AND President’s Message – July 2024

Dear Academy Members,

I hope you all had a wonderful July Fourth holiday with family and friends. I am writing to share with you some important upcoming goals for our organization.

The field of nutrition and dietetics has evolved considerably since the early 1900s and we have become recognized providers of Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT). But we continue to struggle to grow our reputation as a profession and expand the provision of MNT. Since September 2023, the Academy’s Board of Directors has had a series of discussions to assess the current state and future directions for the Academy.

Inspired by our original Articles of Incorporation, our Board discussions have resulted in the realization that the time has come to evolve the occupation and the organization toward a new vision that is grounded in our core purpose. Let me share with you the 1955 version of the vision for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics:

“The purpose for which the corporation is organized is to improve the nutritional status of human beings and to advance the science of dietetics and nutrition and to advance the education in these and allied areas.”

Refreshing the Academy’s core purpose and mission around a new vision aims to build recognition and respect for the expertise of dietetics and nutrition professionals and reinforce that we are vital to the health — not just the nutrition and diet — of all individuals. And that is the evolution upon which we are now embarking.

This will require changing some aspects of the Academy so that we can quickly build capacity in new areas for success.

We will work to bolster the Academy’s relevance for our members. We will work to elevate the value of the profession to improve the nutritional status of individuals and society at large. And we will work to foster collaboration of dietetic and nutrition professionals with allied health care professionals. These are ambitious goals to move our profession forward and upward, increase our relevance in improving the health of our communities, and ensure equitable health outcomes for everyone.

But they are vital, and time is of the essence.

The Academy Board has identified four main objectives to guide this work:

• We are regarded by the public and other healthcare professionals as the NUMBER ONE food and nutrition experts.
• We are an advocacy and public policy POWERHOUSE.
• We are recognized as a STEM profession.
• We demonstrate OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE.

This will require all facets of the Academy’s governance and membership to collaborate, contribute, communicate and commit.

As our field and the policies around us continue to evolve, it is natural for the Academy to evolve as well. It is imperative also that we do more to shape the policy environment. As we start this journey, I am writing to seek your support. I ask that you remain patient and stay engaged with me and our colleagues around the Academy. I promise to listen, engage and keep you informed. In the months ahead, I plan to communicate regularly through emails, on our website, in video updates, at FNCE^® 2024 and in other settings.

I hope that you will join me — and become a champion for what we will achieve in the months to come!

Sincerely,
Livleen

Harlivleen “Livleen” Gill, MBA, RDN, LDN, FAND
2024-25 Academy President