Health Careers
Dietitian
Professional Activities
Registered Dietitians provide nutritional advice and training to individuals and groups. They promote sound nutritional practices to improve health and treat disease. Registered Dietitians may specialize in administration, clinical therapeutics, education, community nutrition, and research.
In rural Alaska, most dietitians have some clinical, administrative, and educational responsibilities. Many work in hospitals where they manage the food service and provide consultation to physicians and patients on the special nutritional needs of patients. Others work for regional health corporations or governmental agencies and develop educational plans to improve the nutritional habits of the community, especially school children.
Other facilities that dietitans are employed in Alaska include school districts, clinics, health clubs, private practices, nursing homes, foodservice management, WIC offices and public health departments.
Educational Requirements
Individuals considering a career in dietetics should have an interest in food, including food preparation, food science, agricultural science, education, and food-related health issues.
- Graduation from high school with coursework in math, science, and English.
- Completion of a four-year Bachelor’s degree in dietetics or nutrition in an American Dietetic Association approved program.
- Students then complete a six to twelve month clinical, food service and classroom internship program in dietetics accredited by the American Dietetic Association (ADA). This internship prepares them to take the national registration exam.
- Some students enter a coordinated program that combines a four-year Bachelor’s degree with the internship.
- Some students combine the internship with graduate school. These programs are generally at least 18 months in length and lead to a Master’s degree.
- A Registered Dietitian (RD) is an individual who has met the education and experience requirements of the ADA and has passed a registration exam.
Academic Programs
University of Alaska Anchorage Dietetic Internship
Carrie King, MS, RD, LD, CD
Division of Culinary Arts and Hospitality
Phone: (907) 786-1362
Fax: (907) 786-1402
Email:
Web site: http://www.uaa.alaska.edu/ctc/programs/culinaryarts/
Contacts
State Contact:
The Alaska Dietetic Association
Email:
Web site: http://www.eatrightalaska.org/index.html
National Contact:
American Dietetic Association
120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2000
Chicago, IL 60606
Phone: (800) 877-1600
Email:
Web site: http://www.eatright.org
This page was last updated by Janice Troyer on June 13, 2008
