Second-year medical students across the UK College of Medicine put classroom learning into action during their final Nutritional Application Day in the Gastrointestinal and Nutrition class of the fall semester.
The course is led by April Hatcher, PhD, a professor in the department of neuroscience with a focus on embryology, histology, and gross anatomy education. Dr. Hatcher also serves as assistant dean for foundational sciences within the Office of Medical Education.
During the final session of class, Dr. Hatcher invited students to bring non-perishable food items to use in hands-on nutrition exercises, like reviewing labels and evaluating nutritional value. At the end of class, those items were collected and donated to local community organizations, transforming a routine learning activity into a meaningful act of service.
Donations from each of our campuses supported local organizations addressing food insecurity. Students at the Northern Kentucky Campus contributed to Go Pantry, while those in Bowling Green supported BG Neighbors. Donations from Lexington-based students were distributed through the Waste Not, Want Not (WiN-WiN) initiative, which works with community partners in Jessamine County to improve nutrition access while reducing food waste. This particular donation benefited the Jessamine County Food Pantry, Manna Meals, and the United Methodist Children’s Home, which are organizations serving families, individuals experiencing food insecurity, and young adults transitioning out of foster care.
By connecting nutrition science to real-world public health systems, the experience reinforced the role physicians can play beyond the clinic, highlighting how small, intentional actions can support healthier communities and advance care across the Commonwealth.
