objectives that extend beyond traditional coursework to shape well-rounded, lifestyle-conscious physicians.
Students will develop the ability to assess and address nutrition within the broader context of physical, behavioral, and social determinants of health—reinforcing the osteopathic commitment to treating the whole person.
The program prepares students to confidently integrate evidence-based nutrition into patient care, including counseling strategies, behavior change techniques, and individualized care planning for diverse populations.
At the heart of the program is a simple but powerful idea: what happens at the table directly impacts what happens in the exam room. From Plate to Patient reflects a commitment to training physicians who can translate nutrition science into meaningful, patient-centered care—empowering individuals to make sustainable lifestyle changes that support lifelong health.
Students will learn to critically evaluate nutrition science and apply it in real-world clinical scenarios—bridging the gap between research and patient care.
Through case-based instruction, clinical correlations, and interactive learning environments, students will gain hands-on experience in addressing nutrition-related health challenges across the continuum of care.
“This program represents a critical step forward in how we prepare future physicians,” said Sapna Rama, DO, FACP, DABOM, Course Director. “Nutrition is one of the most powerful, and underutilized, tools in medicine. By embedding evidence-based nutrition throughout the curriculum, we are equipping our students to approach patient care with a more comprehensive, preventive, and personalized lens.”
OCOM’s graduates will be equipped to use nutrition as a key tool in preventing and managing chronic conditions, improving long-term patient outcomes and quality of life.
“Our responsibility as a medical school is to evolve alongside the needs of the communities we serve,” said Robert T. Hasty DO, MACOI, FACP, Dean and Chief Academic Officer of OCOM. “From Plate to Patient reflects our commitment to advancing osteopathic medical education by integrating lifestyle medicine principles into the core of our training. This is about preparing physicians who not only treat illness, but actively promote health.”
Unlike traditional models that isolate nutrition into a single course, From Plate to Patient is fully integrated across the curriculum—reinforcing key concepts from foundational sciences through clinical training. This longitudinal approach ensures that students continuously build and apply their knowledge in meaningful ways throughout their medical education.
About Orlando College of Osteopathic Medicine
The Orlando College of Osteopathic Medicine (OCOM), a unit of Drs. Kiran and Pallavi Patel Global University (KPGU), is dedicated to educating and training compassionate, competent physicians who are prepared to meet the evolving healthcare needs of diverse communities. Rooted in the principles of osteopathic medicine, OCOM emphasizes whole-person care—integrating the body, mind, and spirit in the pursuit of health and healing. Through an innovative, student-centered curriculum, hands-on clinical experiences, and a commitment to excellence, OCOM equips future physicians with the knowledge, skills, and values necessary to deliver high-quality, patient-centered care and advance the future of healthcare.
