My Passion For Dietetics: My Career Path For Health

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My career path for dietetics is led by my passion for disease prevention at one of the most crucial stages of human development - childhood. My curiosity with chronic non-communicable diseases began the years following the death of both my grandmothers who both passed away due to type 2 diabetes and stomach cancer. At a young age, I began to incline myself to health sciences in which my interest further peaked for nutrition, epidemiology, nutrigenetics, and nutrigenomics. The notion that our diet interacts with our genes has been an astonishing realization for me that opened my eyes to believe that disease prevention is possible. Today, my goal is to diminish the number of new prevalent cases of chronic diseases through education as a health …show more content…

As a volunteer at California Hospital Medical Center, I reestablished a better relationship between dietary personnel, and nurses to increase the Hospital Consumer Assessment Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) survey scores. I began assessing postpartum mothers with Tracy Nordbak, the volunteer coordinator, to help increase low HCAHPS hospital survey scores. After a few months, we had established a system in which volunteers could evaluate individual patients to explain the menu selection process, record food allergies, preferences, and comments on food quality. As a result, survey scores have risen and maintained at a score of 90 out of 100 point scale compared to the previous mid 50 point range. Due to the success of these surveys, we are currently working to provide this new system at other floors of the …show more content…

For instance, in 2011, I became a kitchen volunteer at Project Angel Food, a non-profit organization that provides nutritious meals for the terminally ill community. Seeing clients with illnesses such as breast cancer, type 2 diabetes and HIV broadened my perspective to realize that any illness no matter at what age can undermine quality of life. In the summer of 2015, I decided to return and volunteer with the dietitian Eve Hou MS, RD for a more food service managerial experience with clients. I witnessed clients that had a life expectancy of six months or less and thanks to this non profit organization, they were now surpassing that life expectancy. This reminded me of the position that I was in many years ago with my grandmothers and impacted me the most was after reading the daily thank you card that the organization receives from clients and their caregivers. They are grateful for the gift that they are receiving-the gift of life. With my profession, I am ready to assist our nation’s healthcare system in implementing a better preventative health

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