Feed Me the Facts

Let’s face it, when you’re on the nutrition educational pathway it can sometimes feel like your options are RDN or bust, but we don’t just need diverse dietitians we need diverse nutrition professionals across the board. Today’s Feed Me the Facts guest is here to tell you there’s more than one way to excel in the field of nutrition even without the RD credential. Sabrina Bauggue talks about her new role as the Assistant Director of Food and Nutrition at Emory University Hospital and the process she took to become a leader in the field.

If we had a penny for every time an RDN complained that we don’t get paid as much as other allied health disciplines… The idea that low pay is a given if you want to work in dietetics is also sometimes the reason why students of color decide to pursue other pathways besides dietetics, so it was a topic we definitely wanted to discuss! Some people blame the lowers salaries on the fact that we are female-dominated profession, while others attribute the lower pay to less than energetic lobbying on behalf of our professional organizations.

In this episode, money mindset coach and expert Christine Dyan, RDN says that that kind of thinking is self-defeating and part of the problem (and we agree!). During this episode Christine talks about:

• Why is it critical to change your mindset toward money FIRST

• Her own personal journey to change her money mindset

• Why RDNs (on average) get paid less than our colleagues

• Why thinking the Academy is responsible for RDN salaries is flawed thinking

• Why it's important to think like a biz owner 1st, and an RDN 2nd

  and so much more!

This episode is a MUST LISTEN for every RDN and RD2Be out there!

Christine Dyan Thomson, RDN LDN is the CEO/Owner of Christine Dyan International, a business coaching firm in suburban Chicago that supports Registered Dietitians in private practice in increasing their earning potential so they can have a greater impact in the nutrition & wellness marketplace. Christine is also the creator & host of the "Make More Money as a Dietitian" podcast, which can be found on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and Spotify. You can learn more about her signature coaching programs for RD's by visiting her website

Christine’s Website

Instagram

Facebook

Download Christine’s Money Mindset Cheatsheet

On this episode of Feed Me the Facts, we talk with a dynamic mentor/preceptor/leader in the field of nutrition, Jerlyn Jones. She talks with us about what it takes to be a mentor both formally and informally and how her duty to give back to the future of dietetics has positioned her to be an impactful mentor in the field.

As a military wife in a new city, a mother,a first generation college student and #rd2be, Darah Matos jumped into the Diversify Dietetics pilot mentor program feet first and made a splash! On this episode of Feed Me the Facts, Darah shares how she made the mentor program experience her own and talks about the process and perks of having a mentor.

Matt Frakes was not exactly what you would call an ideal dietetics student. In this episode, Tamara talks to Matt about his journey to becoming an RDN. His obstacles included being a first-generation college student, low ACT scores and a poor GPA in his first semester of college. These obstacles are, unfortunately, not uncommon to many students of color. But Matt didn’t let these challenges stop him from reaching his goal of becoming an RDN. He describes the strategies that he used to overcome each of these obstacles and how that led him to where he is today- the Associate Director of Sports Nutrition for the University of Louisiana-Lafayette and PhD candidate at the University of Mississippi. Matt is also a past RDN Spotlight on our blog.

If you’re feeling discouraged about setbacks in your education or career journey, this episode will give you the boost you need!

About Matt

Matthew R. Frakes MFN, RD, CSCS, is a registered dietitian nutritionist and certified strength and conditioning specialist. Mr. Frakes completed his Master's degree at Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH. He has a wide range of experience in sports nutrition, strength and conditioning, private practice, and healthcare settings. Building upon a sports nutrition and clinical nutrition background, his research interest focuses on dietary intake and recovery rate from sports-related concussions of collegiate athletes. Currently, Mr. Frakes is pursuing his Ph.D. in Nutrition and works as a Graduate Instructor and Graduate Assistant Sports Dietitian at the University of Mississippi.

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrfrakes89/

• Twitter - @SuperiorFrakes

• Instagram - @SuperiorVetEats

• Diversify Dietetics Spotlight - https://www.diversifydietetics.org/blog/2018/11/25/rdn-spotlight-matthew-frakes

• First Place Doctoral Category in 3MT Competition - https://news.olemiss.edu/applied-sciences-students-take-top-two-awards-3mt-competition/

• Website - http://www.superiornutritionandperformance.com/

Candice Jones, MEd, RD, LD, CDE, FAND

We’ve seen the letters DTR/NDTR but what exactly do they mean? What is the job outlook for a Dietetic Technician and how is the process similar or different from becoming an RDN? Dietetic Technicians (DTR/NDTR), as our guest Candice Jones describes, are the Watson to the RD’s Sherlock Holmes, the Robin to Batman, the C3PO to R2D2 (I think you get the point). They bring a complementary set of skills that are key to the profession, as well as to patients and clients. As the Dietetic Technology Program Chair at Cincinnati State Technical and Community College, Candice knows the ins and outs of this growing profession.

Today, Candice talks with us about:

• What the DTR credential is and the process for becoming a Dietetic Technician.

• DT vs DTR vs NDTR what’s the difference?

• The traditional and non-traditional career paths for DTR professionals and how to grow your salary as a DTR.

• New research on the exciting (and slightly unknown) future of the DTR educational pathway.

• & we will find out, is this a good pathway for people of color?

About Candice:

Candice Jones is the Dietetic Technology Program Chair at Cincinnati State Technical and Community College. She oversees three programs, Dietetic Technician, an Associate of Applied Science degree, Pre-Nutrition Science an Associate of Science degree, and the Dietary Management Certificate.  Candice attended the University of Connecticut (UCONN), where she obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Nutritional Sciences and remained at UCONN for her Dietetic Internship.  Candice moved to Cincinnati, Ohio were she attended the University of Cincinnati and received her Masters of Education in Health Promotion and Education.  While completing graduate school, she began her career in Dietetics at the Christ Hospital working as a diabetes educator.  Candice became a Certified Diabetes Educator, and in 2014, accepted an Adjunct Instructor position at Cincinnati State that essentially led to a career change and her current position as DT Program Chair.

Although for the past 3 ½ year, Candice has been the Dietetic Technology Program chair at Cincinnati State, she still works PRN for the Christ Hospital Diabetes Center, to “stay current’ in the field. Professionally, she also serves as the Programming Chair of the local networking group DECA (Diabetes Educators of Cincinnati Association). She is also a member of the Ohio Academy of Dietetics and Nutrition (OAND) Diversity Task Force and newly, the Diversity Recruitment board member of the Greater Cincinnati Dietetic Association (GCDA). This past summer, Candice became a Fellow of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (FAND). Outside of work, she enjoys, camping, cooking, playing softball and tennis, and traveling to anywhere that has an ocean view!

Cincinnati State Technical and Community College Dietetic Technician Program

Dietary Management Certificate (CDM)

Candice’s LinkedIn

Search Dietetic Technician Programs through the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics

There are so many interesting career paths you can take in the world of nutrition and dietetics. This journey typically begins with finding an interest and that interest can turn into a passion. But, what happens when you have multiple passions? Is it possible to pursue all of them and maintain sanity as well as joy in your every day work? On this episode, we talk with Alice Figueroa, a registered dietitian who is pursuing her passions in malnutrition research, global health advocacy, diabetes prevention, culinary arts, and yoga.

Alice talked with us about:

• How she developed her passions through experiences in the States and in Guatemala

• How exploring her interest and taking a chance on herself led her to become a James Beard Foundation National Scholar and Natural Foods Chef.

• How to balance the pursuit of multiple passions with everyday life &

• How to continually cultivate skills and grow professionally

About Alice:

Alice Figueroa is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist who is passionate about promoting universal access to nutrition support, health services, and wholesome foods for all segments of society regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, or socioeconomic status. She is a James Beard Foundation National Scholar Award Recipient and a Natural Foods Chef. She is dedicated to empowering the global community to achieve optimum well-being through food security, mindful living, health supportive cooking, and happy eating. Alice is the Duke Center for International Development Malnutrition Research Fellow and is conducting research to address chronic malnutrition and stunting in Central America. Her research focuses on identifying gaps in nutrition services in Central America and providing health support for underserved indigenous populations in Guatemala. Through her research, she hopes to build partnerships with diverse political, community, and economic stakeholders in Central America to coalesce a food systems approach to address food insecurity and malnutrition. She is committed to supporting sustainable and culturally-appropriate nutrition interventions that empower underserved communities. Alice earned a Master of Public Health from New York University, where she also completed her Dietetic and Nutrition credentials. She holds an honors degree in International Relations with a focus on healthcare policy from Tulane University and is a CDC National Diabetes Prevention Program Certified Lifestyle Coach and Yoga Teacher. She also founded Alice in Foodieland, a website where the community can explore science-based nutrition articles and delicious, health supportive recipes.

Alice In Foodieland Website

Alice’s Instagram

Alice’s Twitter

James Beard Foundation Scholarships

Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation Scholarships

Coursera Online Professional Development Platform

EdX - “Online Courses from the world’s best universities”

What does it take to transition from another career, become an RDN and then take the leap to building your own private practice? On this SNACKS episode we chat with Basheerah Enahora, owner of BE Nutrition, a private practice based in Charlotte, North Carolina. Basheerah describes how she transitioned from a successful decade long career in the food marketing industry, juggled a full-time job and attended graduate school to achieve her dream of becoming an RDN. She describes how she managed her schedule as she built her private practice on the side while working full-time as an outpatient dietitian. Basheerah shares her insight on how to find clients, discusses marketing strategies that are necessary for a new private practice, explains the technology needed to set up a HIPPA-compliant practice, and more. Be sure to listen all the way to the end of the episode, where Basheerah reveals what about qualities and skills are a MUST HAVE to be a successful nutrition entrepreneur in private practice!

About Basheerah: Basheerah Enahora, RDN, LDN, MS, MBA is a nationally recognized registered dietitian nutritionist, certified mindfulness meditation teacher and owner of BE Nutrition LLC. Basheerah started BE Nutrition after realizing what a huge impact our thoughts have on our eating habits. True nourishment occurs when we ditch dieting and self-imposed food rules and learn to cultivate a healthy relationship with food and our bodies. Through her one-on-one and group work with clients, writing and speaking, Basheerah helps people who are frustrated with dieting rediscover the joy of eating! She also works with those suffering with digestive issues, like irritable bowel syndrome and irritable bowel disease.

After working over a decade in food marketing and manufacturing industry, Basheerah left a successful corporate career to obtain a Masters of Science in Nutrition from the University of Illinois at Chicago, and to become a Registered Dietitian. She has worked clinically in Illinois, North Carolina and South Carolina, providing patients with medical nutrition therapy and diabetes management. As a health professional, she only provides guidance and information that is scientifically validated to improve health. Basheerah also holds an MBA from Duke University and a BS in Mechanical Engineering from North Carolina A&T State University.

A few fun facts about Basheerah, she's an amateur chef, food blogger, serious foodie, chocolate lover, wanderlust traveler, runner and wine enthusiast. You can typically find her running to and from the kitchen.

BE Nutrition Website

BE Nutrition Instagram

BE Nutrition Facebook

Nutrition Entrepreneurs Dietetic Practice Group

Information an on NPI (National Provider Identification) Number

Dr. Francoise Knox Kazimierczuk PhD, RDN, CSSD, LD, ATC, CSCS, NSCA-CPT, FAND

Second career and Non-Traditional Students enter the field with a unique set of skills and experiences that set them apart from their colleagues. On the other hand, it can be challenging to deal with the rigor of the educational pathway on top of being the first in your family to go to college or having a family of your own, or being a decade older than all the students around you. As a second career or non-traditional student you have a different perspective. To hear more about that perspective we talked with Dr. Francoise Knox-Kazimierczuk. As a second career dietitian as well as an Assistant Professor at the University of Cincinnati she knows all about the winding road of the dietetic pathway. She gave us some great insights on:

• Her personal path from athletic trainer to chemist to dietitian to researcher

• Her definition of a non-traditional student

• The historical structures that systematically put certain individuals at a disadvantage in education

• The pros of being a second career or non-traditional student and how to use your experiences to your advantage!

  If you want to connect with Dr. Knox or find out more about the University of Cincinnati’s nutrition programs click on the links below!

Dr. Knox’s LinkedIn

Dr. Knox’s University Email

University of Cincinnati Student Dietetic Association Facebook Page

University of Cincinnati Undergraduate Nutrition Program

University of Cincinnati Coordinated Undergraduate Nutrition Program

University of Cincinnati Masters Nutrition Program

Kathleen Carozza, MA, RDN

DICAS… the sound of that acronym can cause so much anxiety for dietetics students! We feel you, and know where you’re coming from. But the whole reason the DD Community exists is to help you get through, over or around anxiety in the whole RDN experience. We believe the more knowledge, prep and inside info that you have about the DICAS application, the less anxiety-ridden the whole process has to be.

So on this episode of FMTF, we went straight to the source to get details on how DICAS applicants can get organized and make the best impression on their applications! Our guest on this episode is Kathleen Carozza. Kathleen the Dietetic Internship Program Director at the College of Saint Elizabeth in Morristown, New Jersey. She’s been an RDN for over 30 years. Under her tenure, the DI program at the College of Saint Elizabeth has doubled its capacity and become a combined masters/internship program.

We didn’t just talk about the dietetic internship application, but we talked to Kathleen about some of the little (and not so little) things that can reduce a student’s chances of being accepted to a DI. Is is a red flag if your program director DOESN’T write one of your letters of recommendations? What are common mistakes that students make on their resumes? What resources on your campus are you paying for that can help improve your application? What if you don’t have any volunteer hours in nutrition? What if you’ve left school for several years to work, and are now just applying to your DI? We cover all of these topics and so much more in this episode. Have your pen and paper out so you can take notes!

Also, be sure to check out the resources below and on our Student and Intern Resources page. We hope this episode helps to answer some of those questions that you may have been worried about, and even some that you may not have thought of, related to the DICAS process, and help reduce your stress level just a little bit!

Katheleen Carozza LinkedIn Profile

Kathleen Carozza Email

College of Saint Elizabeth Dietetic Internship Program

College of Saint Elizabeth DI Open House Youtube

Find Accredited Online DPD courses on Eatright.org website