2026 Nutrition Essay Contest

Recognizing that nutrition is fundamental to human health, yet often underemphasized in health education and care delivery, the ACGME invites residents and fellows to share their insights and experiences related to nutrition in patient care. Through this national essay contest, the ACGME seeks to amplify the voices of residents and fellows, learn from their real-world experiences, and identify opportunities to strengthen nutrition-related competencies across graduate medical education (GME).

Essays can address various aspects of the interplay between nutrition and health care, such as the importance of nutrition in health maintenance and prevention; motivating patients toward a health-promoting diet; the role of food/diet in disease management; and the intersection between nutrition and social determinants of health and/or cultural traditions. Narratives can focus on a specific patient experience, a personal or family experience with nutrition in the health care setting, a nutrition-related project the author undertook, or reflections on their experiences with nutrition education during their medical education.

The following prompts are illustrative; authors may use one of these or choose their own approach.

• Patient Impact – Describe an experience where a nutrition-focused intervention had a profound benefit on the patient’s health. What factors contributed to success and what was the impact?
• Patient Impact – Describe a patient experience that illustrates the consequences of poor nutrition and/or the absence of effective nutrition counseling. How might the outcome have been different with stronger nutritional support?
• Education – Reflect on your own nutrition education or training. What approaches to learning nutrition were or were not effective? How could your nutritional education have been improved?
• Quality Improvement – Describe a nutrition-focused project you carried out. What motivated you to pursue the project, and what were the outcomes? What strategies effectively engaged patients?

Note: If artificial intelligence (AI) is used to write or edit any component of an essay, include a brief disclosure of the use and tool (e.g., "Microsoft Copilot was used to edit this essay.").

The goals of this initiative are to promote resident/fellow reflection on nutrition in patient care, learn from resident and fellow experiences, and identify opportunities to strengthen nutrition-related education across GME.

Key Elements for Assessment:

1. Relevance to nutrition and patient care (e.g., illuminating the links between nutrition and health, the importance of counseling and motivating patients, and/or nutrition in disease management)
2. Educational value (e.g., sharing a relatable and generalizable lesson; highlighting strategies for clinician and/or patient education that have been successful or unsuccessful)
3. Narrative quality and storytelling (e.g., readability and ability to engage the reader)

The author of the winning essay will receive:

• Complimentary registration for the 2027 ACGME Annual Educational Conference, taking place in San Antonio, Texas, February 25-27, 2027
• The choice of either:
  • Travel expenses, including transportation, lodging, and related costs for the 2027 ACGME Annual Educational Conference, or,
  • A $3,000 cash prize

Authors must be residents/fellows in an ACGME-accredited program during Academic Year 2025-2026.

Submissions co-authored by up to three residents/fellows are acceptable (each may receive free registration to the Annual Educational Conference, though the cash prize or travel expenses will only be provided for the lead author or their designee).

Click the button below to apply and submit an essay by 11:59 p.m. Central on June 30, 2026. Late or incomplete submissions will not be accepted.

This is a competitive award process. Awards will be granted based on the strength of the essay and the criteria listed above.

APPLY HERE!
Deadline June 30, 2026