The Institute for Natural Medicine is proud to announce its appointment to the Steering Committee for the Hunger, Nutrition & Health in Pregnancy Action Network, a national effort to improve nutrition and health from preconception through early childhood.
Led by the CDC Foundation, this initiative brings together leading organizations working to end hunger, prevent chronic disease, and build healthier communities. INM will join the National Institutes of Health, March of Dimes, Health Resources Service Administration, and SNAP–Ed to support the broader National Strategy on Hunger, Nutrition and Health introduced in 2022.
This work comes at a critical time. Nearly 48 million people in the United States experience hunger or food insecurity, including millions of children. Lack of access to healthy food increases the risk of serious health issues like diabetes and heart disease. The impact is greatest in underserved communities, communities of color, low-income families, and rural areas.
“With its long history of advocating for nutritious foods across the lifespan, INM has a unique role to play on the committee,” says member Kent L. Thornburg, PhD, FAPS, professor of medicine emeritus and former M. Lowell Edwards Chair of Cardiovascular Research at Oregon Health & Science University. “The Network is the first to bring together various organizations in a unified voice to ensure pregnant people and children are well nourished, thereby greatly reducing chronic disease risk for the next generation. Without action, the health of the nation will continue to decline.” Dr. Thornburg is also a member of INM’s Honorary Board and led the January 2025 webinar, The Power of Nutrition for a Healthy Start, exploring how maternal choices shape future generations.
The Health in Pregnancy Action Network connects organizations throughout the country to share resources, ideas, and solutions, focusing on the earliest stages of life, when nutrition can shape long-term health.
“We are honored to contribute to this vital initiative,” says INM President and CEO Michelle Simon, PhD, ND. “Improving nutrition in pregnancy is foundational to lifelong health for both mothers and children. By working together across sectors, we can advance real, lasting change.”
As an organization dedicated to nutrition education in schools and community centers nationwide, INM prioritizes three core objectives: advancing whole person health, turning research into accessible tools and resources, and building healthy food and lifestyle habits early through its award-winning Naturally Well program, which serves 4th and 5th grade students.
Together with partners in the Health in Pregnancy Action Network, INM is implementing practical strategies to prevent chronic disease and help families thrive.
Media Contact
Wyn Delano
wyn@naturemed.org
About INM
The Institute for Natural Medicine is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to bringing whole person health to the mainstream.
