Health Communication: A Model for When Food and Facts Collide

Bio: Milton Stokes has made his purpose advancing health and nutrition; it’s deeply woven into his entire career. He's been at the intersection of food, agriculture, and nutrition working through some of the most contentious and most urgent issues facing people and planet–issues like food and nutrition security as well as sustainability. At present, Milton is a consultant in global public relations and with agriculture and commodity groups.

Continuous Glucose Monitoring Systems within Research and Clinical Practice Settings

Bio: Lydia Sartain is a dietitian and certified diabetes care and education specialist. She currently is in the role of Director of Diabetes and Nutrition at ARcare and is very active in the utilization of technology within Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support. Her team utilizes professional Continuous Glucose Monitoring systems within education sessions and assisting people with diabetes in navigating their personal continuous glucose monitoring systems.

Continuous Glucose Monitoring Systems within Research and Clinical Practice Settings

Bio: Dr. Jansen is an Assistant Professor of Clinical Nutrition at UAMS within the Department of Dietetics and Nutrition in the College of Health Professions. Prior to arriving at UAMS she was a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the New Balance Foundation Childhood Obesity Prevention Center located within the Department of Endocrinology at Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School. Her research relates to how modifiable lifestyle factors such as exercise and dietary patterns influence glycemia. Her work is relevant to the mechanistic understanding and prevention of chronic diseases including obesity and diabetes. She is especially devoted to understanding alterations within glucose metabolism preceding clinical diagnosis of diabetes. Her goal is to use information regarding such alterations to develop focused approaches to improve clinical interventions and refine interpretations of standardized tests to lower patient burden and curb new-onset diabetes trajectories.

Is an advanced scope of practice in your prism of possibilities? Understanding CRDN 3.5 and the practice of RDNs placing feeding tubes.

Bio: Courtney Fose is a registered, licensed dietitian in Little Rock, Arkansas. She is the Program Director for the Master of Science in Dietetics (MSDI) Program at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences/Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System. Prior to transitioning to full-time academia, Courtney practiced as a Board-Certified Nutrition Support Clinician (CNSC) in the acute care setting. She serves the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics as an ACEND Reviewer and member of the Committee for Lifelong Learning.

Is an advanced scope of practice in your prism of possibilities? Understanding CRDN 3.5 and the practice of RDNs placing feeding tubes.

PRISM to Plate: A Dietitian’s Role in Product Development

Bio: "Monica Stewart, MS, RD, LD is a Registered Dietitian employed by Tyson Foods, Inc. In her role as a Sr. Food Scientist, Monica is responsible for creating, reviewing, and validating nutrition facts panels for packages, evaluating products for relevant nutrition claims and works closely with the regulatory and law teams to ensure nutrition related communications are substantiated in science and facts. Monica plays an instrumental role in communicating sound nutrition messages on product packaging, promotional materials, and social media. She collaborates on innovation priorities and projects by providing nutritional guidance.

History, Scope and Needs of the Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance

Bio: Kathy Webb has advocated for taking action to create positive change since the sixth grade. Her work in the area of increasing access to healthy food is based on breaking down silos and engaging as many as possible in the fight to alleviate hunger, minimize food deserts, and expand nutrition education. Through programmatic and policy work, Webb believes a hunger-free Arkansas can be achieved if there is the will.

Mentoring 101: Unleashing Your Superpower!

Bio: Nina Roofe, Ph.D., RDN, LD, FAND, CNWE, earned the Bachelor of Science degree in Dietetics from the University of Central Arkansas in 1990. She completed the dietetic internship at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in 1991 and began a career in clinical dietetics. While directing the Outpatient Nutrition Clinic at St. Francis Health System in Tulsa in 1998, she completed the Master of Science in Corporate Health Promotion from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. Dr. Roofe has consulted as a clinical RDN in various capacities throughout her career including in psychiatric hospitals, long-term care facilities, and privately for families of children with autism, food allergies, and feeding challenges. In 2010, Dr. Roofe earned the Doctor of Philosophy degree in Family and Consumer Sciences Education from Iowa State University. She has taught dietetics students since 2002 and is currently a Professor of Nutrition and Chair of the Department of Nutrition and Family Sciences. Her research focuses on service learning, mentoring, and leadership. Nationally, Dr. Roofe is a Fellow of the Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics, has served as an ACEND site reviewer since 2014, is the current Chair of the ACEND Accreditation Committee, the current President of the Council of Administrators in Family & Consumer Sciences, the current Chair of the Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics Ethics Committee, and the current President of the Council of Administrators in Family & Consumer Sciences. At the state level, she serves as the Strategic Planning Coordinator for the Arkansas Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics and as the Certification & Professional Development Chair for the Arkansas Association of Family & Consumer Sciences.

Panelist: Mentoring 101: Unleashing Your Superpower!

Bio: "Stephanie Jones is the Well-Being Clinician and RD at Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield. She is responsible for helping develop, administer, and manage employee wellness programs for the company. In the last 7+ years she has worked to introduce new programs, contests, and events to the employees to improve their health. Stephanie has been a preceptor for dietetic interns for the last 7 years, she enjoys working with interns to enhance their counseling, wellness and motivational interviewing skills and more. Stephanie’s background is in clinical dietetics, counseling, and corporate wellness. She holds her MPH from the University of South Florida and she is a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES®), as well as being Certified in Public Health (CPH) and a Certified Personal Trainer (CPT). Stephanie is also a candidate for the graduate certificate in Total Worker Health® from the University of Colorado Denver. Stephanie is the current Past President for the Arkansas Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics and currently serves as the Nutrition Services Payment Specialist for the Weight Management Dietetic Practice Group.

Panelist: Mentoring 101: Unleashing Your Superpower!

Bio: "Dr. Blake Metcalf is an Assistant Professor and Director of Community and Clinical Nutrition for the Arkansas Colleges of Health Education (ACHE). Prior to joining ACHE, Dr. Metcalf was the Clinical Nutrition Manager for Baptist Health in Fort Smith and Van Buren. He has served as a preceptor for dietetic interns since 2014 and has helped develop staff RDs to their full potential, including many clinical leadership positions. In 2018, he was awarded ""Outstanding Clinical Preceptor"" from the University of Central Arkansas and in 2019 was awarded ""Emerging Dietetic Leader"" by the Arkansas Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. However, while helping to develop others he had his own mentors along the way; The most impactful being his former boss, Lisa Burroughs. Lisa is an inspiring and supportive leader and has shaped the careers of many dietitians around the area.

Dr. Metcalf is currently serving as Delegate for the Arkansas Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. In 2021, he received a Doctorate in Clinical Nutrition from the University of North Florida and became a Fellow of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. He is currently implementing a culinary medicine program, teaching nutrition science at the College of Osteopathic Medicine, and conducting community and clinical research at the ACHE Research Institute.

Panelist: Mentoring 101: Unleashing Your Superpower!

Bio: Tina Maddox Stevens, PhD, RD, LD, is an Associate Professor and Associate Dean for the College of Health Professions at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. Dr. Stevens began her career as a clinical dietitian. In this role, she served as a preceptor to dietetic students and found this to be one of the most gratifying parts of her job. This led to a full-time faculty position at the University of Central Arkansas where she was able to devote the majority of her time to preparing students for their future careers. In her current role, Dr. Stevens focuses her mentorship efforts on professional development of faculty in the health professions so that they have the necessary resources to be successful as they transition from careers as clinicians to academics. A common thread throughout her career and the most rewarding aspect has been sharing with others what she learned from her own experiences as a student, clinician and faculty member.

Topic: Student Panel for Interns

JoAnna Cupp is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) and the Director of the Didactic Program in Dietetics, Assistant Professor at the University of Central Arkansas. She has worked in 4 states as a clinical dietitian in a variety of settings with 17 years of experiences in dietetics and over 8 years in higher education. She earned a Doctor of Health Sciences Degree in 2021 and became a Fellow of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics in 2022.

Topic: Student Panel for Interns

Laura Drinkwater is a Registered Dietitian. Laura earned her bachelors, masters, and completed the dietetic internship at the University of Central Arkansas. She worked as a clinical in-patient dietitian for nine years at Jefferson Regional Medical Center in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. During that time she helped train dietitians and mentor students from all over the US. She currently works for University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences as an outpatient dietitian. She recently earned a Certificate of Training in Obesity in Pediatrics and Adults and hopes to use this information to build positive strategies with patients and their families to help them reach their goals. She likes gardening, walking around in the woods with her dog Gunnison, being creative, playing board games, traveling, spending time with her church small group and volunteering with Every Arkansan.

Internship Fireside Chat with JoAnna Cupp, DHSc, RDN, LD, FAND

Internship Fireside Chat with JoAnna Cupp, DHSc, RDN, LD, FAND

Internship Fireside Chat with JoAnna Cupp, DHSc, RDN, LD, FAND

From Research Assistant to Principle Investigator - The Role of Registered Dietitians in Research

Bio: Audrey is the Research Manager at the Arkansas Children’s Nutrition Center. The ACNC’s research program is dedicated to examining the effects of prenatal and postnatal nutrition on anthropometrics, body composition, metabolism and physical activity of infants and children. Audrey attained her undergraduate degree at Texas State University and dietetic internship and Master’s degree through the University of Central Arkansas.

From Research Assistant to Principle Investigator - The Role of Registered Dietitians in Research

Bio: Lexi is a Nutrition Assistant II at the Arkansas Children’s Nutrition Center. The ACNC’s research program is dedicated to examining the effects of prenatal and postnatal nutrition on anthropometrics, body composition, metabolism and physical activity of infants and children. Lexi attained her undergraduate degree at Harding University, her dietetic internship at UAMS/CAVHS and currently working towards a Master’s degree through the University of Central Arkansas

Patient Centered Nutrition Support with Food-Based Formulas: From Hospital to Home

Bio: Ann Priest is a Manager Medical Scientific Liaison within Medical Affairs at Nestlé Health Science. She obtained her Bachelor of Science degree from Texas State University and completed her RD internship at San Diego State University. Prior to joining Nestlé Health Science in 2013, Ann worked as an acute care Clinical Dietitian for Sharp Memorial Hospital in San Diego California and as a Certified Nutrition Support Clinician at St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital in Houston, Texas where she provided nutrition support for ICU and GI surgical patients. Ann also held a position as an Account Executive for Nestlé Health Science covering the Texas Medical Center for 7 years before her current role. Ann is most passionate about the role of nutrition science-based guidelines for protocol and pathway development in the hospital setting. She appreciates the value in interdisciplinary education and the role that nutrition has on helping to improve patient centric and quality driven outcomes.

Topic: Current Trends in Infant Feeding: Do They Align with Evidence-Based Best Practices?

Bio: Malina Malkani, MS, RDN, CDN, is the registered dietitian, best-selling author, speaker, and single mom of 3 behind the Instagram and TikTok handle, “@healthy.mom.healthy.kids.” A top nutrition influencer and trusted expert in local and national media outlets, Malina owns a nutrition consulting company and private practice at MalinaMalkani.com which is dedicated to helping parents feed their babies and kids with confidence. She is the author of Simple and Safe Baby-Led Weaning: How to Integrate Foods, Manage Portion Sizes and Identify Allergies and the creator of two online courses for parents Safe & Simple Baby-Led Feeding and Solve Picky Eating. A Forbes Health Advisory Board Member and former national media spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Malina completed her undergraduate degrees at Northwestern University and master's degree in clinical nutrition at New York University.

Your Academy in Action

Bio: Shanley is the dietetics director in the department of allied health sciences at the University of Connecticut's College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources. The department has both a Coordinated Program and Dietetic Internship. Shanley received the Academy's 2012 Medallion Award for outstanding service to the organization and profession and the Academy Foundation's 2005 Award for Excellence in Dietetic Education. Her extensive involvement in the Academy includes serving as speaker of the House of Delegates; member of the Ethics Task Force Committee, National Appeals Committee, Alternative Supervised Pathways Workgroup and Futures Summit Planning Committee; and chair of the Professional Development and Education Committee, Nominating Committee, Education Committee and Member Value Committee. Shanley also served as a House of Delegates Finance Committee member and table facilitator, state delegate and chair of many committees of the Connecticut Dietetic Association and was named CDA's 2005 Outstanding Dietitian. Shanley earned an undergraduate degree from Syracuse University and an MBA from Babson College.

Leadership Journey: The Legacy of Impact and Relationships

Turning Data into Dollars: Making RDNs Essential

Comprehensive Management of Obesity

The Farm Bill: Implications for the Food System and Dietetic Practice

23 and All of Us: Genomic testing and research expansion into the nutritional fields

Bio: Julie is a certified genetic counselor with over 10 years of experience with genetics services in a clinical, laboratory, hospital, and health plan vendor setting. She specialized in utilization management to increase access to appropriate genetic testing across health care. Her passion lies in speaking enthusiastically and effectively to multiple stakeholders while advocating for increased access to quality genetics care and forming partnerships between providers, institutions, health plans, and laboratories

ArAND President

ArAND President-Elect