Wow, April Already? A Few Updates

My partner Ala's preceptor, Ala, Me, and my preceptor Laura (RD, neurology/ketogenic master!)

I finished up my pediatric rotation and Children’s National Medical Center, where I worked with neurology and renal dietitians.  Both had a great mix of outpatient clinics as well as inpatient rounds and consults, and I learned so much.  Pediatrics is definitely a whole new ball game in dietetics- energy and protein needs seem really foreign (for example babies may need 100 kcal/kg when adults need 25-35 kcal/kg!) and assessment is a lot different too.  Plus, you can’t always ask a pediatric patient about their condition, so you must rely on their caretakers.

Ala and I getting ready to present our individual case studies at CNMC

On my last day I presented a case study on the Ketogenic Diet- I’ll attach a link to my report once I post it on my portfolio- and it went very well!  Although I enjoyed working with the kids (some of them were SO cute and cheerful!)  it wasn’t always easy.  It definitely takes a special person to work with this population!

Last week I was back working with FSNE, a part of the University of Maryland Extension responsible for nutrition education to low-income populations.  I traveled to Upper Marlboro (near DC), Clinton (southern MD), and Westminster (Carroll County, MD).  It was interesting getting to so many different areas of the state, and I enjoyed working with some of the same educators as I worked with in December.

Some good news: I wrote an abstract for the Maryland Dietetic Association Annual Meeting about my clinical case study on Crohn’s Disease, and also submitted it to the DC Metro Area Dietetic Association for their annual meeting.  It was accepted both places!  So I will be preparing a poster presentation that I will share at the meetings.

I also wrote an entry for the University of Maryland College Park Dietetic Internship program blog:   Oh the Possibilities…

Tomorrow I start Long Term Care.  It will be interesting having the pediatric and older adult rotations so close together!

Last but not least, I received my new social security card today….I’m officially Christina Sielbeck Vimini!

**Also CONGRATS to those dietetic students who were matched to a dietetic internship last night!! I cannot believe that only a year ago that was ME!