I just returned from a whirlwind trip to Nashville, Tennessee for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics‘ annual Food and Nutrition Conference and Expo (FNCE). I came back inspired and re-energized by all of the compassionate leaders and champions for nutrition, dietetics, health, and wellness.

One of the biggest takeaways from FNCE was the pressing concern for ALL dietitians to become competent in complementary, integrative medicine modalities that consider the whole person, and not just a set of symptoms. Use of therapeutic approaches that address the bio, psycho, social, and spiritual facets of health and illness are growing quickly across health care professions. Dietitians need to choose to be on the forefront of integrative medicine through increased awareness, education and research.

Check out my previous post about WHAT exactly Integrative Dietitian Nutritionists do and this new publication from the Academy surveying members’ education, knowledge, attitudes, and practice of integrative medicine.