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February 25, 2015

Academy Members Helped Shape Recommendations of Dietary Guidelines Committee
The report of the 2015 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee was released February 19. The Academy believes the report - which provides the scientific basis for the federal government's Dietary Guidelines for Americans, to be released later this year - offers realistic, science-based recommendations that can be translated into practical and easy-to-follow guidance for consumers. The Academy will submit comments on the report in the coming weeks. Thanks and congratulations to registered dietitian nutritionists at the U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Health and Human Services who worked very hard to make this report a reality. They demonstrate, yet again, that RDNs are the link to consumers as translators of science into practical advice. Thanks as well to four Academy members who served on the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee for their time, their expertise and their commitment to helping people eat right.
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PPW 2015: Discounts for Early Birds, Students and Groups
The Academy is offering discounted rates to the 2015 Public Policy Workshop. Advance the nutrition and dietetics profession and the health of Americans by joining 500 Academy members in Washington, D.C, June 7 to 9, to advocate for nutrition health policy. Join your fellow registered dietitian nutritionists and dietetic technicians, registered to stand up for important health issues. Attend the world's largest food and nutrition policy and advocacy summit: Register now because space is limited.
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White House Conference on Aging Regional Forums
The first Regional Forum for the White House Conference on Aging took place in Tampa, Fla., on February 19, providing an opportunity for older Americans, their caregivers, advocates, community leaders and other stakeholders to engage on key issues affecting older Americans. Future regional forums will be held March 31 in Phoenix, Ariz.; April 2 in Seattle, Wash.; April 27 in Cleveland, Ohio; and May 28 in Boston, Mass. Events will be live-streamed for those who cannot participate in person. Academy members are encouraged to participate in these important discussions that will help shape the 2015 White House Conference on Aging.

Academy Meets with National Association of Insurance Commissioners
Recognizing the role that state insurance commissioners play at the local level in regulating the insurance market, Academy Headquarters staff members recently met with government affairs staff at the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. The goal was to build relationships and identify ways to advance the Academy's goal of achieving transparency of nutrition services coverage in the Summary of Benefits and Coverage and Uniform Glossary documents issued by health insurance plans, and to include medical nutrition therapy in the definition of preventive services within the Essential Health Benefits offered by plans that are sold within each state’s marketplace. The meeting identified additional venues for strengthening the Academy's voice within this organization and its membership and reaffirmed the need for affiliate' Public Policy Panels, with guidance and resources from the Academy, to work with their state insurance commissioners to achieve these goals.

Updated Online Certificate of Training Program: Chronic Kidney Disease Nutrition Management
Registered dietitian nutritionists play a pivotal role in the management of chronic kidney disease by enhancing self-management in patients and educating other health professionals. To prepare members in this area, the Academy's Center for Professional Development and the National Kidney Disease Education Program have updated the Chronic Kidney Disease Nutrition Management online certificate of training program. It includes the most recent population data from USRDS and NHANES and recently revised recommendations for sodium intake and blood pressure control.
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New Online Certificate of Training Program: Nutritional Counseling (Level 2)
To help Academy members learn counseling techniques and methodology to support patients’ positive behavior change, the Academy's Center for Professional Development presents "Nutritional Counseling (Level 2)," an online certificate of training program.
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Free Online Learning Module: Leadership - Coaching and Communicating with Confidence
A new one-hour module, offered free to Academy members, will help registered dietitian nutritionists assume leadership roles through mentoring, coaching and communication.
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Online Certificate of Training Program: Advancing Your Role as Leader (Level 2)
To help members continue their personal growth in leading and mentoring other health professionals, the Academy's Center for Professional Development presents "Advancing Your Role as Leader (Level 2)," an online certificate of training program.
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Food Allergy Management Certificate of Training Program
The Academy offers an online certificate program with a focus on food allergy management for all members. Enjoy a reduced rate of $19 for each Level 2 module.
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Executive Management Certificate of Training Program
The Academy offers an online certificate program with a focus on enhancing executive management skills for all members. Enjoy a reduced rate of $19 for each Level 2 module or complete all four modules and earn eight hours of CPEUs for $76.
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CDR Weight Management Programs
The Commission on Dietetic Registration offers a number of weight management programs for Academy members.
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Submission Deadline Extended to February 27: FNCE Call for Abstracts
Have you conducted research in nutrition and/or dietetics? Do you have a unique program or project you would like to feature? Consider presenting at the 2015 Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo, October 3 to 6 in Nashville, Tenn. The application deadline has been extended to February 27. FNCE will feature new research presented during poster sessions in the categories of Research, Project or program reports and Innovations in nutrition and dietetics practice or education. Some abstracts may qualify for special recognition and awards. Acceptance notifications will be emailed in May.
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March 1 Deadline: Submit Nominations for National Honors and Awards
Don't miss the opportunity to honor outstanding food and nutrition practitioners and supporters of dietetics who have advanced the profession, exhibited leadership and shown devotion to serving others in both dietetics and allied fields. Award recipients will be announced in May and recognized at the 2015 Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo in Nashville, Tenn.
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March 1 Application Deadline: Academy/IFT Trailblazer Award and Lectureship
Given jointly by the Academy and the Institute of Food Technologists, the Trailblazer Award and Lectureship recognizes individuals who have excelled at the intersection of nutrition/dietetics and food science. This award is given to a leader, preferably a joint member of the Academy and IFT, who has demonstrated innovative contributions to improving health among underserved populations for at least five years through food science and technology and has exhibited intellectual courage in research, instruction or communication. The second annual Trailblazer Award will be presented at the Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo in Nashville, Tenn. The recipient will present a lecture at FNCE while receiving $2,500 in complimentary registration, housing and travel. The deadline to submit a nomination is March 1.
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National School Breakfast Week: March 2 to 6
Promote school breakfast in your community by using the Kids Eat Right "Healthy Breakfast. Everywhere You Go." toolkit. Give a ready-made 20-minute PowerPoint presentation about the importance of school breakfast on academic performance or select a presentation developed for kids (elementary, middle school or high school). With four presentations to choose from, there is something for everyone.
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March 13 Application Deadline: Diversity Action Award
Just over two weeks remain to apply for the Academy's $1,000 Diversity Action Award. The award is given to a dietetics educational program accredited/approved by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics, affiliate, dietetic practice group, member interest group or other recognized Academy group in recognition of past accomplishments to successfully recruit and retain diverse individuals. The application deadline is March 13.
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Learn to Fight BAC: Recording from the Partnership for Food Safety and Education
The Partnership for Food Safety Education has released a recording for “Fight BAC Forward,” a follow-up webinar from the 2014 Consumer Food Safety and Education Conference. The presentation discussed the results of an environmental scan of consumer food safety education efforts from around the country and gave a preview of a comprehensive Food Safety Education Assessment that is underway. Slides from the presentation are available. The Academy is a board member of PFSE and Academy members are encouraged to watch this informative webinar.

March 17 Application Deadline: Farm Bill Funding Opportunity - Community Food Projects
The 2014 Farm Bill, passed in February 2014, authorized funding for Community Food Projects. CFP funds projects that affect the entire food system, helping communities establish connections among existing food systems and resulting in improved food systems that support self-reliance. Grants are intended to help eligible, private, nonprofit entities in need of a one-time installment of federal assistance to establish and carry out multipurpose community food projects. Projects are funded from $10,000 to $300,000 and up to 36 months. All grants require a dollar-for-dollar match in resources. Applications are due March 17.

Second Farm Bill Grant Opportunity: Agriculture and Food Research Initiative
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture have announced the availability of more than $160 million in funding for research, education and extension projects that address key challenges affecting U.S. agriculture production and nutrition. NIFA will fund the awards through the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative. Application deadlines vary by program area. The Academy advocated for this and other food and nutrition research grant mechanisms during the passage of the 2014 Farm Bill.
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FDA Announces Dietetics and Nutrition Webinar Series
The Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition and the Joint Institute for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition are sponsoring a food and nutrition webinar series for 2015. The series consists of four presentations, two each in the Spring and Fall. The spring webinars are scheduled for noon Central Time on March 24 and April 20. Dates for the Fall webinars will be announced later. The purpose is to communicate updated information on FDA’s food and nutrition regulatory processes that are relevant to professional practice. The series is designed for professionals with a focus on nutrition and dietetics, including practitioners, students, interns and faculty in dietetics and nutrition as well as other professional areas.
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RDNs Encouraged to Seize Opportunities Under New Oncology Care Models
Registered dietitian nutritionists know the value they bring to care for oncology patients. Now there is an opportunity to demonstrate that value to others, by participating in an innovative new payment model being tested by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation. The CMS Innovation Center is soliciting applications from physician practices administering chemotherapy to participate in the Oncology Care Model. RDNs who work with physician group practices and solo practitioners that furnish cancer chemotherapy, and are paid under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, should speak with these practices now to determine if they plan to apply to participate in OCM and to discuss how RDNs can bring value to the model. Letters of intent are due April 23 and applications are due June 18.
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eNCPT Tutorials and CPE Now Available
Free, updated tutorials are available to learn more about the new eNCPT. Access the most current and up-to-date terms for nutrition care and comply with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ mandate that clinical terminologies in electronic health record systems must be in SNOMED and LOINC. Click on the “Pricing” tab and the yellow button under "Subscribe Today."
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Weight Discrimination
Ten percent of women and 5 percent of men have experienced weight discrimination. Read more about this important topic.
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Mediterranean Diets
With new attention being paid to the Mediterranean diet, what is the evidence?
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Dietary Phosphorus
Phosphorus has long been known to be detrimental for patients with chronic kidney disease. New data show the same may be true for the healthy population.
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Congratulations to Academy's Newly Elected Leaders
The results are in and the Nominating Committee is pleased to report the outcome of the Academy's 2015 national election. Congratulations to the Academy's newly elected leaders and a special thank you to every member who voted.
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Free Downloadable National Nutrition Month PowerPoint and Handout
Download the Academy's 30-minute 2015 National Nutrition Month PowerPoint presentation with notes pages and an accompanying handout.
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'It's All About You’ from Dietary Guidelines Alliance
The Dietary Guidelines Alliance is making healthy, family fun easy with a toolkit full of nutrition tips, activity ideas and more.
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Celebrate National Kidney Month
March is National Kidney Month - a great time to help raise awareness about kidney health. The National Kidney Disease Education Program makes it easy with six ways in 60 seconds that you can share information about kidney health. Visit NKDEP's "Get Involved" website for more ways to raise kidney health awareness.
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Food Safety Focus for World Health Day
As the food supply becomes increasingly globalized, the need to strengthen food safety systems within and between all countries is becoming more evident. The World Health Organization has announced the focus of World Health Day 2015 on April 7 will be food safety. WHO is promoting efforts to improve food safety, from farm to plate and everywhere in between.
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Kids Eat Right International Everyday Heroes
Read about February's Kids Eat Right Everyday Heroes – with an international focus.
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Impact of Foundation's Scholarship Program
Did you know the Foundation offers $1.5 million in scholarships to dietetics students over the last three years? See the Foundation's impact on the profession. Academy National Sponsor Abbott Nutrition will match up to $20,000 of members' contributions this month.
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Application Deadline March 19: Foundation Scholarships
The Foundation is committed to providing scholarships to dietetics students at all levels of study. Scholarships are funded by individual donors, state and regional affiliates, dietetic practice groups and Academy partners including Colgate-Palmolive Company, Commission on Dietetic Registration, ConAgra Foods, ILSI North America, New Jersey Dietetic Association and Mead Johnson Nutrition. The application has been upgraded and is now an online process. Email Beth Labrador with questions.
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Application Deadline Extended to April 1: Pittsburgh Dietetic Association Leadership Development Award
This award was established to recognize emerging leaders among current graduates of supervised practice programs and encourage their participation in Academy activities. The award will cover expenses up to $1,000 for one qualified applicant to attend the Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo. Applicants must be a resident of Pennsylvania or a student or graduate of a Pennsylvania program.
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Application Deadline Extended to April 1: Barbara Ann F. Hughes – NEP DPG Continuing Education Award
This $1,000 award provides educational stipends for nutrition professionals on the subjects of policy initiatives, advocacy and private practice. Preference is given to members of Nutrition Education for the Public dietetic practice group.
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Application Deadline Extended to April 1: Food and Culinary Professionals DPG Communication and Education Fund
The Food and Culinary Professionals dietetic practice group created this fund to create and support lectureships and to provide awards that support individuals with an interest in the mission of FCP in their participation in culinary learning educational experiences. Examples of eligible programs include attending the Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo; FCP culinary workshops or educational events during FNCE; and domestic and international FCP culinary trips or culinary education meetings sponsored by other organizations.
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