“An apple a day…” is how the saying begins. Though probably not entirely accurate,
the phrase is a succinct illustration of the connection between diet and overall health.
It’s a lesson students in the first-year Culinary Medicine course at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) recently took out of the classroom and into the kitchen for a once-in-a-lifetime
opportunity to cook in front of some of the most renowned chefs in the country.
Inspired by the Food Network's TV game show, Chopped, and developed by Vetri Community Partnership, the “Diced” challenge pits the five students of PCOM’s “Scalpels and Spatulas” team against two other teams in a rapid-fire competition to create a nutritious, delicious dish from a basket of mystery ingredients. The PCOM team consisted of students Isabella Benitez-Enriquez (DO ‘25), Claire Berger (DO ‘25) Emily Baus (DO ‘25), Bridget McNierney (DO ‘25), and Dillon Gooder (DO ‘25).
The challenge put the teams’ time management skills and creativity to the test. Each
team was given 45 minutes to use their ingredients to prepare a dish that was graded
for taste, presentation, fundraising amount, and creativity by a panel of celebrity
judges, including James Beard Award Winner Marc Vetri, Iron Chef and James Beard Award
Winner Jose Garces, Chef and Activist Kurt Evans, and CBS Philadelphia feature reporter
Vittoria Woodill.
Led by Farzaneh Daghigh, PhD, professor of Biochemistry and co-director, the Culinary Medicine course teaches students that high-quality food based on the Mediterranean Diet can help prevent and treat chronic disease and restore well-being. “We know that diet and overall health are inextricably linked,” said Daghigh. “This challenge put the lessons these students are learning into practice, all in support of a great cause.” Joanne Kakaty-Monzo, DO, clinical professor, is also co-director, and Chef Budd Cohen instructs the Culinary Skills portion of the course.
Students also learn to be comfortable with evidence-based medical nutrition information
to care for future patients using a holistic approach. In addition, they learn to engage these topics through the lens of food equity and
insecurity.
For the "Diced" competitors, the buzzer sounded and the judges rendered their verdict, ultimately selecting as champions team “Wok This Way” from the Junior League of Philadelphia. “Although we didn't win, the experience was unforgettable,” said McNierney. “I think our team really worked well together to produce a tasty dish…it definitely lived up to expectations in terms of how enjoyable the experience was.” “It will be a great story and fond memory for a long time—especially being able to say that Marc Vetri or Jose Garces complimented the flavors we created in our dish,” added Berger.
All funds raised through the "Diced" challenge will support Vetri Community Partnership’s mission to empower kids and families to lead healthier lives through fresh food, hands-on experiences and education.
For the past 125 years, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) has trained thousands of highly competent, caring physicians, health practitioners and behavioral scientists who practice a “whole person” approach to care—treating people, not just symptoms. PCOM, a private, not-for-profit accredited institution of higher education, operates three campuses (PCOM, PCOM Georgia and PCOM South Georgia) and offers doctoral degrees in clinical psychology, educational psychology, osteopathic medicine, pharmacy, physical therapy, and school psychology. The college also offers graduate degrees in applied behavior analysis, applied positive psychology, biomedical sciences, forensic medicine, medical laboratory science, mental health counseling, physician assistant studies, and school psychology. PCOM students learn the importance of health promotion, research, education and service to the community. Through its community-based Healthcare Centers, PCOM provides care to medically underserved populations. For more information, visit pcom.edu or call 215-871-6100.
Brandon Lausch
Executive Director, Strategic Communications
Email: brandonla@pcom.edu
Office: 215-871-6312 | Cell:
717-371-0609
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