PNPG Special Interest Groups (SIGs)
Note: The SIGs are membership only sections. PNPG members who wish to access these sections need to login first!
Some of you may be new to pediatric nutrition, and some of you are veterans of many years. No matter your level of experience, there may be a particular topic or area of pediatrics that sparks your interest. Pediatric nutrition encompasses many different developmental phases and disease processes, which can be exciting and overwhelming at the same time!
In the past, there were specialization groups within the Pediatric Nutrition Practice Group (PNPG) that were formed based on specific areas of interest or patient age groups. These groups were called Sub-Specialty Units or SSUs. Most recently there were 11 SSUs including: Cystic Fibrosis and Pulmonary, Inborn Errors of Metabolism, Infant Nutrition and Breastfeeding, Neonatology, Diabetes, Wellness and Weight Management, Gastroenterology and Food Allergy, Failure to Thrive, Children with Special Health Care Needs, Nutrition Support Services, and Eating Disorders and Adolescents. Every SSU varied in the number of members that participated and in the level of networking that occurred. At the meeting for the PNPG Executive Committee last spring, a task force was formed to explore ways to make these groups as beneficial as possible to members of PNPG.
As a result of the efforts of the task force, many exciting changes have taken place over the summer and fall. The name of the SSUs will change to Special Interest Group (SIG). Any member of PNPG can be a member of any or all SIGs. A dietitian who has been practicing with a certain population for a number of years may choose to be a member of that SIG to provide his or her expertise to other members within that SIG. A dietitian who is practicing in a new area of pediatrics may choose to be a member of that SIG to network with dietitians who have more experience with that population.
The consensus of the task force was that the SIGs may be more interactive if there are fewer SIGs. Therefore SIGs that have similar interests were combined. For example, the Infant Nutrition and Breastfeeding SIG and Neonatology SIG were combined; the Diabetes SIG and Wellness and Weight Management SIG were combined; and the Gastroenterology and Food Allergy and Failure to Thrive SIG were combined. Two of the SIGs were discontinued due to the existence of similar resources already available for dietitians, resulting in competition of time and energy of PNPG members within those SIGs. The two groups that have been discontinued are Cystic Fibrosis and Pulmonary and Inborn Errors of Metabolism. Three of the SIGs remain unchanged and include Eating Disorders and Adolescents SIG, Children with Special Health Care Needs SIG, and Nutrition Support Services SIG.
Each SIG will typically have a Chair and Co-Chair to lead and support the members in their activities. However, since this year (2008-2009) is a transition year to the new structure, the SIGs that were combined will have two Chairs. One of the Chairs will continue to be Chair of the SIG for next year (2009-2010) in order to mentor the incoming Co-Chair.
The projects or activities of the SIGs are meant to be meaningful, achievable, and optional. Proposed ideas include:
1) resource lists with products specific to the specialty,
2) comprehensive reference lists,
3) SIG specific newsletters, and
4) development of educational materials.
These are resources that could be added to the PNPG website for the SIG. The Forum on the PNPG website is monitored for relevance by the Co-Chairs of each SIG. When a question is posted on the Forum that is relevant to the specialty group, the Co-Chairs will post an e-blast to the SIG members to alert them about the post.
A survey will be conducted with PNPG members to determine how the SIGs could be more useful to them.
Children with Special Health Care Needs
This SIG is for members of PNPG who work with infants, children and adolescents who have chronic health conditions, such as cerebral palsy, autism, various genetic syndromes, inborn errors of metabolism, etc.
This SIG also is the "home" for RD's who work with children on ketogenic diets as well as RD's who work with Early Intervention programs throughout the United States. Members find this SIG a helpful way to network with others for resources, technical assistance and support.
Diabetes, Wellness & Weight Management
This SIG intends to serve as a resource for its members who are working with children and adolescents to improve health outcomes of diabetes and pediatric overweight. We will be able achieve these goals through annual/biannual newsletters and through the online forum.
The members of this SIG may be the best resources for each other and this SIG recognizes that there is not one specific program or intervention that fits for every population, but may be a combination of many interventions to meet the needs of children, adolescents, and their families.
Eating Disorders, Adolescents
This SIG provides an opportunity to learn more about eating disorders, and other nutrition-related issues in adolescents. We want to help you stay updated on the most current information and resources available in this field of practice!
Failure to Thrive, Gastroenterology & Allergy
We are really excited about serving as your chairs for the SIG this year. We are currently working on a welcome letter to inform everyone of our plans for the rest of the year!
We are also trying to get a monthly question in the web forum to get everyone involved and sharing knowledge. We are beginning a newsletter in hopes to better inform everyone of the latest knowledge and information available for the failure to thrive population.
In addition, the newsletter can offer writing and information sharing opportunities for both new and experienced practitioners. If interested in contributing to the newsletter, please contact the chairs.
Infant Nutrition, Breast Feeding & Neonatology
This SIG provides dietetic professionals with a forum for sharing ideas and discussing issues that affect us in our everyday practice of caring for healthy and sick infants.
We are instrumental in the promotion, protection, and preservation of breastfeeding and breastmilk feeding as optimal nutrition for most all infants, as well as supporting optimal growth during this crucial time in a child's life.
Joining this SIG is a benefit of being a PNPG member.
Nutrition Support Services
This SIG is comprised of pediatric dietitians who support parenteral and enteral nutrition for their patients. Nutrition Support RDs who obtain much of their practice guidance from ASPEN and Dietitians in Nutrition Support will find the NSS-SIG to provide pediatric specific information and updates.
A yearly Spring-Summer newsletter will be written including topics of interest to the members. The new NSS-SIG setup brings an opportunity for more frequent interaction between members.
A discussion topic will be posted periodically to the web forum to prompt exchange of ideas. Ideas for newsletter article topics will be requested through the forum.
