So I'll be honest, I came to ISU not really knowing what to expect. I knew I would be working closely with the Registered Dietitian for the University and her role in campus dining and food service. I was surprised to find that her job entailed all three spectrums of Dietetics including:
1. Management
2. Clinical
3. Community
Management is seen in the food service aspect of university life. The dietitian has responsibilities to manage the executive chef, purchasing, procurement, and production managers. The dietitian deals with a computer software such as Compnutrition, CBORD, or EATEC. He/She manages each food service facility by creating menus and making sure everything is running smoothly.
Clinical is seen in all of the different diets the dietitian must deal with. This week I have watched Dianne (the RD) change menus for Celiac patients, peanut allergies, and even Muslim students. Students with a vast array of diseases, allergies, and various conditions come to Dianne and expect a change in the menu.
Community is seen through the different counseling the dietitian is available for. Dianne counels for general nutrition and also does a lot of counseling for eating disorders.
It is amazing to see the many responsibilities the RD of a university has. Each day brings different challenges and problems to solve. With this new outlook, a RD for an university is something I am genuinely interested in pursuing as a career.
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