Overview
Nutritional medicine plays a key role in the prevention and treatment of many diseases.
With the interdisciplinary specialisation in nutritional medicine, GESKES, together with FMH and SIWF, offers structured further training for doctors from various disciplines who wish to deepen their specialist knowledge in this area. The training programme imparts practical knowledge of nutritional therapy, supplemented by scientific principles and clinical applications.
The training programme concludes with an oral examination before the further training commission, which awards the title of "Nutritional Medicine Specialist".
Target group & goals
Who can acquire the specialisation in nutritional medicine?
Medical specialists from recognised disciplines who meet the requirements.
Goals
√ Expansion of the medical competence profile
√ Strengthening interdisciplinary cooperation
√ More safety in the treatment of nutritional issues
Training centres
The required practical training of the prospective nutritional physician must take place in a training centre recognised by the GESKES /SIWF.
These can be hospitals, outpatient clinics or specialised institutions in Switzerland that have a recognised nutritional medicine specialist (trainer), qualified teaching staff and the necessary infrastructure.
What are the benefits of recognition?
√ Official certification as a recognised training centre
√ Increased attractiveness of the location for doctors in further training as nutritionists
√ Promotion of the nationwide establishment of nutritional medicine
What are the requirements for recognition as an official training centre for nutritional medicine?
DPlease refer to the regulations and the application for recognition as a training centre for the required content.
The completed application including all enclosures must be sent by e-mail to info@geskes.ch to be submitted.
The application is reviewed by the training committee
Continuing Education Commission
The GESKES Interdisciplinary Specialisation in Nutritional Medicine Continuing Education Commission is made up of at least three doctors who hold the title. The commission is chaired by the Chair of the GESKES Continuing Education and Training Commission. Following the election on 18 August 2025, the committee is composed as follows
Chairmanship of the Commission:
Prof Zeno Stanga, MD, Specialist in general medicine, internal medicine and nutritional medicine, Inselspital Bern
Members of the Commission:
Dr Annic Baumgartner, MD, Deputy Head of Endocrinology, Diabetology and Metabolism and Head of the Nutritional Medicine Training Centre, Aarau Cantonal Hospital
Dr med Anne-Catherine Barras-Moret , Deputy Head of the Department of Medicine and Centre for Eating Disorders & Obesity, HFR Fribourg
Prof Laurence Genton Graf, MD, Head of Clinical Nutrition at HUG, Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition and Head of the Nutritional Medicine Training Centre, Hôpitaux Universitaires Genève
PD Dr Matthias Hepprich, Head of Endocrinology with Nutrition Centre and Head of the Nutritional Medicine Training Centre, Claraspital Basel
Dr Nicola Ossola, Head Physician of the Department of Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics, EOC Bellinzona and Mendrisio
Dr Marvin Grossmann, Head of Inpatient Cardiovascular Rehabilitation, Inselspital Bern
Examination
The annual structured oral and practical examination consists of the following three elements:
- Case discussion
- A short presentation on a pre-determined topic
- A survey on the subject of nutritional medicine conducted by the experts.
Requirements for registering for the examination
- Completed specialist training
- Successful completion of the CAS Interprofessional Nutritional Medicine or CAS Clinical Nutrition
- Completion of five ESPEN LLL courses
- Attendance at an ESPEN congress
- Completion of practical training at a recognised training centre in Switzerland
Current examination dates
The 2027 exam will take place on 05.03.2027 at Aarau Cantonal Hospital. The deadline for registration is 01.12.2026.
Exam registration
The following documents must be submitted by the application deadline to info@geskes.ch be submitted.
- Diploma, Specialist Medical Qualification
- A fully completed logbook for the specialism course
- CAS Diploma in Interprofessional Nutritional Medicine or CAS in Clinical Nutrition
- Certificates for the five ESPEN LLL courses successfully completed (including at least one face-to-face course)
- Certificate of attendance at an ESPEN congress
Once the application has been received, candidates will be informed in writing of the next steps.
FAQ
All documents required according to the checklist must be available and submitted in full for the application.