FAQ
Below is a list of frequently asked questions pertaining to the Culinary and Lifestyle Medicine Track.
What is the deadline to submit my application for the Culinary and Lifestyle Medicine Track?
The application deadline for students entering the WVU School of Medicine in the Fall 2024 semester is Monday, June 3, 2024. Interviews for a selected group of applicants will be held virtually via Zoom in mid-June. Applicants will be notified of acceptance decisions by July 1, 2024.
When does the Culinary and Lifestyle Medicine Track begin for the Fall 2024 semester?
Orientation for the next accepted group of CLMT incoming first-year students will be held in the Morgantown area July 21-22, the weekend prior to the start of the MS1 year. MS1 classes begin on Tuesday, July 23, 2024.
What is the additional time requirement of the Culinary and Lifestyle Medicine Track?
The track's curricular activities, such as teaching kitchens and journal clubs, are planned around the academic calendar, so class obligations such as studying for an upcoming exam are minimally affected. Most of the extra reading and learning for the track will be done on students' own time — weekends and holiday breaks. It is estimated that approximately 300 extra hours are spent during students' four years of medical school on this curriculum, the bulk of which is obtained during the summer externship between the first and second years. However, to sit for the Certified Culinary Medicine Specialist exam at the end of the fourth year of medical school, students will be required to do extra studying and review on their own time during the medical school years.
Students will complete online modules and attend periodic food preparation classes called teaching kitchens. The usual 18-month curriculum required to sit for the exam will be spread out over four years, with adequate time to prepare for the specialty exam prior to graduation.
If I am accepted into the program, am I required to choose Primary Care as my specialty?
No. Students in the program will be exposed to nutrition, food preparation and lifestyle medicine issues, such as stress reduction, exercise and sleep management. Knowledge in these issues will be beneficial to students in both their own lives and the specialty of their choice.
The first group of seven CLMT students graduated in May 2021. Their residency choices included: family medicine, pediatrics, internal medicine, psychiatry and neurosurgery. Current senior students are furthering their education in careers of orthopedics, pediatrics, OBGYN and internal medicine.
Can I participate in the Culinary and Lifestyle Medicine program on any of the three School of Medicine campuses?
Yes.
Can I participate in either the Rural Health track or the Global Health track, as well as the Culinary and Lifestyle Medicine track?
Yes.
How many students are accepted into the program each year?
Our numbers have grown since inception, from an initial 7 - 10 for our first several years, to more recently where 16 students were admitted. We are accepting qualified and interested students, but not everyone who applies for the track gets accepted each year. There is a virtual interview process, written personal statement detailing interest, experience and expressed commitment to Culinary and Lifestyle Medicine.
Do I have to commit to the program for all four years of medical school?
Completion of all four years is required to receive a certificate at graduation stating your extra 300 hours of participation in Culinary and Lifestyle Medicine at the School of Medicine. This has been shown to be a great talking point for graduates in residency interviews and demonstrates a student can handle the increased workload. As with joining any track of the medical school, opting out is a personal choice.
Does the program require extra fees?
The program itself does not require additional fees. However, if the student decides during their fourth year of medical school to sit for the Certified Culinary Medicine Specialist exam, there is an additional cost of $2,150. In the past, a portion of these fees have been paid by generous donors to the track. Of the students who have decided to take the exam, we have a 100% pass rate.
Are there scholarships for students in the Culinary and Lifestyle Medicine program?
While we currently do not offer program-specific scholarships, students in the program may qualify for School of Medicine scholarships and are encouraged to apply for those scholarships.