Downstate Medical Student Earns National Nutrition in Medicine Scholarship

By Office of Communications & Marketing | Aug 27, 2026

Samantha Zinman, a third-year student in the College of Medicine, represented Downstate at the International Conference on Nutrition in Medicine, held earlier this month in Washington, D.C.

Conference organizers selected Samantha as one of 21 medical students nationwide to receive an ICNM scholarship. The award recognized the recipients’ “outstanding leadership and dedication to advancing the role of plant-based nutrition and preventative medicine in health care.”

The conference brought together physicians, researchers, medical students, and other healthcare professionals to examine the relationship between nutrition and health. Sessions explored how clinicians can incorporate evidence-based nutrition into medical practice to help prevent and manage chronic disease and improve patient outcomes.

Participation in the conference gave Samantha an opportunity to learn from leaders in nutrition medicine, connect with students and professionals from across the country, and represent Downstate in a national conversation about preventive care. The scholarship recognition reflects her commitment to expanding the role of nutrition education in medicine and helping patients make informed decisions that support their long-term health.

Congratulations, Samantha, on this national recognition and on representing Downstate’s College of Medicine so well!

Tags: College of Medicine