In 2025, Midwest Dairy strengthened trust in dairy by building a new partnership with the National Medical Association (NMA), one of the nation’s leading organizations representing Black physicians and health professionals. The partnership focused on connecting doctors with science-based dairy nutrition resources they can confidently use with patients.
Midwest Dairy partnered with both NMA Region IV (covering parts of the Upper Midwest) and Region V (covering much of the Central and Southern Plains). Because these regions include physicians from states served by multiple checkoff organizations, Midwest Dairy helped create a collaborative model that brought together several state and regional dairy partners. This shared approach expanded reach, reduced duplication, and ensured consistent, credible dairy nutrition messaging.
Engaging Physicians Through Conferences and Education
As part of the partnership, Midwest Dairy supported annual conferences for both NMA regions. Dairy was featured in educational sessions that highlighted current nutrition science and practical applications for patient care. These sessions gave physicians opportunities to ask questions, explore emerging research, and better understand how dairy fits into culturally relevant and patient-centered nutrition guidance.
Midwest Dairy also helped provide dairy nutrition resources designed specifically for use in medical settings. These tools focused on:
- General dairy nutrition
- Lactose intolerance
- The importance of dairy during the First 1,000 Days of Life
These resources support physicians as they counsel patients on healthy eating patterns, maternal nutrition, and early childhood development.
Extending Reach Through Digital Tools and a Webinar
To support continued engagement beyond conferences, Midwest Dairy developed a social media toolkit for NMA, including suggested copy and creative assets that highlight dairy’s role in health and wellness. This allowed NMA to share dairy nutrition information directly with its members and broader audiences through trusted channels.
In October, Midwest Dairy also supported a webinar for NMA members focused on dairy’s role in nutrition for pregnant and lactating mothers. The session provided practical insights physicians can use in real-world patient care and reinforced dairy’s role in supporting maternal and infant health.
Building Momentum for the Future
This regional partnership has already created new opportunities at the national level, including interest in featuring dairy at the 2026 National NMA Conference. Midwest Dairy looks forward to continuing this collaboration, helping elevate trusted voices in healthcare and supporting physicians as informed dairy champions in the years ahead.