Webinars

Fresh Start - Intersecting Culinary, Behavioral Support, and Social Determinants of Health to Optimize Diabetes Self-Management

Date: August 28, 2024

Time: 12 p.m. - 1 p.m. (CT)

To optimize diabetes self-management and glycemic control multiple factors driving health outcomes must be addressed and include socioeconomic factors (40%, e.g., income/food insecurity), health behaviors (30% diet quality, physical activity), access and quality of health care (20% diabetes self-management education (DSME)). This session will describe the Fresh Start program’s comprehensive approach that integrates individually established evidence-based strategies to address to address each area that predicts health outcomes and successful improvements in diabetes self-management and glycemic control with an average decline of 1.87% HbA1c observed within 4 months for individuals who participated in all components of the program. The Fresh Start program includes 3 synergistic components, 1) the provision of 9 group classes to address knowledge, skills and self-efficacy around food, diabetes self-management and physical activity, 2) one on one health coaching conducted over the phone for individualized nutrition and physical activity behavioral goal targets, 3) a produce prescription with complimentary recipes to promote access to healthful food. The developed framework for needed community partnerships and best practices for implementation and evaluation will be expanded on for replication in other regions and settings and the potential to address other nutrition related cardiometabolic conditions will be outlined.

Speaker

Lauren Sastre, PhD, RDN, LDN

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Understanding the Black Maternal and Infant Mortality Crisis and Exploring Ways Registered Dietitians Can Lean In

Date: July 24, 2024

Time: 12 p.m. - 1 p.m. (CT)

The black maternal and infant mortality crisis is a growing public health concern. Understanding the barriers black mothers and their infants face will better help healthcare practitioners lean in to offer strategies and create a safe place and opportunities for black mothers and their infants to thrive. Registered Dietitians have an important role to play and can help improve the life expectancy for both mother and baby. Nutrition plays a vital part in the fertility, pregnancy and post-partum process in keeping expectant mothers healthy and well, so lifesaving nutrients can be transferred in utero and upon deliver to the infant. Breastfeeding initiation and continuation rates are the lowest among black mothers this is coupled with many other factors such as education and access to support and supplies which may further compound the premature mortality of black infants. However, registered dietitians can stand in the gap, in many instances. This presentation will provide background into the black maternal and infant mortality crises and will explore how registered dietitians can stand in the gap to improve access to care and provide equitable nutrition education and nutrition therapy to mothers and their infants.

Speaker

Sue-Ellen Anderson-Haynes, MS, RDN, CDCES, LDN, NASM-WFS CPT

Careers in Public Health Community Nutrition

Date: June 26, 2024

Time: 12 p.m. - 1 p.m. (CT)

This webinar is the first webinar offered in a series based on the various careers of Public Health Community Nutrition professionals. Most of the speakers will be board members or members of the PHCN DPG. During this series each speaker will explain their current role in Public Health Community Nutrition while providing a brief background of how they got to their current positions.

Speakers

Nicole Larson, PhD, MPH, RDN, LD

Cicely Thomas, DCN.M.Ed.RDN.LD.FAND

Cindy Davis, MPH, RDN

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Tribal Food Access, Food Security and Traditional Foods Across Northwest Tribal Communities

Date: May 29, 2024

Time: 12 p.m. - 1 p.m. (CT)

This presentation will discuss the meaning of food sovereignty, and key findings of a recently completed study of food insecurity, access and traditional foods conducted in the Pacific Northwest in the wake of COVID-19. Five key findings of the research will be discussed:

1. Food security has remained high,
2. Food assistance use is much higher than pre-pandemic rates,
3. Rising consumer pricing is a major concern,
4. Majority of tribal people report engagement with traditional foods, and
5. Traditional foods have been widely reported as difficult to obtain.

In addition, we will discuss, lessons learned while working with tribal communities around food sovereignty and security, and the meaning of traditional foods that dietitians should consider when working in tribal communities.

Speakers

Victoria Warren-Mears, PhD, RDN, FAND

Dr. Victoria Warren-Mears holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in home economics from Washington State University and a doctorate in nutrition sciences from the University of Washington. She also completed a certificate of human subjects’ investigation at Oregon Health & Science University. For the last 17 ½ years she has had the honor of serving the 43 federally recognized tribes of Idaho, Oregon and Washington as the Director of the Northwest Tribal Epidemiology Center. She is a fellow of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and currently is the Past-Chair of the Public Health and Community Nutrition Practice Group.

WIC! Innovative Practices and Legislative Updates

Date: February 28, 2024

Time: 12 p.m. - 1 p.m. (CT)

Darlena Birch, MBA, RDN, Senior Manager, Public Health at the National WIC Association (NWA), will give us a glimpse of the current projects and goals to promote and advance racial and healthy equity in public health. Presented amongst the backdrop of the WIC legislative updates from Capitol Hill, it has never been more vital that the inequities in nutrition, breastfeeding, and prenatal and postpartum health outcomes are elevated. The WIC program has always been an innovator in food as medicine and quality nutrition education services, NWA is committed to lending their expertise to ensure that the food insecurity and nationwide racial and health inequities are addressed. Coming through the COVID-19 pandemic necessitated the identification of innovative strategies to provide services, resources, and support to millions of women, infant, and young children. Join this webinar to learn more how subject matter experts in nutrition, lactation, research, and policy are raising the bar in public health services and support.

Speakers

Darlena Birch, MBA, RDN

Darlena Birch's WIC journey commenced at the grassroots level within a local agency serving an 8,600-resident rural community along the Arizona-New Mexico border. Progressing from a role as the agency's WIC director and Registered Dietitian, Darlena ventured to the Arizona WIC state office in Phoenix. Her drive for growth led her back east, where she served as the Training Center Nutritionist with the Maryland WIC state office. Currently, Darlena oversees NWA's nutrition and breastfeeding initiatives, contributing to advocacy efforts, crafting public comments, and contributing her expertise in the evaluation of research/studies pertaining to nutrition and breastfeeding.

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PHCN Webinar Series: Careers in Public Health Community Nutrition

Date: January 31, 2024

Time: 12 p.m. - 1 p.m. (CT)

The field of Nutrition is so widespread and broad. There are so many Registered Dietitian in public health and community nutrition and so many different career paths, we feel it is important to share this information with future Dietitians. The Careers webinars will highlight 2-3 Registered Dietitian currently working in public health community nutrition. During the 1-hour webinar each speaker will have the chance to discuss their current position and how their particular backgrounds allowed to the achieve their current status. This webinar will be offered free to students in order to gain an interest in public health community nutrition and to gain more about what we do in this particular field.

Speakers

Beth Cordova, MPA, RDN

Beth Cordova received both her Bachelor of Science in Dietetics and her Master of Public Administration from California State University, Long Beach. She has been employed at the PHFE WIC Program since 2002, currently working as the Dietetic Internship Director. She currently serves as Treasurer for the California Academy of Nutrition, Chair Elect for the Public Health Community Nutrition Dietetic Practice Group, and a member of the Association of State Public Health Nutritionists’ Maternal & Child Health (MCH) Nutrition Council’s DEIA work group. Beth considers it an honor and a privilege to serve future dietetic professionals.

Marianella Herrera, MD, PhD

Marianella Herrera graduated from Medical School at Central University of Venezuela, and holds a Master and a Doctorate in Human Nutrition both from Simon Bolivar University in Caracas. She currently is a Visiting professor at Framingham State University and Simmons University, both in Massachusetts, and continues her research in Venezuela, Latin America and the USA through diverse projects. She has served the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics through different roles: past-president of the International Affiliate, past Chair of the Council on research, past NNC at LAHIDAN and she currently is the NCC of this wonderful group: PHCN.

Victoria Warren-Mears, PhD, RDN, FAND

For 17 years, Victoria Warren-Mears has served as Division Director of the Northwest Tribal Epidemiology Center. She is responsible for staff management, grant writing, and program development at the direction of tribal leaders to improve health outcomes for tribes in the Portland area. Victoria received a Ph.D. from the University of Washington and a BS and MS from Washington State University. Victoria has been involved in developing tribally driven best practices for data sharing, use, and stewardship. As an active Academy Member, she served as State President for Washington and Oregon Academies and former Chair of the PHCN Practice group.

Joint Webinar (PHCN DPG/AAPI MIG/SHPN DPG/VN DPG): Straight Talk About Soy-Based and Dairy-Free Diet

Date: December 6, 2023

As a lifelong consumer of soy, Dr. Yen Ang is a fierce advocate for the truths about soy and dairy-free options for good health. Dr. Yen will review the evidence of billions of Asians who raise multi-generational of healthy families throughout history on a soy-based diet without relying heavily on dairy. Asians who adopt a traditional plant-based diet suffer low prevalence of many Western sicknesses such as obesity, heart disease, certain cancers and bone diseases.

Dr. Yen will debunk some of myth surrounding the health effects of soy and discuss the odd obsession by the western media about the controversy. She will expose “smelly lunch” phenomenon and other systemic cultural biases in many of our federal nutrition assistance programs which stand in the way of one fully embracing a dairy-free diet.

As an Olympic medalist, Dotsie Bausch knows intimately dairy products and animal-based foods are not necessary to achieve peak athletic performance. Bausch will discuss how a plant-based diet can give professional athletes a competitive edge.

Bausch believes everyone must have equitable and fair access to dairy-free options that don’t hurt their wallet, and the planet. In this segment, she will discuss her effort to create dairy-free alternatives in schools and corporations for a greener environment and social justice. Specifically, her champion for soymilk access to school children in the National School Lunch Program through the ADD SOY Act; and her advocacy to get Starbucks to remove their upcharge for non-dairy milk on all their drinks.

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Preserving Delights: Where Your Journey into Food Preservation Begins!

Date: September 20, 2023

Time: 12 pm - 1 pm (CT)

In this informative webinar, we will dive into the science and art of food preservation. Dr. Schwan will guide you through the scientific principles of canning, freezing, and drying, where you will learn about science-based preservation techniques and gain a deeper understanding of how these methods work to keep your food safe and flavorful. You will learn about canning low-acid and high-acid foods, safety considerations, and necessary steps in canning both types, empowering you to preserve a wide range of culinary delights confidently.

QPR Gatekeeper Training

Date: August 30, 2023

Time: 12 pm - 1 pm (CT)

Help save a life with three simple steps. Just as people trained in CPR help save thousands of lives each year, people trained in QPR learn to recognize the warning signs of a suicide crisis and to question, persuade, and refer someone to help. Each year, thousands of Americans like you are saying "yes" to saving the life of a friend, colleague, family member, or neighbor. QPR Gatekeeper Training is brought to you by your colleague, Cindy Davis, MPH, RDN.

Red Alert Babies: When WIC Newborn Babies Have Lost Too Much Weight

Date: July 26, 2023

Time: 12 pm - 1 pm (CT)

Breastfeeding assessments are a critical part of WIC services that are offered to WIC families. At PHFE WIC, we wanted to improve our newborn screening tools to ensure that staff were making appropriate recommendations to our mothers. Staff were trained to weigh newborn babies in a dry diaper and assess the infant's weight compared to their birthweight. We created a "traffic light" schematic with "Red, Yellow and Green" zones, so that staff could easily identify babies who had lost more weight than expected. Staff were trained on the appropriate Plan of Care for "Red Alert" zone babies which includes a temporary supplementation plan for feeding the baby, protecting mother's milk supply, and a referral to the baby's doctor. This session will describe how the Red Alert Baby project improves both the breastfeeding assessment and the identification of babies with higher than expected weight loss in the WIC program.

Opportunities to Strengthen and Enhance Roles of RDNs in Public Health

Date: June 28, 2023

Time: 12 pm - 1 pm (CT)

When we choose our professional path, we may overlook the many opportunities for the dietetics professionals in public health. Registered Dietitians play a primary role in reducing health disparities by educating the communities and initiating behavior changes. As advocates for policy change and implementation of chronic disease prevention programs that will better serve the communities at risk of hunger and nutrition related morbidity rates, dietitians can be the change that public health and community nutrition needs. Because less registered dietitians are choosing professions in public health, more and more programs are left with a significant gap of knowledge as a subject matter expert in nutrition. Entering leadership positions in public health is methodical in addressing these gaps in knowledge and expertise that heavily influence programmatic outcomes.

Evaluation of the PA Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-Education: Online Nutrition Education Dissemination During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Date: April 5, 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic forced a transition from in-person to virtual education for many. This change to online learning caused many challenges for educators and students. Drexel University's PA SNAP-Ed/Eat Right Philly (DRX ERP) Program created and conducted virtual nutrition education programs with K-12th grade students in the School District of Philadelphia, requiring new skills and adaptation of traditional teaching methods. To evaluate the effectiveness of DRX ERP virtual education, an external evaluator studied the effectiveness of the DRX ERP High School curriculum delivered virtually in six Philadelphia high schools. Participant behavior change was assessed and nutrition coordinator's observations of conducting virtual programming was noted. Lessons learned can help to guide future virtual education programming. Virtual learning opportunities should be considered as an option to reach participants and a potential to meet under-served participants.

Waste Watcher’s Series Webinar #2: Jamaican Pumpkin Soup

Date: June 5, 2022

The Human and Environmental Nutrition and Public Health and Community Nutrition Dietetic Practice Groups have partnered together to bring you the “Waste Watchers Series” – a series of webinars focused on the reduction of food waste and utilizing what you have on hand to cook a delicious meal. In the second installment of this series, Sherri C Pinero you will cover the basics of composting, including what to compost and creating and maintaining a compost. You will then join a cook-along session. Teslyn Henry-King will demonstrate how to make "Jamaican Pumpkin Soup", while sharing cultural food norms and preferences and factors influencing dietary practices in Caribbean populations. You will have access to the recipe prior to the event, so you can gather your ingredients and cook along if you'd like!

Taking Action Against Food Waste Through Policy and Advocacy

Date: May 11, 2022

This webinar will address local successes in policy and advocacy work to prevent the loss or waste of food. The two states that will be discussed include California and Maryland. Pearson King, of the Los Angeles Food Policy Council, will discuss his work with LAFPC's Food Waste Prevention and Rescue Working Group, and the policy and advocacy work that led to California's new composting and organics recycling law. Brenda Platt of the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, will discuss her work to move Maryland forward on composting wasted food and other organics, and current food waste legislation in that state. Members of the HEN and PHCN DPGs Public Policy Committees will also discuss food loss and waste bills that are pending in Congress and how the Academy is advocating for those bills.

Privilege and Implicit Biases in the Nutrition Profession

Date: April 21, 2022

Throughout the last 100 years, diet recommendations and the nutrition profession reflect privilege and systemic bias, which continues to blame, subjugate, and marginalize people of color (especially Asian Americans) and negatively impact public health goals and outcomes.

In this session, Dr. Burt will share the history of the profession and use the Mediterranean Diet and Monosodium Glutamate recommendations as primary examples of covert bias. To achieve health equity, we must identify the myriad forms of bias impacting the profession, understand the visible and invisible ways different persons are impacted by bias, and take specific actions to create a more equitable health and food system.

Professor Siew Sun Wong will present her 28 years of journey in the U.S. as an English as Second Language (ESL) student and later a minority faculty in the field of nutrition. Through her personal stories from experiencing implicit biases in Dietetics education, classroom discrimination, and promotion and tenure derision, she will share seven lessons learnt as a survival guide for Asian immigrants. Using the Center for the Improvement of Mentored Experience in Research (CIMER) curriculum, attendees will get to share their stories, their "I like, I wish, I wonder" and best practices. The session will conclude with a celebration of transformation.

Waste Watchers Series: Clean Out the Fridge Fried Rice!

Date: January 23, 2022

During this virtual event you will learn about food waste and then join a cook-along cooking class! Fallon Bader will demonstrate how to make "Clean Out The Fridge Fried Rice", which is a delicious recipe that helps to use what you have on hand. You will have access to the recipe prior to the event, so you can gather your ingredients and cook along if you'd like!

Perspectives on Dietetics: Past, Present and Future

Date: January 19, 2022

Join us for a conversation with a dynamic panel of dietitians, the discussion will explore perspectives on what led them to dietetics. How did their cultural experiences, ethnic and racial identity intersect with their journey pursuing a career in dietetics. Exploration into what the future of dietetics will hold through a diverse lens.

This session will also include a Native American Elder blessing as an opening to the panel discussion.

Building Workforce Capacity in Public Health Nutrition and Community Nutrition

Date: Thursday, May 13, 2021

Worldwide, the prevalence of malnutrition and noncommunicable disease continues to increase, driven by rapidly changing dietary patterns, demographic shifts, climate change, systemic racism, political instability, persistent economic inequities and the repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic. In this challenging context, a well-trained public health and community nutrition workforce is critical to manage and contribute to interventions to improve population health. This webinar will describe the results of a study that used surveys and interviews to examine the preparedness and capacity of registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs) to work in public health and community nutrition. This will be followed by a panel discussion with several RDNs working in public health and community nutrition. The panel will reflect on the results of the study and identify pragmatic ways to increase RDN interest in and capacity to pursue careers and leadership positions in public health and community nutrition.

Structural Competency and Stigma

Date: Thursday, March 4, 2021

The webinar will define structural barriers to health equity and describe how stigma reflects societal values at a structural level. Using a case study approach, we will draw a distinction between structural barriers and the social determinants of health. We will also review the five steps to structural competency described in the seminal work of Metzel and Hansen (2014). Webinar participants learn how to conceptualize interventions that address structural barriers using a more integrated and interdisciplinary conceptualization of health and well-being. Webinar participants will have the opportunity to reflect on how to re-conceptualize health care delivery in a way that centers on health equity.

Hot Topics in Public Health and Community Nutrition: Identifying and Addressing Racial Bias in the Provision of Public Health and Clinical Nutrition Services

Date: Thursday, January 21, 2021

This webinar will address how racial bias leads to public and nutritional health access disparities and consequential health risks across the five levels of the Social-Ecological Model. Participants will identify examples of explicit and implicit racial bias and observe racially inclusive and affirming nutrition services in public health and clinical settings. Racial literacy tools for health care providers will be shared, and participants will leave the webinar with an individualized anti-racism toolkit for self-learning and confidence to provide inclusive and affirming public health and clinical nutrition services to diverse racial and ethnic groups.