CONFERENCES
& EVENTS
As a Dietetic Intern at the University of Maryland, College Park, I've had the opportunity to attend several conferences and events in the Maryland/DC area. These events have given me opportunities to network with local dietitians and dietetic interns, advance my professional knowledge, and learn about advancements and improvements in the world of dietetics.
01 UMD Joint Class Day 2018
10.04.18
The University of Maryland hosted the first Joint Class Day of the year, which took place on Thursday, October 4th, at the National Agriculture Library in Beltsville, MD. We heard presentations by Kathleen Pellechia, Diane Welland, Florence Ogunlesi, Courtney Ferreira, and Nancy Rozgony, with topics ranging from Nutrition/Health Informatics to PR Dietitians and social media. Dietetic Interns from over five different internships attended the meeting, and it was a valuable opportunity to learn about the experiences interns are having across the region.
02 MD DHCC 2018 Fall Conference
10.09.18
We were also able to attend the Maryland Dietetics in Healthcare Communities 2018 Fall Conference, in Clarksville, MD, on Tuesday, October 9th. During this conference, we heard presentations from Liz Friedrich, Natalie Hellman, Kevin Wayne Johnson, Jana Wolff, Diane Darcy, and Caróle C. Campbell. Presentation topics ranged from the MIND Diet to Mindful Eating and End of Life Care to Caring for Veterans. This conference provided me with the opportunity to network with Dietitians and other healthcare professionals from across the state, as well as interns from other dietetic internships.
03 AND Food and Nutrition Conference & Expo
10.20.18-10.23.18
The other UMD DI interns and I were able to attend the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics' Food and Nutrition Conference and Expo, in Washington, D.C., from Saturday, October 20th, through Tuesday, October 23rd. This was an incredible four days of learning about changes in the field through presentations, meeting RDs and interns from across the country, and exploring new products and technologies at FNCE booths.
After the opening session of FNCE, fellow UMD Dietetic Intern, Michelle Guarnieri, and I also helped out with a Weber-Shandwick reception for Social Media RDs. During this event, I was able to meet and connect with Dietitians using digital media to teach and encourage healthy nutrition. This was an extremely valuable experience, and I'm really glad we were able to help out the Weber-Shandwick nutrition team.
Prior to FNCE, I had reached out to the AND Foundation expressing my interest in thanking my scholarship donors in person, but I was still pleasantly surprised when they asked me to speak about the importance of scholarships at an AND Foundation Leadership Breakfast, on Sunday, October 21st. This was an amazing opportunity to vocalize my gratitude and appreciation for their financial support, as well as a chance to advocate for additional scholarships and reduced internship costs for dietetic interns across the country. While at this event, I was invited me to attend the AND Foundation's Gala the following night. At that Gala, I was able to meet and connect with members of the AND Leadership as well as other prominent dietitians from across the country.
04 Global Digital Health Forum presented by FHI 360
12.10.18
During the 2018 Global Digital Health Forum, Hundreds of technology and public health professionals from around the world came together for workshops, presentations, and poster sessions. We were lucky enough to attend this event, have the opportunity to absorb information during presentations, and network with leaders of the field.
05 MD DHCC 2019 Spring Conference
03.26.19
We were given the opportunity to return for the Maryland Dietetics in Healthcare Communities 2019 Spring Conference, in Clarksville, MD, on Tuesday, March 26th. My clinical case study poster, about hyperglycemia and malabsorption in the setting of pancreatic cancer, was selected for display at this conference and I was able to present a detailed summary for groups of healthcare professionals throughout the day. During this conference, we heard presentations from Julie Grim, Meridith M. Fargnoli, Dr. Wolf J. Rinke, Margaret Ling, and Sara Glanz. Presentation topics ranged from Post-Acute Care Malnutrition to Treating Transgender Patients and from exploring the Gut Microbiome to the RD Masters Degree Mandate. Three of our UMD interns also presented information about nutrition technology tools, and I was able to provide a brief introduction about how this important part of the field will impact our careers.
06 DCMAND 2019 Annual Meeting
04.12.19
We were also lucky enough to attend the D.C.-Metro Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Annual
Meeting, on Friday, April 12th. My clinical case study poster was also selected for display at this meeting, which allowed me another opportunity to summarize the case involving hyperglycemia and malabsorption in the setting of pancreatic cancer. Throughout this meeting, we heard presentations on diverse topics, including Diversifying Dietetics, Intuitive Eating, and a panel on Farming, Sustainability, and Food Technology. This meeting was a valuable opportunity to network with local RDs and learn about fascinating topics in the world of nutrition.
