User:Dnpdavidson/Doctor of Clinical Nutrition

As the science of nutrition advances, so does the need for practitioners at varying levels of practice. The need for an advanced-level dietetics/clinical nutrition expert in nutrition diagnosis, evidence-based practice, outcomes monitoring, order writing, and the conduct of research in the practice setting is evident; however, academic opportunities for such individuals have not previously existed. Advanced degree options in dietetics have been limited to the master's degree or the doctor of philosophy, a research degree. Advanced practice clinical doctorates have evolved in other allied health disciplines (ie, nursing) to fulfill similar advanced practice needs. The School of Health Related Professions at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey opened the first clinical doctorate in nutrition for registered dietitians in 2003. A Web-based program was designed with didactic and clinically oriented courses, an advanced practice residency, and a clinical research project. The primary goal of the Doctor of Clinical Nutrition (DCN) is to prepare dietetics/nutrition practitioners with a foundation of knowledge and clinical competencies to function at the advanced level, linking science and advanced practice and designing clinical research studies that contribute to the body of scientific evidence in the profession.

The program consists of 51 credits with 42 credits common to all students and 9 credits chosen from a list of elective subjects. Included in the program is a residency requirement and the production of a research project to be sub,itted for publication.

As of 2009, the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ) is the only college/university offering the program. Due to the web based design of the DCN, students are enrolled from across the U.S. as well as several foreign countries.