Objective:Vitamin D deficiency is well recognized in selected Middle Eastern countries, but neonatal vitamin D status is not well studied in Jordan and other nearby countries. The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in Jordanian newborns and risk factors associated with low levels.Methods:This is a prospective cohort study of newborn infants who were delivered at the Al Bashir Government Hospital in Amman, Jordan, from January 31, 2010, to January 27, 2011. Heel stick blood samples for 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels were obtained within 96 hours of birth. Maternal dress pattern, vitamin supplementation, smoke exposure during pregnancy, mode of delivery, gestational age, and birth weight were documented.Results:Samples were obtained from 3,731 newborns. Median gestational age was 39 weeks, median birth weight was 3.1 kilograms, median maternal age was 27 years, and median newborn 25(OH)D level was 8.6nmol/L. A total of 3,512 newborns (94.1%) in this study were vitamin D deficient (< 50 nmol/L). Lower gestational age, maternal smoke exposure, and birth during winter months were associated with lower infant vitamin D levels, while vitamin D supplementation and time spent outside during pregnancy were associated with higher vitamin D levels.Conclusions:The prevalence of severely low vitamin D levels in newborn infants in Amman, Jordan, is substantial, even in newborns born during the spring and summer months. Vitamin D supplementation is needed in this population.

Background Underrepresentation of minorities within academic surgery is an ever present problem with a profound impact on healthcare. The factors influencing surgery residents to pursue an academic career have yet to be formally investigated. We sought to elucidate these factors, with a focus on minority status. Methods A web-based questionnaire was sent to all administered to all ACGME-accredited general surgery programs in the United States. The main outcome was the decision to pursue a fully academic versus non-academic career. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify characteristics impacting career choice. Results Of the 3,726 residents who received the survey, a total of 1,217 residents completed it – a response rate of 33%. Forty-seven percent planned to pursue non-academic careers, 35% academic careers, and 18% were undecided. There was no association between underrepresented minority status and academic career choice (Odds Ratio = 1.0, 95% Confidence Interval 0.6 – 1.6). Among all residents, research during training (OR=4.0, 95% CI 2.7-5.9), mentorship (OR=2.1, 95% CI 1.6-2.9), and attending a residency program requiring research (OR=2.3, 95% CI 1.5-3.4) were factors associated with choosing an academic career. When the analysis was performed among only senior residents (i.e., 4th and 5th year residents), a debt burden >$150,000 was associated with choosing a non-academic career (OR=0.4, 95% CI 0.1-0.9). Conclusions Underrepresented minority status is not associated with career choice. Intentional recruitment of minorities into research-oriented training programs, increased mentorship and research support among current minority residents, and improved financial options for minorities may increase the number choosing an academic surgical career.

Introduction: Obesity and diabetes are common diagnoses in the primary care population, especially in urban settings. Physicians providing preventive culinary and nutrition education to patients may be able to uniquely address these medical issues; however, culinary and nutrition education among medical residency programs is insufficient. Methods: We describe a pilot of a novel interactive approach to culinary and nutrition education focused on preventive medicine residents who were trained to provide culinary and nutrition skills to community members in three separate workshops. We developed and implemented a series of three culinary education workshops with 11, eight, and nine preventive medicine residents in each respective workshop. A total of 16 residents were invited to participate. A physician-chef facilitated each workshop with the residents within a community church kitchen and meeting area. We evaluated self-reported data on confidence level with culinary education and resident attitudes toward effects of culinary education on patient behaviors, as well as frequency of home-cooked meals and personal cooking competency, as indicators of resident proficiency. Results: A significant increase was noted in self-reported cooking competency after culinary workshops when evaluating change from the first workshop to the final workshop (p = .038). Increases in home-cooking frequency and belief that lifestyle medicine impacts patient behavior were also observed but did not achieve statistical significance. Discussion: Culinary workshops are a useful tool to enhance nutrition education in a residency curriculum and may be an effective way to improve resident perceptions regarding the impact of nutrition education in the community.

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