Recently, Dr. Melanie Tidman appeared on the LowCarbUSA® Podcast to share an inside look at the SMHP Research Academy—an exclusive SMHP program designed to help clinicians turn real-world metabolic health results into high-quality published research. In the interview, she walks through why the Academy was created, what it offers, and how it’s already helping practitioners bring peer-reviewed science to life.
What follows below is an abbreviated version of the summary that appears on the LowCarbUSA website. To watch the full interview and read the complete article, you can visit the LowCarbUSA podcast page.
Inside the SMHP Research Academy
When the Society of Metabolic Health Practitioners (SMHP) launched the Journal of Metabolic Health in late 2023, one question quickly rose to the surface: How do we help frontline clinicians—many of whom have never conducted research—learn to design, run, and publish high-quality studies?
Enter Dr. Melanie Tidman.
A professor, researcher, and longtime SMHP member, Melanie recognized a gap and built a solution: the SMHP Research Academy, a fully supported, step-by-step pathway that teaches practitioners how to take research ideas from concept to publication.
In this podcast interview, she walks through what the Academy offers, why it exists, and how it’s already helping clinicians produce peer-reviewed science.
A One-of-a-Kind Resource for Practitioners
Melanie created the Academy in early 2024 with a mission to make research accessible to clinicians working in the real world.
“I had the vision back then to create an academy where our members who have never done research before could learn all of the ins and outs… of how to do research, how to collect data, how to analyze that data and how to publish a research article.”
Over nine months she built a 10-module, self-paced curriculum with video lessons, customizable formats, downloadable notes, and direct faculty support.
Each module, she notes, is “completely comprehensive and customizable for your own learning style.”
IRB Support—Including Up to $3,000 in Savings
She explains the differences between exempt, expedited, and full-board studies—and the Academy’s unique advantage:
“Two of us on the academy faculty are also faculty for universities having access to university IRBs… we become the primary investigator for the purpose of the IRB application… and there is no cost.”
Faculty-Guided Support From Design to Publication
Participants receive mentorship in study design, data analysis, manuscript development, and qualitative methods. The Academy already has 16 projects underway, including “three articles in peer review right now.”
And, as Melanie notes: “Say you just have one patient who had an incredible result, and you want to publish… I’m your man.”
Up to $10,000 in Total Value—Free for SMHP Members
Between IRB access, data-analysis support, manuscript editing, and publication fees, Melanie estimates that members receive between $9,000 and $10,000 in value.
“If you publish with the Journal of Metabolic Health and you are a member of the SMHP, the SMHP will pay your open-access publishing fees,” she explains. “There’s another three to four thousand dollars worth of savings.”
Why This Matters
The Academy empowers clinicians to turn real-world outcomes into peer-reviewed evidence. As Melanie reminds listeners:
“I can’t say enough about my gratitude… It’s there for your benefit. If you are a member, you have an entire Academy worth of information at your fingertips.”
Watch the Full Interview
For the full podcast conversation with Dr. Tidman, visit the LowCarbUSA podcast page.