Nutrition Without Boundaries – one medical student group's experiences in Boston

Abstract

ObjectiveTo foster partnerships between medical students, nutrition professionals and health‐related organizations in the Boston Area.MethodsThe Student Nutrition Awareness and Action Council (SNAAC) of Boston University School of Medicine is a student nutrition group focused on providing education and service learning opportunities for medical students interested in improving nutrition and health outcomes. To foster interdisciplinary mutually beneficial collaborations, SNAAC has sought partnerships with nutrition professionals across the Boston area.ResultsExamples of collaborations include: a match program between medical students and dietetic interns with Boston University's Sargent College; playing a key role in the formation of the Boston Medical Student Committee on Nutrition (BMSCoN), a citywide student nutrition group; taking part in health fairs run by community advocacy groups; developing volunteer training materials for the Pediatric department at Boston Medical Center.ConclusionWhile sometimes challenging to maintain, SNAAC's collaborations have been mutually beneficial to all parties involved. These collaborations have allowed medical students to build relationships with other nutrition professionals and patients throughout Boston. Similar models could be used by nutrition groups at other medical schools.