Welcome to the News Center!

The Academy remains committed to improving the nation’s health and advocating for policies that support the five pillars in the National Strategy, with Academy members playing a key role.

A news article written by a reporter who has targeted registered dietitian nutritionists before is expected to appear in the coming days and could be critical of some RDNs and the Academy. Academy President Lauri Wright conducted an interview with the reporters and provided facts and statistics in writing to ensure accuracy.

The ending of the public health emergency in May 2023 has continued to raise questions for many hospital-employed providers, including RDNs who are delivering care via telehealth from the Hospital Outpatient Department.

The Academy’s work in Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access focuses on continued and expanded IDEA consideration at every level — cultivating organizational and professional values of equity, respect, civility and anti-discrimination.

Improvements reflect a new, more judicious approach to the map to ensure members have the information necessary to practice lawfully. Learn more and see how it works.

The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics has created two new resources as exclusive member benefits to help practitioners succeed in their practice: the MNTWorks Toolkit and the Power of Payment series.

Retiring CEO Patricia M. Babjak highlights respect and gratitude in parting words to Academy members and staff.

Congratulations to the winner of the 2023 Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Day contest, Jane Guo, MCN, RDN, LD, of Dallas, Texas!

Six Academy members and credentialed practitioners were selected to serve on the 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee, which is comprised of 20 members who are highly qualified nutrition scientists with demonstrated expertise.

The Academy and CDR Nominating Committees are pleased to announce the slate of candidates for the 2023 national ballot.

The Academy makes commitment to support White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition and Health goal of ending hunger and increase healthful eating and physical activity by 2030.

Update: Academy's Efforts Regarding Aetna's Mid-Level Practitioners Policy

RDNs, NDTRs and other Academy members who work in pediatric nutrition, community and public health and in other settings have been actively engaged in mitigating the impact of the infant formula shortages on nutrition security for clients and patients.

A Letter to Members from Academy President (2022-23) Ellen Shanley: "I wanted you to be aware that the Academy has been responding in the strongest terms to an inaccurate, misleading report about our organization’s relationships with corporations and industry. One of the main authors of the report is financially tied to anti-science groups with vested interests in opposing licensure for RDNs and lobbying against the safe regulation of medical nutrition therapy and nutrition and dietetics services."

The Academy has submitted the names of 25 member experts as nominees to serve on the 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee.

Following concerns expressed by the Academy in a May 31 letter, executives from the insurance company Aetna decided to increase reimbursement and made commitment to improve access to nutrition care provided by RDNs.

The Academy is sharing concerns to Aetna about its recent revision to its Mid-Level Practitioners and Other Qualified Health Care Professionals Payment Policy rthat educed payment to RDNs to 75% of the recognized charge or negotiated fee for covered service for commercial members.

Carrolyn Patterson has been promoted to Vice President of Human Resources Culture and Diversity.

In the coming months, the Academy will transition Food & Nutrition Magazine® content — including feature articles, practice trends, research briefs and app reviews — to a new home on eatrightPRO.org.

The Academy is seeking nominees for the 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee, which conducts rigorous analysis of research questions and is comprised of highly qualified nutrition scientists with demonstrated expertise.

The Academy has reached out to Aetna and to other professions affected by the company's recent policy change.

Academy President (2021-2022) Kevin L. Sauer to appoint members to new groups that reflect content expertise and diverse representation as well as accelerate progress toward achieving the Strategic Plan.

Member profiles in the MyAcademy area of eatrightPRO now have expanded gender options.

The National Clinical Care Commission has released "Report to Congress on Leveraging Federal Programs to Prevent and Control Diabetes and Its Complication."

The Academy facilitates external quality measures and standards collaborations with members.

Two Academy member awards have been renamed to recognize and honor the accomplishments of the award recipients.

Funding to support diversity in the dietetics and nutrition field will help address health inequities for minority communities.

The Diversity and Inclusion Committee has drafted overarching goals for a D&I action plan and is soliciting applications for awards and grants.

12/29/2020 - The Academy is conducting a thorough review of the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans released on December 29 by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Diversity and Inclusion Committee is working with numerous Academy groups and organizational units on the holistic implementation of diversity and inclusion efforts throughout the organization.

08/14/2020 - The 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans must be informed by rigorous, scientific evidence that represents all Americans. Thanks to the input received by members, yesterday, the Academy submitted its recommendations for the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee's Scientific Report.

08/11/2020 – Academy President (2020-21) Linda T. Farr presented the Academy's comments to the USDA and the HHS on the Scientific Report of the 2020 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee.

07/15/2020 - The Academy is reviewing the Scientific Report of the 2020 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee, to which it contributed substantial input during its development.

Academy President (2020-21) Linda T. Far and Chief Executive Officer Patricia M. Babjak address the organization's commitment to integrity, social responsibility and diversity as core values.

Academy President (2020-21) Linda T. Farr announces Academy plans for the development of an organizational stance to address social injustice and its effects on public health.

Academy members are encouraged to share feedback on theme and logo options for National Nutrition Month^® 2024.

Academy members interested in volunteering for a committee should complete the Opportunities to Serve application.

These are the prepared remarks by Academy CEO Wylecia Wiggs Harris, PhD, CAE, October 9 at the Member Showcase of the 2023 Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo^® in Denver, Colo.

These are the prepared remarks by Academy President Lauri Wright, PhD, RDN, LDN, FAND, October 7 at the Opening Session of the 2023 Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo^® in Denver, Colo.

The Academy is requesting member feedback on the draft of an upcoming Position Paper on adult weight management by Friday, September 8, 2023.

The Academy is joining the Association of SNAP Nutrition Education Administrators, in cooperation with the offices of U.S. Sen. John Fetterman (Penn.) and U.S. Rep. Glenn Thompson (PA-15), to lead a congressional briefing highlighting the importance of SNAP-Ed.

Join us on Tuesday, August 1, at 2 p.m. Central for a virtual coffee break featuring retail registered dietitian nutritionists Allison Yoder, MA, RDN, LD, and Krystal Register, MS, RDN, LDN. 

In recognition of National Breastfeeding Month in August, the Academy is highlighting resources for practitioners in lactation care and sharing opportunities for all practitioners to get involved.

The Academy’s Council on Research is currently seeking energetic volunteer members to serve on the following Council on Research Subcommittees for 2023-2024: Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Health Informatics Infrastructure (ANDHII); Dissemination; Survey Review; Implementation; and Scientific Integrity Principles subcommittees. Applications are due by June 14, 2023.

Beginning on April 14, 2023, this series of five webinars will employ a multi-disciplinary approach that accounts for all the elements of the nutrition ecology to better position nutrition and dietetics professionals to achieve public health goals through the development of context-specific, equitable, safe and efficacious interventions and guidance.

Scholarship applications for the 2023-2024 academic year are open through 10 a.m. (Central time) on Tuesday, April 18, 2023.

The 2023 RDN Day Contest entry period ended Wednesday, February 8 at 5 p.m. Central time. A winner will be announced in March during National Nutrition Month®.

Following requests for minor changes in two sections of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Bylaws by ACEND and CDR, Academy members are invited to review changes and submit questions through March 7.

Academy President Ellen R. Shanley and members from the New York area represented the Academy on Tuesday, January 3, to ring Nasdaq’s Closing Bell.

Below are the prepared remarks by Academy President Ellen R. Shanley, October 8, at the 2022 Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo® in Orlando, Fla.

Academy President Ellen R. Shanley, MBA, RDN, CND, FAND, extends a personal invitation to all members to attend the 2022 Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo® in Orlando, Fla.

Ellen Shanley encourages Academy members to watch the livestream White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition and Health and join her in a Town Hall on September 29.

The Biden administration has announced September 28, 2002, as the date for White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition and Health.

The National Institutes of Health Office of Nutrition Research will hold a five-day virtual workshop, the Malnutrition in Clinical Settings: Research Gaps and Opportunities Workshop, to address research gaps and opportunities related to malnutrition in clinical settings.

Leading up to the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health, regional listening sessions will provide the White House with Americans' insight and experiences on hunger and diet-related diseases in communities across the country.

Academy announces new opportunities to volunteer as a grant-writing mentor for IDEA Liaisons

The Academy's Council on Future Practice has announced the top two presentations from the thirteenth annual Future Practice Session at FNCE® 2021.

CMS aims to provide states with multiple pathways to address health-related social needs. This new guidance aligns with the Academy’s efforts to ensure equitable access to essential services for adequate food, nutrition and quality care.

Congress averted a government shutdown and President Biden is expected to sign a bipartisan continuing resolution that allows federal agencies to operate through early 2024. While this is a step in the right direction, more work remains to ensure nutrition programs and services are fully funded in the budget.

The Academy continues to advocate for equitable coverage for medical nutrition therapy in the treatment of eating disorders, including support for stronger enforcement of compliance with the MHPAEA. Learn more.

The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics urges Congress to take immediate action to pass bipartisan legislation that includes adequate funding for federal programs and services that aim to improve nutrition security, ensure a safe food supply and improve health.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that the Community Eligibility Provision has been expanded and allows use of existing data from other programs to increase access to healthy foods in more school districts.

The Academy continues advocating to Congress to pass a bipartisan continuing resolution to avoid a pending government shutdown. Here are some short-term effects of a government shutdown, according to agency contingency plans, that may affect nutrition and dietetics practitioners and the communities we serve.

In this year’s proposed rule, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services listed several items that will impact registered dietitian nutritionists. Learn more about what the Academy supports and the comments submitted to CMS.

The Academy has partnered with The Milken Institute of Public Health at The George Washington University to conduct the “Medicaid Nutrition Coverage Policy Mapping Study." Learn how it will help to advocate for increased access by assessing the current environment for opportunities and gaps.

In regulatory comments submitted to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the Academy advocates for expanded access and competitive payment for RDN-provided services in state Medicaid programs.

Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen signed into law the Nebraska Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics’ scope of practice bill, ensuring only highly qualified nutrition practitioners can provide medical nutrition therapy in Nebraska.

In regulatory comments submitted to the USDA's Food and Nutrition Service, the Academy provided input on the request for information and comments on a proposed rule.

In regulatory comments, the Academy highlighted the unique skillset and expertise of its members who work every day to serve healthful school meals to students while grappling with continuing challenges intensified by the COVID-19 pandemic.

May 11 marks the end of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency, which allowed for regulatory and legislative actions resulting in flexibilities that changed access to telehealth for Medicare beneficiaries and how RDNs can provide telehealth services.

The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics strongly supports and advocates for healthful school meals. School meals are crucial in alleviating childhood food insecurity, and studies continue to show schools are the healthiest place in the U.S. for children to eat.

SNAP was showcased by witness testimony during the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry hearing on April 19, 2023, in preparation for the next Farm Bill.

The Academy provided feedback and recommendations to the Advance Notice of Methodological Changes for Calendar Year 2024 for Medicare Advantage Capitation Rates and Part C and Part D Payment Policies.

The Academy continues to support the use of the Nutrition/Dietitian Specialty Measure Set as it is a valuable resource for RDNs to know what quality measures are available for selection for reporting under the Quality performance category.

The Academy highlighted the need for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to fulfill opportunities brought about by the Affordable Care Act to expand equitable access to quality care to all Americans.

On January 30, 2023, President Biden announced plans to end the Public Health Emergency, effective May 11, 2023.

This update focuses on telehealth and Medicare payment provisions in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 (the omnibus).

The Academy commends the provisions included in the fiscal year 2023 omnibus, released this week by the 117th U.S. Congress, that support health care and key nutrition security efforts. The Senate’s bill included two Academy priorities: the Providing Urgent Maternal Protections for Nursing Mothers Act and the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act Amendment, will positively impact the lives of pregnant and lactating workers.

The USDA's new Agricultural Science Center of Excellence for Nutrition and Diet for Better Health aims to accelerate research on diet-related chronic diseases, including cancer.

Academy Provides Input, Support for National Institutes of Health’s first draft of the report “Nutrition as Prevention for Improved Cancer Health Outcomes."

The Academy continues assessing and developing recommendations for a potential new interstate professional licensure compact for registered dietitian nutritionists.

The Academy was selected through a competitive grant process for Department of Defense funding to work with the Council of State Governments' National Center for Interstate Compacts on an interstate licensure compact for the dietetics profession.

Recommendations incorporated in the policy include free, healthful school meals, a strengthened national commitment to nutrition research, and diversifying the nutrition workforce.

The Academy believes a transformative Farm Bill should build on the momentum and robust investments included in the Inflation Reduction Act, and other actions taken by the Biden administration.

The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics is saddened to hear of the tragic loss of U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski (Ind.) and two members of her staff, Emma Thomson and Zachery Potts.

The Academy co-hosted a virtual advocacy day with the Association of Diabetes Care and Education Specialists on two priority issues: the Medical Nutrition Therapy Act and the Expanding Access to Diabetes Self-Management Training Act.

The Academy urged the White House to "acknowledge the fundamental importance of nutrition by committing to actively pursue, implement and fund policies and programs addressing all social determinants of health."

An appeal filed in response to the February 18, 2022, ruling upholding Florida's professional licensure law was denied.

The FY22 omnibus appropriations bill signed into law by President Biden includes substantial funds for critical nutrition and health programs.

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 public health emergency, many temporary flexibilities to Medicare's telehealth coverage polices would require an act of Congress to make permanent. The first such actions on that front have been taken under the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2022, which was signed into law by President Biden on March 15, 2022.

Update on the Academy's ongoing initiatives related to the decision by the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on whether an unlicensed individual’s desire to provide medical counseling implicates free speech rights that override the state of Florida’s ability to require health care professionals to be licensed before practicing.

To equip the Academy and RDNs to support strong telehealth policies at the state and federal levels, the Academy Board has voted for the adoption of a five-part stance on telehealth policy.

This is an update for nutrition and dietetics practitioners on the Academy's work on licensure, particularly in Florida, since the most recent communication on July 28, 2020.

On June 30, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill updating the state's Dietetics and Nutrition Practice Act, aligning it more closely with the Academy's Model Practice Act.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a long-awaited bill updating Florida's dietetics licensure law to align it more closely to the Academy's Model Practice Act.

The Academy is gratified that the Florida Senate and House have passed amended legislation that maintains professional competencies of health care practitioners with expertise in nutrition care services.

The Academy supports the efforts to promote balance and to prioritize dignity with individual choice within the WIC food package.

A systematic review was completed with the goal of examining the effectiveness of MNT provided by an RDN — compared with standard care — on glycemic, cardiometabolic and anthropometric outcomes in adults with prediabetes.

The Academy’s saturated fat evidence-based nutrition practice guideline aims to provide recommendations on saturated fat intake to prevent or treat cardiovascular disease. Learn more and read the full guideline, published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

A systematic review was conducted to examine the effectiveness of nutrition interventions on hemoglobin A1C in children and adolescents living with Type 1 diabetes.

Recently published, this evidence-based practice guideline aims to inform nutrition and exercise practitioners on how they may use existing guidelines for the general population.

Previous evidence has demonstrated that food as medicine interventions led by RDNs, such as medically tailored meal or food programs, prescription programs, personalized nutrition education, path-to-purchase marketing and incentive programs, can improve nutrition and health outcomes.

The Academy and NICHD co-authored a series of articles published in a supplement in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

Older adults are at risk for malnutrition due to a variety of factors such as physical and mental changes, isolation and limited income. Health care practitioners, particularly registered dietitian nutritionists, need evidence-based guidance to provide quality nutrition care to older adults living in long-term care and community settings.

A recently published narrative review summarizes current research on the effectiveness of MNT provided by RDNs compared to usual care in the management of adult dyslipidemia.

A two-year, quasi-experimental study aimed to describe alignment of registered dietitian nutritionists' documented nutrition care with the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics' EBNPG for Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.

The objective of a recent study was to describe changes in practice and areas of need related to addressing food insecurity during the COVID-19 pandemic for registered dietitian nutritionist survey respondents.

The article “Documentation of the evidence-diagnosis link predicts nutrition diagnosis resolution in the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics' diabetes mellitus registry study: A secondary analysis of Nutrition Care Process outcomes,” was published in Frontiers in Nutrition.

A study was conducted with nutrition and dietetics professionals in Mexico to evaluate the capacity building of an NCP training program delivered in an online format as a viable strategy to scale NCPT implementation in global settings.

Recommendations in this guideline highlight the importance of considering complex contributors to overweight and obesity and individualizing interventions to client-centered goals based on specific needs and preferences and shared decision making.

The Academy's Council on Research Implementation Subcommittee developed the “Implementing Evidence: from Guidelines to Daily Practice” manual.

The Academy's Scientific integrity Principles originally released in 2015 have been updated and highlights the importance of diversity, equity and inclusion as an integral part of scientific integrity.

A new Journal article describes how Academy members can use research resources provided by the Academy and how members can become involved in nutrition and dietetics research.

A systematic review examines the effect of combined nutrition and physical activity interventions delivered to adults in the general population.

A recent report released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that the percentage of children and teens living with obesity jumped by 3 percentage points during the pandemic.

According to data collected in 2021 by the CDC, almost 6% of children in the U.S. have been diagnosed with a food allergy, and the percentage increases with age. Although concerns still exist regarding the incidence of food allergies being on the rise, more promising research has been published in recent years focusing on their prevention.

Interest in the glycemic index has increased over the years, as has the number of claims regarding its effectiveness, yet research evaluating its potential role in the prevention or treatment of certain health conditions is still evolving. Learn more, including how RDNs can translate the science when speaking to patients or clients.

Lung cancer is the third most common cancer in the country and has been the leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. This article details the different types of lung cancer, risk factors, dietary strategies and the role of registered dietitian nutritionists in treatment as part of the health care team.

If you publicly post about products or recommend services on your blog, podcast or social media platform, make sure you are familiar with — and are following — the rules of engagement.

Detected within the last two decades, Alpha-gal Syndrome is a series of allergic reactions to the Alpha-gal carbohydrate present in non-primate mammalian meat and derivative products, such as dairy, gelatin and collagen. Learn more about this condition, which is believed to be transmitted to humans by ticks.

Food waste and food loss are global problems that affect the future and well-being of the environment and all people. While the problem is substantial, there is a lot we can do to help solve it.

Many factors have been associated with increased risk of developing gout, including age, sex, genetics, medical conditions, overweight and obesity, severe illness or surgery, certain medications, and alcohol consumption. Although particular foods and dietary patterns have been shown to elevate serum levels of uric acid, recent research suggests genetics may play a more influential role in explaining variances in serum urate levels.

While the Female Athlete Triad may be better known among health professionals, energy deficiency among athletes is not unique to females. There is now an evidence base to support a comparable syndrome in males, and both conditions are distinct from Relative Energy Deficiency in Sports (RED-S).

Current evidence does not support a single ideal eating pattern for everyone with diabetes; the key to achieving optimal health and nutrition is individualization. Learn more including the RDN's role in providing medical nutrition therapy for patients or clients with diabetes or prediabetes.

Acne vulgaris is a complex but common skin disease that affects individuals of all ages and sexes, although, it historically has a higher prevalence among both adolescents and females. Delve into research investigating a potential link between diet and acne.

As a less invasive treatment for weight loss, compared to other bariatric procedures, endoscopic bariatric therapies have continued to gain acceptance, especially for patients with obesity who are unable to lose weight or maintain it solely through lifestyle interventions or other methods. Learn how RDNs can support patients undergoing EBT.

Psoriasis — a chronic inflammatory disease that affects the skin — may be impacted by certain health and nutrition considerations. Insights from recent studies help unlock the link between diet and improved psoriasis symptoms.

Nickel is regarded as one of the most common causes of allergic contact dermatitis, an intensely itchy rash in response to prolonged and repeated contact with nickel in individuals who have a sensitivity to it. While recommendations for adults with nickel allergy may include managing symptoms by foregoing high-nickel food sources, a low-nickel diet is not currently recommended for children.

Many of the resting metabolic rate, also known as RMR, equations that are used today by registered dietitian nutritionists are based on actual body weight. Learn about research evaluating the use of adjusted body weight and what to do if RMR can't be measured by indirect calorimetry.

Eating a variety of foods is encouraged as a way to limit exposure to contaminants, such as arsenic. Registered dietitian nutritionists can assist parents in determining safer food choices for infants and young children and when counseling other at-risk populations.

Parkinson's disease is a progressive, disabling, neurodegenerative disease affecting approximately 1% to 2% of the population that is over 60 years of age. Learn about the main treatments for managing this disease, nutrition considerations and more.

There has been an increased focus on exploring the role of certain foods and diets in taming inflammation — even though a specific anti-inflammatory diet has yet to be defined.

The use of dietary supplements in the United States has continued to rise despite concerns regarding their safety and effectiveness. A study featured in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics found that adults were "two and a half times more likely" to use dietary supplements while taking prescription medication compared to adults without a diagnosed medical condition.

In the pediatric population, both age and sex are important considerations since body composition changes as children grow and can differ depending on their sex and maturity. In the year 2000, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published revised growth charts for "assessing the size and growth patterns of infants, children and adolescents" in the United States.

Early in 2023, a Consensus Study Report on the Dietary Reference Intakes for Energy was released by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine.

It is estimated that around 1 million Americans have a sesame allergy. Yet, until recently, sesame was not considered to be one of the major food allergens in the United States; labeling of sesame as an allergen on packaged food products was not required until 2023.

Learn about this newly defined eating disorder—how it presents, factors for diagnosis, similarities to and differences from other EDs, and considerations of Scope of Practice and Standards of Professional Practice.

Assistant director of performance nutrition at Texas A&M University, Jonathan Tanguay, MS, RDN, LD, fuels student athletes for peak performance.

Renal nutrition dietitian Megan Gutierrez, MS, RDN, CSR, LDN, shares her story on giving back in the clinical care setting.

Keiy Murofushi, MS, RD, explains his role in spreading knowledge on the importance of nutrition to create change in one individual at a time.

Xismari Collazo-Colon, RDN, LD, a telehealth dietitian, shares the power of helping veterans by providing the right care at the right time that works for them.

Assistant professor and program director Arnetta Fletcher, PhD, RDN, LDN, helps to direct her university's strategic plan to ensure nutrition is a part of expanding programs.

Culture and entrepreneurship drive the work of registered dietitian Dezi Abeyta, RDN, as he builds a business and gives back to the Tucson community.

Florida registered dietitian Kelsee Gomes, MS, RD, CSSD, LDN, CLT, shares how good nutrition inspires college football athletes and helps them prepare for games.

Qwamel Hanks, NDTR, works to fight hunger in America through outreach with the School Breakfast Program.

Topacio A. Ortiz, RDN, LMNT, describes her journey from combat medic to working in COVID-19 operations during the pandemic, as well as her passion for nutrition.

Telehealth dietitian Divya Aggarwal, MS, RDN, LD, explains how she helps clients achieve their goals as a health and wellness coach based in Cleveland, Ohio.

The director of a didactic program in nutrition and dietetics, Samantha M. Coogan, MS, RDN, CSSD, LD, FAND, creates confidence in her students to become future leaders of the profession.

Registered dietitian nutritionist Cicely Thomas MEd, RDN, LD, shares how she incorporated her personal experiences and love of nutrition into helping communities.

Educator Jacqueline R. Berning, PhD, RD, CSSD, shares her story starting out in sports dietetics, building a new center for sports medicine and serving as chair of her university's health science department.

Food scientist Marie Colmerauer, MS, CFS, NDTR, educates students on using tools we all have to make food choices that are not only convenient, but nutritious.

Debbie Petitpain, MS, RDN, LDN, wellness director in South Carolina, explains the many facets of her role serving the community and collaborating across the health care team.

Mary Niewinski, MS, RDN, LDN, works to teach future credential practitioners in nutrition and dietetics and oversees a team of registered dietitian nutritionists in clinical nutrition.

April N. Hackert, MS, RDN, CEDRD, shares her perspective of the impact food has on mental health as a registered dietitian nutritionist and psychiatric clinical researcher.

Lara Field, MS, RD, LDN, shares how her interest in pediatrics and nutrition helped her expand and grow her private practice to also provide services for adults.

Four registered dietitian nutritionists — LCDR Kibbe Brown, MS, RDN, CDE; Luis Gonzalez, MS, RDN; Eunice Troupe, MS, RDN, LDN; and Demetrius Willis, MS, MBA, RDN, LDN — share how they change lives in their communities with food and nutrition.