Provide us with a brief description of your job: I am a clinical dietitian at St. Luke’s Hospital in Duluth, MN. I cover both inpatient and outpatient care as well as provide nutrition consultations for patients on our home care service.
What do you love about what you do? I love the wide variety of patients I get to work with. I am also lucky to work on a great team of supportive dietitians who readily share their knowledge and are always willing to talk through tough cases.
What are the challenges? Staying abreast of current research and best practices for a wide variety of nutrition topics can be tough, but the continuing education opportunities MAND provides certainly help!
How has your MAND membership benefited you? I am honored to say I received a scholarship from the MAND Foundation that helped me complete my Masters of Professional Practice in Dietetics a few years ago. I have also enjoyed getting to know more nutrition professionals from our state through local and statewide events. I currently serve as the nominations chair for MAND which has been a great opportunity to learn new skills and grow my network.
What do you think is the future of nutrition and dietetics? I would like to see RDs play an increasing role in our healthcare system. As we move towards value based payments and greater focus on the health outcomes of our patients, I hope to see increased attention paid to preventative care which is an area where RDs can truly shine.
What are your favorite activities/hobbies? Skiing (downhill and cross country), hiking, teaching swimming and adaptive sports, spending time at the cabin, baking
What is your favorite restaurant in Minnesota? Duluth Grill
About MAND
Minnesota Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (MAND) is an affiliate of the Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics. We are the largest professional organization of nutrition health professionals in Minnesota, dedicated to optimizing Minnesotans' health through food and nutrition.