Innovative Training Through Culinary and Lifestyle Medicine
The WVU School of Medicine is widely recognized for its Culinary and Lifestyle Medicine Track( CLMT), a four-year longitudinal program that integrates nutrition, culinary skills, physical activity, restorative sleep, and stress management. Students in the program complete approximately 300 hours of hands-on and virtual experiential training, preparing them to counsel patients effectively and practice preventive, team-based care.
“ I’ m proud of the difference the CLMT is making for our students and our community,” said Rosie Cannarella Lorenzetti, MD, professor of family and community medicine and co-director of CLMT.“ Since 2018, more than 50 students have completed the program, with many earning national certification in culinary medicine. Our graduates leave with practical skills to help patients make healthier lifestyle choices, and they give back through cooking demonstrations, school programs, and support for local families. No matter what specialty they enter, students tell us this training will help them improve lives throughout their careers.”
Preparing Physicians to Meet Health Needs of West Virginia and Beyond
Years before national policy leaders called for expanded nutrition education, WVU Health Sciences had already established itself as a leader. The university’ s lifestyle medicine initiatives emphasize local relevance— such as understanding food insecurity, working with rural populations, and managing chronic diseases prevalent in Appalachia— while offering a model scalable to medical schools across the country.
WVU students and faculty also engage in applied learning through nutrition immersion trips, medical weight management rotations, and community-based cooking demonstrations. This ensures graduates are prepared not only with knowledge but also with practical skills and cultural understanding to improve patient outcomes statewide.
As federal leaders recognize new commitments to strengthen nutrition training nationwide, the WVU School of Medicine’ s long-established programs demonstrate that robust, integrated nutrition and lifestyle medicine curriculum is achievable, scalable, and essential for training the next generation of physicians and healthcare professionals.
The House of Medicine CME SUMMIT AT THE GREENBRIER Physicians United: Learning Together in the Mountain State
November 5-7, 2026 | The Greenbrier Resort | White Sulphur Springs
West Virginia Medical Journal • June 2026 • 27