A healthcare career as a RDN can be rewarding yet challenging. Learn my tips for success here: http://www.morrisonhealthcare.com/blog/why-you-should-start-a-career-in-healthcare/
My first job in the nutrition field was as a Diet Aide at Mercy Hospital in Bakersfield, CA during summers home from college. This job gave me a good appreciation for employees I would eventually manage. After graduation I worked as a Degreed Nutritionist at the local WIC agency, Clinica Sierra Vista, where I also completed my Dietetic Internship. This gave me good exposure to the community in which I worked for several years. During this time I earned my Certified Lactation Educator certificate. This training helped me develop a passion for helping other moms learn about breastfeeding and being active in the promotion of baby-friendly practices in politics, the community, and the workplace.
After working as a WIC RD supervisor a few years, I moved full time into an acute care clinical position at Kern Medical Center for Aramark Healthcare. During my time at KMC, I spent a lot of time researching and learning about nutrition support, and earned my certification as a Certified Nutrition Support Dietitian for the first time in 2006. For 8 years I specialized in adult nutrition support and NICU/Pediatrics, putting my WIC background to good use. Eventually I became the Clinical Nutrition Manager there, with a brief interlude as the Interim Director of Support Services ~ in the mornings I would assess patients in the ICU and plan their nutrition support regimens, attend Trauma Rounds, and then in the afternoon sit on committees such as the Space Committee and the Refurbishment Committee for my role as Director of Support Services. It was a great learning experience!
Throughout the years I was a consultant RD in various roles in addition to my full time positions. I spent five years as the RD for Odyssey Hospice, a position which taught me that a RD can make an impact in anybody's life at any stage. I was certified as an insulin pump trainer and taught patients how to balance their carbohydrate intake with their insulin. While working for a home health agency I went to patients' homes to teach them how to administer their home nutrition support, giving me a better understanding of the continuum of care from hospital to home. I consulted in long term care facilities, and learned that these facilities were even more highly regulated than the hospitals I worked at! One of my favorite consulting positions was as an Adjunct Professor at the Bakersfield satellite campus for my alma mater, Point Loma Nazarene University.
In January 2011 I transferred with Morrison Healthcare to Charlottesville, Virginia to be the Clinical Nutrition Director at the University of Virginia Health Systems. We had 48 RDs in inpatient and ambulatory settings and dialysis centers, and a Dietetic Internship program with 12 interns. I was also a Regional Clinical Nutrition Manager for Morrison, with responsibilities for other Morrison hospitals in Virginia. All of the consulting roles throughout the years prepared me for that position, as I was able to have a better understanding of what each of my RDs does on a daily basis. I love the creativity and energy involved with managing so many fabulous RDs in a variety of settings!
The next chapter in my career started in July 2015, when I accepted a promotion with Morrison Healthcare to be a Corporate Director of Clinical Nutrition. I got to work with RDs and healthcare professionals in hospitals from California to Michigan to ensure regulatory compliance, patient satisfaction, and drive performance improvement initiatives.
Starting in November 2019, I am now a Regional Vice President for Morrison Healthcare. I am primarily responsible for strategic planning and leadership for Morrison's food service partnership at the Cleveland Clinic.
For more details about my nutrition career and to download my resume, please click on the link above for "My Resume".
After working as a WIC RD supervisor a few years, I moved full time into an acute care clinical position at Kern Medical Center for Aramark Healthcare. During my time at KMC, I spent a lot of time researching and learning about nutrition support, and earned my certification as a Certified Nutrition Support Dietitian for the first time in 2006. For 8 years I specialized in adult nutrition support and NICU/Pediatrics, putting my WIC background to good use. Eventually I became the Clinical Nutrition Manager there, with a brief interlude as the Interim Director of Support Services ~ in the mornings I would assess patients in the ICU and plan their nutrition support regimens, attend Trauma Rounds, and then in the afternoon sit on committees such as the Space Committee and the Refurbishment Committee for my role as Director of Support Services. It was a great learning experience!
Throughout the years I was a consultant RD in various roles in addition to my full time positions. I spent five years as the RD for Odyssey Hospice, a position which taught me that a RD can make an impact in anybody's life at any stage. I was certified as an insulin pump trainer and taught patients how to balance their carbohydrate intake with their insulin. While working for a home health agency I went to patients' homes to teach them how to administer their home nutrition support, giving me a better understanding of the continuum of care from hospital to home. I consulted in long term care facilities, and learned that these facilities were even more highly regulated than the hospitals I worked at! One of my favorite consulting positions was as an Adjunct Professor at the Bakersfield satellite campus for my alma mater, Point Loma Nazarene University.
In January 2011 I transferred with Morrison Healthcare to Charlottesville, Virginia to be the Clinical Nutrition Director at the University of Virginia Health Systems. We had 48 RDs in inpatient and ambulatory settings and dialysis centers, and a Dietetic Internship program with 12 interns. I was also a Regional Clinical Nutrition Manager for Morrison, with responsibilities for other Morrison hospitals in Virginia. All of the consulting roles throughout the years prepared me for that position, as I was able to have a better understanding of what each of my RDs does on a daily basis. I love the creativity and energy involved with managing so many fabulous RDs in a variety of settings!
The next chapter in my career started in July 2015, when I accepted a promotion with Morrison Healthcare to be a Corporate Director of Clinical Nutrition. I got to work with RDs and healthcare professionals in hospitals from California to Michigan to ensure regulatory compliance, patient satisfaction, and drive performance improvement initiatives.
Starting in November 2019, I am now a Regional Vice President for Morrison Healthcare. I am primarily responsible for strategic planning and leadership for Morrison's food service partnership at the Cleveland Clinic.
For more details about my nutrition career and to download my resume, please click on the link above for "My Resume".