Rita Faycurry, RD, LDN NSAND board member position – membership Works at: FAYnutrition, LLC Hobbies: playing tennis, gardening, and nutrition What do you do in the field of dietetics? I am owner my own corporation called FAYnutrition LLC. I see patients with various reasons such as diabetes, weight loss, eating disorders, and vegetarian diet education. Did you always know you wanted to be a dietitian? Yes, I was 15yrs. I knew I wanted to be a dietitian when I met a dietitian who came by my grandfather’s bedside at the hospital where he was admitted for high blood pressure and CKD stage 5. I was fascinated by her knowledge and advice for my grandfather. My whole family adopted a (low sodium) healthier lifestyle as to prevent this disease from happening to us. Where did you complete your internship? Dominican University Is there a nutrition related topic you wish you knew more about? I love every nutrition related topic and feel that there is always something new to learn and read about. That’s the way this profession is and that’s what I love about it! Are you a member of any Dietetics Practice Group (DPG) or member interest group (MIG)? I am a member of the Weight Management Practice Group and the Diabetes Care and Education Dietetics Practice Group Name one thing an RDN could do to benefit the dietetics profession in general. Become a preceptor We loved that Rita feels this way about the dietetics profession! It is certainly important that more RD’s become preceptors.What a timely suggestion for this #PreceptorMonth #BecomeaPreceptor Contact Info: [email protected] Website: www.Faynutriton.com Instagram: @faynutrition
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Mary Lewandowski MS, RDN, LDN, 2017-2018 NSAND Treasurer Works at: Contractor for Mondelez Hobbies: Gardening, Reading, Staying Fit, Cooking What do you do in the field of dietetics? I am responsible for Nutrition and Regulatory compliance to meet FDA labeling regulations. I review specifications for Raw Materials, Formulas, and Products. This includes generating Nutrition Facts Panels, Ingredient Declarations, Allergen Assessments, Claim Substantiation and reviewing Product Artwork. I love my work! Did you always know you wanted to be a dietitian? No, when I first attended college, I was a pre-engineering student. I took a Nutrition course as an elective, had a most inspiring RD for a professor, and my world changed. What inspired you to have a career in nutrition? I took a general Nutrition class and was greatly inspired by the professor. She was bright, articulate and made learning fun! Working in the field of Food and Nutrition is wonderful and an endless opportunity to continue learning. What is your best advice for younger dietitians on how to network with experienced dietitians? Join your local Dietetic Association. Attend meetings. There are many ways to obtain your Continuing Education hours, but attending meetings and conferences are well worth your time. You have skills and talents to share and there is a wealth of knowledge and experience to tap into. Don’t be shy. What is your favorite memory from your career thus far? My favorite memory which I continue to build on are the people I've met. Over the years, I've met some wonderful individuals; educators, consumers, colleagues, co-workers, and managers among others. Each individual has influenced the person I am today, some more than others, and for that I am grateful. What's a fun fact about you? I grew up on the south side of Chicago with seven brothers and just one sister. My family is a huge part of my life. Seven out of nine of us still live in the Chicago area and we all get together a few times each year. I’m right smack in the middle! What's your favorite dish to cook? I really love hosting Thanksgiving and preparing the traditional meal. I love cooking from scratch all year round, but this meal is my favorite...because it’s all about the food and we have so much to be grateful for! If you could have a super-power what would that be? Wow, what a question. If I could have a super-power, I would use my power to heal the brokenness in our families and bring true peace to our world. Contact Info: [email protected] We are excited to announce the “Student Edition” of our monthly Featured Member post! Alexandra Sarkisian, NSAND’s Social Media Committee member. Works at: Currently working on my MS/DI at Northern Illinois University Hobbies: Cooking up interesting concoctions, running, gardening, yoga, doing jigsaw puzzles with my roommate! Did you always know you wanted to be a dietitian? I honestly didn’t know what a dietitian was until I was in highschool. I took a career aptitude test that suggested a future career in dietetics, and after researching the field I decided it was the best fit for me! Nutrition is so fascinating and is the perfect blend of science and food (two of my favorite things) and I love that I can use my knowledge and skills to actually help someone. After my initial research I decided this was what I wanted to pursue and I can say I can’t imagine doing anything else! What's a fun fact about you? I was inspired by the show Pee-Wee’s Playhouse to create my own foil ball. In the show he had this giant ball made of foil and people brought him pieces of foil to add on to it. I have been adding pieces of used, but clean, foil to my ball for over 10 years now and it’s gotten really big! It’s a weird thing but people always remember me as the ‘foil ball girl’! What is your best advice for younger dietitians on how to network with experienced dietitians? Although I am not yet a dietitian, I would say from my experience as a student that getting involved in your local dietetic group, like NSAND, is the best way to network with experienced dietitians. Outside of a giant conference like FNCE there are not many opportunities where you’ll be surrounded by other dietitians, so by coming to meetings or better yet, joining the board, you’ll be able to have access to experienced dietitians. Also, everyone is always so welcoming and genuinely interested in what you do, and once they get to know you they can offer you great advice and introduce you to people you otherwise wouldn't meet. What is your favorite food? I LOVE sweet potatoes! They’re so versatile and just happen to be known as one of the healthiest foods out there. They’re great mashed, baked, in the form of fries or soup, made sweet or savory, honestly any way you make them, I’ll eat them! Which area of dietetics do you like or have considered switching into that is different from your area of practice? I would be interested in exploring the area of nutrition and agriculture. I volunteer on a farm that donates all its produce to local food pantries and also acts as a teaching garden, and because of my time there my interest in agriculture has really grown (pun intended). I love being able to show people how their food is grown, and you can’t help but become more appreciative of the food you eat! Name one thing an RDN could do to benefit the dietetics profession in general. I think dietitians can do a lot to benefit the profession by staying educated and up to date with research and trends because things are always changing! Which DI are you enrolled in? I am currently working on my master’s and DI at Northern Illinois University and I completed my bachelor’s in nutrition at the University of Illinois at Chicago. I have a year and a half left before I complete the program and so far I really enjoy it! Contact Info: [email protected] Twitter: @alexandra_sarki Instagram: @alexandra_sarki Barb Pearl, MS, LDN, RDN and NSAND’s Past-Chair Works at: Private Practice, Barb Pearl Nutrition Hobbies: Taking care of my grandson, baking, music, exercise, travel Did you always know you wanted to be a dietitian? I always like math and science. My mom was a dietitian and she had a great influence on me growing up. It seemed like a natural profession to choose. What's a fun fact about you or my family? I have two children who are physicians. What is your best advice for younger dietitians on how to network with experienced dietitians? I suggest: (1) getting involved with all sorts of professional and social groups that interest you, (2) pursue various avenues of dietetics to see where your interests lie, (3) keep your lines of communication open to your network of contacts, (4) Don’t be afraid to go out of your box of what’s comfortable….take the risk. What is your favorite food? I really do not have a favorite food, but I do love ice cream. Which area of dietetics do you like or have considered switching into that is different from your area of practice? Currently, I am not switching fields. I have authored two books, worked in clinical dietetics in a hospital and outpatient clinic; been a staff dietitian and a Chief; worked in food regulatory in a large food company, and have my private practice in pediatrics and adult nutrition. Name one thing an RDN could do to benefit the dietetics profession in general. RDN’s can set examples themselves by living a healthy and fit lifestyle. Be open minded, yet use your education and good judgment when making nutrition and fitness decisions. Where did you complete your internship? I completed my dietetic internship at Beth Israel Hospital in Boston, while completing my Masters degree at Boston University. That was back in the days when the rule was one could only pick 2 internships to apply to. I was very lucky to have been able to go through this internship, where I continue to be friends with many of the other dietetic interns from my class. Website: Barbpearlnutrition.com Lisa Stein, RD - NSAND Assistant Secretary 2017-2018 Works at: Fresenius Medical Care What do you do in the field of dietetics? In the field of dietetics, I am a renal dietitian. I work at a dialysis unit with patients undergoing dialysis for kidney failure. I previously worked at an acute-care hospital for 2 years before I started working in dialysis. What inspired you to have a career in nutrition? What inspired me to become a renal dietitian is my mom, who has type 1 diabetes and got diagnosed when I was a kid. Watching her learn to manage the diet and deal with her new illness was very interesting, with so much to learn. What is your favorite memory from your career thus far? My favorite memory of my career so far is when I was just starting my career as an RD, and I got my first job. I was so grateful for this new job and was willing to do anything for it. I traveled all across Illinois to different hospitals as a resource dietitian. I lived out of a suitcase in hotels and stayed with a friend to make the commute easier. It was a chaotic time, but I learned so much and worked with a lot of different people, met a lot of other dietitians, and worked with many different cultures. Where did you complete your internship? I completed my internship at Loyola, where I was placed into rotations at Lake County Health Department, Lake Forest Hospital, Alden Valley Rehab, and Resurrection Hospital. The dietetics internship is probably one of the most challenging and difficult and stressful times of my life! What's your favorite dish to cook? My favorite dish to cook is anything in the slow cooker. Coming home after work to already cooked food is the best. Lynnette Becker, RD, LDN; Clinical Dietitian & NSAND President 2017-2018 Works at: Advocate Condell Medical Center Hobbies: Cooking for loved ones What do you do in the field of dietetics? I am an inpatient clinical dietitian. I have the opportunity to work with patients with a variety of health needs. This has included cancer, gastroenterology, orthopedics, wound care, stroke, endocrinology, pediatrics, and intensive care. Did you always know you wanted to be a dietitian? No, but I have always wanted to be of service to my fellow man within my community. Dietetics feels like a very good fit to accomplish this dream. What's your favorite dish to cook? Any pie – pecan, coconut custard, cherry, or chicken pot pie! Wait, no, tabbouleh and hummus! No, no, it has to be lamb stew! Who am I kidding?! I thoroughly enjoy cooking pretty much anything. What is your best advice for younger dietitians on how to network with experienced dietitians? Get involved early with your local IAND district and stay involved! Volunteer to help at meetings - even as a greeter. This allows you the opportunity to meet practicing RDs and may provide a foot in the door when it comes time to begin your career. The connections you build within your district can become lasting friendships and connections in the next step of your journey. Which area of dietetics do you like or have considered switching into that is different from your area of practice? My area of interest throughout my internship was pediatric dietetics. I would love to practice more in this area and eventually work in an outpatient pediatric physician's office. If you could have a super-power what would that be? I would have a magic want that would provide people the gift of readiness, willingness, and the financial ability to make the necessary dietary and lifestyle changes that would put them on the road to health. Kathy Brown, RDN, LD, NSAND President Elect 2017-2018 Works at: Baxter International and in private practice as TheYogiRD Completed DI at: Dominican University DPG/MIG Membership(s): Vegetarian Nutrition DPG Hobbies: Studying and practicing yoga, spending time outdoors, crafting and blogging/making videos for my YouTube channel We are so excited to kick off our #FeaturedFriday with our very own NSAND President Elect, Kathy Brown, RDN, LD! Kathy currently works at Baxter International where she manages their global health promotion program which involves dadta from a health risk assessment, exercise challenges, nutrition challenges, health fairs, lunch and learns, and much more. In addition to her work at Baxter, Kathy started her own private practice, The Yogi RD, where she provides nutrition counseling that emphasizes nourishing, whole foods and offers yoga lessons. You can also find her posting blogs, giving presentations to athletes and small businesses, and creating YouTube videos for her channel, also entitled The Yogi RD. Did you always know you wanted to be a dietitian? No, I actually went to college to be a PE teacher and had never even heard of a dietitian. After taking my first nutrition course and learning about dietitians, however, I knew nutrition was the road I wanted to take. What’s a fun fact about you? One of my big interests is historical diets. I love learning about food choices, cooking techniques, and food beliefs of past eras (particularly 16th, 18th, and early 20th centuries). Which area of dietetics do you like or have considered switching into that is different from your area of practice? I would like to devote more of my time on my private practice and develop a stronger on line practice. Is there a nutrition topic you wish you knew more about? Holistic healing with food or women’s health. What is your best advice for younger dietitians trying to balance the demands of life as a dietitian with family and personal life? Make a schedule. My motto is, “if it’s not on my calendar, it doesn’t exist.” Sharing this with my family and friends has helped them to understand m y busy schedule and learn to plan with me ahead of time. Name one thing an RDN could do to benefit the dietetics profession in general. Make your voice heard and dispel any myths you come across. The tricky part of this profession is how many people believe what they read in pop magazines or from TV personalities. The best thing you can do is help the population understand the scientific facts about nutrition. If you could have a superpower, what would that be? Just one superpower? I would like the power to grow nutritious and delicious food from waste. Hunger and food waste is one area I am very passionate about. If I get a second power I would like to fly! Contact Info: [email protected] Twitter: @TheYogiRD Instagram: @TheYogiRD |