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The Profession
The dietitian is the translator of
nutrition science into the skill of furnishing optimal nourishment to
people. Traditionally, dietitians function as members of the health care
team in providing nutritional care through assessment of nutritional
needs, planning and implementation of nutritional care and provision of
dietary counseling. In administrative dietetics, dietitians are
traditionally concerned with all aspects of management of nutritional
services through planning, budgeting, supervision, and computerized
evaluation of food service systems. Increasingly, dietitians are
involved in private, independent nutrition consultation and practice as
well as assuming more corporate management roles in food industry,
health, and promotion businesses.
As the overall
recognition of the importance of nutrition increases in both disease
treatment and prevention, highly specialized and advanced-level roles
are emerging for dietitians. These advanced-level roles require practice
as an entry-level dietitian with professional development of additional
knowledge and skills. Graduate programs are being designed to develop
both advanced level knowledge and skills in various specialty areas such
as pediatrics, geriatrics, clinical management, wellness counseling,
nutrition support, and many others.
Graduates of the
Dietetic Internship program are employed in a
variety of work environments throughout the United States. Graduates of
the masters program are employable in academic, research, clinical, and
community nutrition facilities. |