The Culinary Medicine Program at the University of Alabama – College of Community Health Sciences
Leadership and Faculty
Jennifer Clem, MD
Jennifer B. Clem, MD, earned her medical degree from the University of Alabama School of Medicine in 2006. While a medical student, she was selected by her peers for the Gold Humanism Honor Society, a nationally recognized honor society comprised of individuals recognized for practicing patient-centered medical care by modeling the qualities of integrity, excellence, compassion, altruism, respect and empathy.
Clem completed her residency at the University of Michigan Department of Family Medicine in Ann Arbor. She is board-certified in family medicine.
For the past four years, Clem has worked for Indian Health Service in a comprehensive health care facility in Chinle, Arizona, where she provided both inpatient and outpatient care in a rural setting on the Navajo Nation.
Richard Streiffer, MD
Professor of Family, Internal, and Rural Medicine
Dean Emeritus, College of Community Health Sciences at The University of Alabama
Rick Streiffer earned a bachelor’s degree in math from Tulane University, a medical degree from Louisiana State University School of Medicine, and completed his family medicine residency at The University of Alabama College of Community Health Sciences. Streiffer has been recognized during his career with several teaching awards, including the Outstanding Alumni Award for Academic Achievement from the College of Community Health Sciences. Over the course of his career, Streiffer has been the project director on several federal training grants with a focus on primary care education and development of a rural physician workforce.
He founded the Tulane Rural Medical Education Program and created the Tulane Rural Immersion Program with the support of a grant from the Josiah Macy, Jr. Foundation. He also received a $1 million Health Resources and Services Administration grant to oversee the development of a medical home curriculum within the required family medicine clerkship at Tulane. Throughout his career, Streiffer has maintained an active primary care practice, and he is board-certified in family medicine and holds a Certificate of Added Qualification in Geriatrics.
Linda Knol, PhD, RDN, LD
Associate Professor, Human Nutrition, College of Human Environmental Sciences
She received a degree in Culinary Arts from Johnson and Wales University and her BS in Dietetics from the University of Rhode Island. She earned her MS and PhD degrees from the University of Tennessee Knoxville. Dr. Knol is a Registered Dietitian and the Co-Director of the Culinary Medicine Program at the University of Alabama and Director of the Project ME Lab. Her research focuses on the development of mindful eating interventions for a variety of populations. Her research also focuses on familial factors that impact dietary intake, specifically the role of food insecurity and individual cooking skills.
Medical Students Programming
Third and Fourth Year Medical Students
Culinary Medicine programming launched in 2016 under the leadership of Dean Streiffer and Dr. Linda Knol. Now moving into their 4th year with elective programming for 3rd and 4th year medical students led by Dr. Jennifer Clem the programming has been felt a positive experience by students. The course was offered in the dietetics kitchen at the Department of Human Nutrition and Hospitality Management.
The programing was offered as an inter-professional experience between the College of Community Health Sciences for medical students and residents alongside dietetics students at the College of Human Environmental Sciences.
A new longitudinal curriculum is being planned for medical students and discussion is underway for including Culinary Medicine programming in the courseware.
Resident Programming
Residents participate as a part of the inter-professional experience.
Fellowship Programming
No programming at this time.
Community Programming
No programming at this time.
Media
Culinary Medicine Program at The University of Alabama
Research
Funding
Funding has been through the Dean’s office at the College of Community Health Sciences.
