{"id":127786,"date":"2025-11-18T01:58:00","date_gmt":"2025-11-18T07:58:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.unmc.edu\/newsroom\/?p=127786"},"modified":"2025-11-17T13:28:55","modified_gmt":"2025-11-17T19:28:55","slug":"doctor-of-nutrition-and-dietetics-program-leads-the-way","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.unmc.edu\/newsroom\/2025\/11\/18\/doctor-of-nutrition-and-dietetics-program-leads-the-way\/","title":{"rendered":"Doctor of Nutrition and Dietetics program leads the way"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

The UNMC College of Allied Health Professions has learned that its Doctor of Nutrition and Dietetics advanced-practice doctorate program has achieved candidacy for accreditation status by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

UNMC is the first and to date only such clinical doctorate degree program in the U.S. to have met this historic milestone. This sets a new benchmark for clinical doctorate education in dietetics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis groundbreaking recognition positions UNMC as a national leader in advancing the profession of dietetics,\u201d said Jana Ponce, PhD, DND program director and assistant professor in the UNMC College of Allied Health Professions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The program was granted candidacy for accreditation status for a four-year term ending Oct. 20, 2029, following a rigorous accreditation process, including a site visit. A further site visit for full accreditation will occur in late 2028. UNMC\u2019s current students and subsequent classes will be considered graduates of an ACEND-accredited program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The UNMC Doctor of Nutrition and Dietetics program was approved by the University of Nebraska Board of Regents in 2024 and enrolled its first cohort of students that fall. In 2024, the minimum degree requirement for practicing registered dietician nutritionists was raised to a master\u2019s degree.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The UNMC College of Allied Health Professions\u2019s Medical Nutrition program was one of the first in the nation to voluntarily adopt this change in 2019 with the introduction of the master\u2019s in medical nutrition degree. UNMC then opted to become the first in the nation to offer a clinical doctorate program in the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe program is designed for registered dietitian nutritionists who want to elevate their practice through advanced clinical training, leadership, advocacy, education and research, and it addresses the growing need for advanced practice dietitians in the workforce,\u201d said Corri Hanson, PhD, executive director of medical nutrition education and a professor in the college. Dr. Ponce has called Dr. Hanson \u201ca visionary and catalyst\u201d in UNMC\u2019s creation of the advanced practice doctorate degree.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The flexible, fully online program allows practicing registered dietician nutritionists to further their training while working in order to enhance or advance their scope of practice. The curriculum also focuses on interprofessional collaboration and community-based scholarly work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis designation speaks both to the quality of program as well as the impact our faculty have at a national level in advancing the field of medical nutrition,\u201d said Kyle Meyer, PhD, dean of the college. \u201cIt is the latest example of the UNMC College of Allied Health Professions leading the nation in the advancement of an allied health profession.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The UNMC College of Allied Health Professions program is the first nationally to be a candidacy for accreditation in the 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