Food is Medicine by Emily

Food is Medicine by Emily - June 2020 Scholarship Essay

Dietitians are essential in today's society because of the overwhelming need for nutritional education and assistance in health care due to the lack of knowledge individuals have towards nutritional science. My major, nutritional science, is involved in identifying certain diseases, conditions, or problems caused by dietary factors, such as malnutrition, food allergies, metabolic disorders, obesity, diabetes, etc. It emphasizes the role of nutrition in the health and wellbeing of our society. The ideas for a healthy lifestyle are that it is vital to maintain a healthy balanced diet as well as exercise regularly. Today, if people do not follow this idea, they will produce complications that could significantly affect their health and life span.
As a dietitian, our patients are derived from all age groups as young as infants to as old as the elderly, whom come to us with different types of health problems that tend to be diet and nutrition related. On a daily basis, dietitians first need to learn about the patient's health history, eating and exercise habits, lab data (if included), and their anthropometric. We take the information given and set individual goals and priorities needed as well as assess their heath needs and possible diets. These goals and priorities can include counseling patients on their individual nutrition issues and healthy eating habits as well as develop personalized meal plans. Afterwards, there are follow up visits that often focus on the maintenance and monitoring progress of the patient. Patients are evaluated on the effectiveness of their meal plans and goals in order to see if changes in their plans and goals are needed or they can continue as they are. After each meeting of the patients, it is required that dietitians write up reports to document patient’s progress for future follow-ups.
Dietitians do their best to promote better nutrition by speaking to groups or individuals about diet, nutrition, and the relationship between good eating habits and preventing or managing specific diseases. They can teach skills to help fight the toughest cases, like diabetes and obesity, by helping patient lose and keep off weight. Wellness programs are created to help promote healthful eating and exercise. Also, dietitians must keep up with the latest nutritional science research. At this time, I am starting my doctorate program this upcoming fall of 2020. My ultimate goal is to obtain my Ph.D. in Nutritional Science with a focus in clinical nutrition at Texas Tech University. I plan to use the education and skills gained during the program to capitalize on research-related opportunities and apply them to my patients to advance their longevity. I also plan to be the director of the food and nutrition department for a research-based hospital. I want to apply sound evidence-based research and practices collaboratively with other medical professionals, striving to create a positive impact and profound effect on a patient’s health.