Recognizing the essential role of nutrition in osteopathic medicine, health promotion, disease prevention, and patient care, the NBOME will launch a new COMAT Nutrition in Patient Care examination series.
The series was developed using the Fundamental Osteopathic Medical Competency Domains 2026 (FOMCD 2026), which expands emphasis on nutrition across all seven domains, and aligns with national “food as medicine” efforts, including the Nutrition in Medicine resources provided by the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine, and nutrition initiatives from the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education.
Additionally, the American Osteopathic Association Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation will release a new accreditation standard on July 1 (Element 6.12) that will require “comprehensive evidence-based nutrition education is integrated across pre-clinical and clinical curricula to prepare graduates to apply knowledge focused on the promotion of health, and the prevention and management of preventable, nutrition-related chronic disease.”
In response to this growing emphasis on nutrition as a core component of osteopathic medical education, the COMAT Nutrition in Patient Care examination series supports colleges of osteopathic medicine in assessing learners’ readiness to apply nutrition knowledge in clinical contexts. Designed for osteopathic medical students across years 1 through 4, the series will assess the nutrition knowledge and competencies essential to effective patient care.
Aligned to existing COMAT Foundational Biomedical Sciences (FBS) and Clinical Blueprint specifications, the series will include a foundational examination focusing on the preclinical knowledge for years 1 and 2 that emphasizes fundamental nutrition concepts, biomedical interpretation, metabolism, disease prevention, and early clinical reasoning. A clinical examination focusing on the clinical application for years 3 and 4 will emphasize advanced clinical reasoning and the integration of nutrition science into patient care across organ systems, life stages, and care settings.
The COMAT Nutrition in Patient Care series will launch in stages, with the foundational examination planned for August 2027 and the clinical examination planned for 2028.
“The NBOME is committed to advancing the assessment of food-as-medicine,” said Gretta A. Gross, DO, MEd, executive vice president & chief assessment officer. “This examination series marks an important step in expanding assessment of nutrition-focused competencies in osteopathic medical education.”
Developed by NBOME National Faculty under the leadership of Barbarra Capozzi, DO, clinical dean, clinical education at Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine – Harlem, and a subcommittee of subject matter experts, COMAT Nutrition in Patient Care follows the same National Faculty-led development process used for other COMAT examinations, helping ensure it is relevant, high quality, and aligned with NBOME’s standards.