From Roasted Carrots to Nourishing Undergraduate Degree Program

Building on the traditional foundation of wellness for faculty and staff members, as well as students, Elaine M. Wallace, D.O., M.S.⁴, KPCOM dean, spearheaded a new degree program—the Bachelor of Science in Human Nutrition, which will matriculate its first class in the fall of 2019.

The spark for the new degree program—the eighth to be offered by the KPCOM—ignited years ago during a community health fair when osteopathic medical students and Marilyn Gordon, Ed.D., RDN, CSSD, LDN, academic coordinator, discussed grilling carrots instead of hot dogs as a food choice for health fair participants and attendees.

“The program is a special recipe of many ingredients and will blend the study of nutritional sciences, liberal arts, human behavior, wellness, and global issues,” said Stephanie N. Petrosky, M.H.A., RDN, LDN, FAND, assistant professor and director of the nutrition program.

Students will have an opportunity to apply practical concepts to numerous fields, including public health, clinical practice, or non-health professions, such as business or engineering. Ioana Scripa, Ph.D., RDN, LDN, is the new faculty member set to lead the inaugural B.S. in Human Nutrition program. The KPCOM is the first college in the nation to offer a B.S. in Human Nutrition/D.O. dual-admission option.