Wednesday, December 10, 2014

Wisdom Wednesday: American Clinical Board of Nutrition


The American Clinical Board of Nutrition (ACBN) is a certifying agency in nutrition. It is accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA).

The ACBN is the first and currently only certifying agency in nutrition to offer Diplomate status to all professionals in the health care field, beyond the doctorate level in the United States and internationally. Certificants of the ACBN hold the distinction of Diplomate, American Clinical Board of Nutrition (DACBN).

Founded in 1986 the ACBN is a professional certification organization acting in the public interest by establishing education, examination, experience, and ethics requirements for certification.

Currently there are ten universities that offer nutrition courses that can be applied toward the 300 hours of nutrition required by the ACBN as part of board eligibility. I took a vast majority of my course work at the University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine.



After completing the course study, part one of the board is writing three case studies demonstrating a broad based practical knowledge of nutrition and health care. My case studies were a young man with HIV/Aids, a young woman with cervical dysplasia, and a middle aged man with advanced metastatic carcinoma from the prostate. In each case, you must demonstrate knowledge and skills in six domains:
  • History
  • Examination
  • Assessment
  • Diagnosis
  • Treatment
  • Follow Up

Part two of the board is to write a nutrition oriented article or paper accepted by the board for publication in board approved journals. My paper was on polyglandular autoimmune disease. This is a rare condition that affects approximately 175 people worldwide at any time. The life expectancy generally does not reach puberty, so their life spam is quite short. I had the privilege of treating a young girl with this disease that exceeded all expectations, living to the age of 19.

After course completion and successfully passing parts 1 and 2, candidates are eligible to sit the board. I sat the board early in 2009 and was awarded diplomate status in April of 2009. Over 300 physicians began the diplomate program together here in Florida. In 2009, only eleven of us actually passed the board.

Diplomates are required to attend continuing education and/or write a paper for publication on a yearly basis. I currently have over 500 hours of continuing education through the University of Miami and was one of the first two candidates to be awarded a certificate or proficiency in the clinical nutrition series in October of 2010.

THE BOTTOM LINE:
Thirty-five years ago I was a young chiropractor with three years of clinical experience. I recommended my first supplement, chondroitin sulfate, to a patient with chronic degenerative disc disease. He responded quite well and nutrition quickly became an integral aspect of my practice. Nutrition should be an integral part of your life as well.

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