NutritionJobs.com's RD Career Spotlight Interview:
Tara DelloIacono Thies, RD, at Clif Bar & Co.
By Tali Sedgwick, RD-Eligible
August 2010
NutritionJobs: You have been the Nutrition Strategist at Clif
Bar & Co. for over 10 years. You started in the Customer Service Department
and then developed and expanded the Nutrition Department. Your current
role is in Nutrition Brand Strategy, Nutrition Education, Nutrition
Communication, and Nutrition Labeling Claims affairs. Tell us how
you got there.
Tara DelloIacono Thies: As you mentioned, I started in Consumer
Service (CS). They had just launched Luna Bar and were getting tons
of nutrition questions that they couldn't answer. Clif Bar had a dietitian
that consulted for them but they decided they needed an RD on staff
to answer these sorts of questions. The position quickly evolved into
having me train the CS department to answer the nutrition questions
we frequently received. I wrote nutrition resources for the CS team.
The brand and marketing teams then also started using those nutrition
resources, which linked into the development process for new products
that would impact the health of women, kids, and athletes. This all
fed into the strategy portion of my job, which is now what I spend
a lot of time thinking about and doing. Wondering how can we make
a healthy product that will really benefit certain populations.
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NutritionJobs.com's RD Career Spotlight Interview:
Lee Unangst, RD
July 2010
NutritionJobs.com: You have a very unique career and job title
as a Dietitian Informaticist at the National Institutes of Health
(NIH) Clinical Center in Bethesda, MD. Your impressive resume reads
like that of an Information Technology Manager rather than a Registered
Dietitian. How would you describe your job?
Lee Unangst: I have a couple of major responsibilities. I do
everything from setting up servers and patching databases to processing
diet orders and figuring out why printers aren't printing out meal
tickets! I run our patient service using CBORD Foodservice Management
System. I serve as the ambassador between the kitchen, the dietetic
staff and the hospital's Information Technology (IT) department; I
help facilitate communication between groups with very different backgrounds.
My background in nutrition and clinical dietetics is critical in this
role. This job has been a great experience!
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January 2010
NutritionJobs.com: You own a very successful private nutrition
counseling practice in New Hampshire and are very involved with many
dietetic organizations. But this wasn't your first career. How did
you get your start?
Gita Patel: At the age of 45 I suddenly, and unexpectedly,
needed to be financially independent. I decided to go back to do my
internship to become a Registered Dietitian. This involved doing post
graduate course work.
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NutritionJobs.com's RD Career Spotlight Interview:
Robin Plotkin,
RD LD www.robinplotkin.com
March 2010
NutritionJobs.com: You are the Past President of the Nutrition
Entrepreneurs dietetic practice group and own a successful practice
as a culinary and nutrition communications consultant. You are also
an accomplished writer and event producer. Your clients have included
Glaceau Waters, Which Wich Superior Sandwiches, Taco Bueno Restaurants,
Sara Lee, Bausch and Lomb, Unilever, Avocados from Mexico, popchips!,
Sysco Foods, Fisher Pay Kel Appliances, the American Institute of
Wine and Food and DMA & Associates, a produce industry boutique marketing
group. You represent an interesting side of dietetics.
Robin Plotkin: I hang out on the food side of dietetics! I
have always loved food and enjoy educating others, dietitians included,
about foods versus nutrients.
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An Interview with Susan Laramee, MS RD FADA LDN
September 2008
NutritionJobs.com: You are currently the Clinical Recruitment
Manager for Sodexo, USA, and you have also held the honored title of
President of the American Dietetic Association, 2004-2005. But you
started out in the pediatric intensive care unit. How did you make
the transition from pediatric dietetics to recruiting?
Ms. Laramee:
A lot of advances in nutrition science were happening when I first
started out as a dietitian. Tube feeding and TPN were becoming more
available. The RD role in the hospital was becoming clearer. In the
NICU, I had the opportunity to be part of a team of MD's and RN where
we learned from each other. But eventually I burned out on the intensity
of the job. It also became routine. I later discovered that there were
more career opportunities supporting our profession and in the business
end of dietetics.
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An Interview with Natalie L Ledesma, MS, RD, CSO
September 2008, San Francisco, CA
You'll be surprised to learn who mentors her. Read on...
NutritionJobs.com: As a Registered Dietitian you have a unique
educational background. How has this influenced your ability to
provide nutrition counseling?
Ms. Ledesma:
I have a BA in Psychology but also went for a Master's in Nutrition
and launched a career as a sports nutritionist before settling in as
an oncology dietitian. Working with the WHEL study proved to be a
pivotal point in my career. I found my passion working with oncology
patients. My background in Psychology helps with one-on-one nutrition
counseling. You have currently integrated several different positions
to create an impressive career as a well respected RD in San Francisco.
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