I was outraged to learn that UNC is renaming its Raleigh children’s clinic the Krispy Kreme Challenge Children's Specialty Clinic.

Working in nutrition, I see the devastating effects of how bad diets can undermine children’s health, resulting in type 2 diabetes and obesity. And as a mom, I know that kids don’t need encouragement to eat sweets.

Given kids’ near-constant exposure to junk food advertising, it can be hard for parents to feed kids well. The last thing we need is doctors and healthcare providers undermining their own medical advice by plastering a doughnut brand on their medical offices.

Ironically, the entity footing the bill to see the Krispy Kreme name go up on the medical center isn’t even Krispy Kreme! The funds were raised by students who participate in a race that’s meant to combine fitness and “the worst food to eat prior to a run,” Krispy Kreme doughnuts.

If UNC wants to honor the students who work so hard to raise funds for children’s health, why not rename the healthcare facility after the student group? The Park Scholars Children’s Specialty Clinic sounds a lot better than anything named for Krispy Kreme.

Please join me in urging UNC not to put the Krispy Kreme name on its children’s health facility.