The Goldring Center for Culinary Medicine at Tulane University
The Goldring Center for Culinary Medicine (GCCM) was founded in 2012 as the first teaching kitchen operated within a medical school, establishing itself as a leader in the culinary medicine movement. As part of Tulane University’s School of Medicine, GCCM’s mission is to educate and train future physicians to understand and apply nutrition principles in a practical way. This education enables medical trainees to assist their patients with diet and lifestyle modifications that improve their health. In addition to training for future physicians, GCCM teaches continuing medical education classes for existing medical professionals as well as free nutrition-focused cooking classes for community members. GCCM uses an innovative curriculum and hands-on cooking classes to reach the overall goal of empowering participants to improve their health by learning how to plan, shop for, and cook food that is both nutritious and delicious.
What is Culinary Medicine?
Culinary medicine uses an evidence-based approach to translate nutrition research into practical use in home kitchens. It is an emerging field that combines the art of cooking and the science of medicine. At Tulane University’s Goldring Center for Culinary Medicine, an interdisciplinary team of chefs, dietitians, and physicians instruct medical students, medical professionals, and community members through the American College of Culinary Medicine’s Health meets Food curriculum. This premier curriculum focuses both on general healthy diet and lifestyle modifications as well as the condition and disease-specific diets that can be used in conjunction with other medical treatments to improve health and wellness. The innovative curriculum used at GCCM employs a food-first approach to nutrition and focuses on simple techniques and culinary skills to ensure that eating healthy is enjoyable and sustainable for all.
For more information on Culinary Medicine and GCCM’s program, check out this 2018 article from U.S. News & World Report, “Culinary Medicine: A Recipe for Better Health”
A New Orleans Kitchen that Brings Medical Students and the Community Together
This great video shot by the Alliance for a Healthier Generation explains our program for medical student training as well as community nutrition education. It was shown at the ceremony where the Goldring Center for Culinary Medicine was awarded the Innovation Award for Health Care Provider Training and Education in 2017.
More Than Just a Location: The ReFresh Project
The Goldring Center for Culinary Medicine is strategically located within The ReFresh Project, a Community Health Hub located in Midcity, New Orleans. The building, located on North Broad Street at Bienville Avenue houses nine organizations working to achieve health equity in the surrounding neighborhoods. Read more here…
