Past
Member SpotlightBachelors Degree: Lipscomb (before it was a university) Dietetics and
Food Systems Management
Additional degrees/certifications: Certified Diabetes Educator for 10 years, but no longer able to maintain certifications with limited Diabetes Education duties.
Internship: NHC
Current Position: Outpatient Oncology Dietitian at Baptist Hospital
Years in practice: 19
How has your career evolved as a dietitian? I thought I wanted to pursue the management side of food service and took a job at a hospital food service while in college. I discovered that the only ones looking like they were having fun were the dietitians and added the dietetics major very late in the game. Still thinking that management was the way to go, I took a clinical position “to get my feet wet” and pay the bills, and found out that I enjoyed the clinical aspect of dietetics most.
Most of my career has been at Baptist Hospital, but I’ve had the opportunity to work in 3 different areas. I spent several years as an in-patient Clinical Dietitian, then moved to the outpatient Diabetes Center and became a certified Diabetes Educator.
During hospital “restructuring” the position in the Cancer Center became available. I have been fortunate that each position has offered new challenges and interesting opportunities. I’ve had the chance to do some work in the Clinical Nutrition department recently, which reminds me how quickly things change when you focus your attention in one area.
What is the most important skill set you use in your position? I think empathy is the skill I need to use the most. Trying to imagine the physical challenges associated with Cancer as well as the social challenges including financial issues and even dealing with very concern family members make it possible to try to find solutions to their problems.
What do you enjoy most about being a dietitian? I feel I’ve done my job well if the patient feels that the changes we’ve come up with are achievable. I never consider our session over if they don’t feel they can accomplish some of the goals set.
Of all of the client/patient encounters that you’ve had, which one was the most challenging and rewarding? I’m not sure I can pick a most rewarding. I will have to say some of most interesting conversations were with pregnant women with pica. I have always been amazed to hear them describe the cravings they have for non-food items.
Outside of work, how do you like to spend your time? Like most of us, I don’t usually spend time the way I would like. From August until May, much of that time is spent doing elementary school work. I do enjoy outside lawn work, we are do-it-yourselfers around the house. For the past 18 months, the entire family has been doing taekwondo and are totally hooked.
