Training Programs

Infant & Pediatric Feeding Process Management Practicum

The University of Michigan, C.S. Mott Children’s & Von Voigtlander Women’s Hospital, is excited to announce a learning opportunity in Infant and Pediatric Feeding Process Management. This innovative three-day practicum is hosted by the University of Michigan’s Milk Room. The Milk Room is a centralized operation which operates 24 hours/day, 7 days/week, to safely and accurately prepare infant and pediatric feedings of mixed formulas, as well as to store/fortify breast milk in the inpatient hospital setting.

Goals of Practicum:

  1. To provide the Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN)/professional with a foundation in operational planning for implementation of a breast milk and/or formula preparation room.
  2. To enable the RD to implement and utilize best practices to prepare breast milk and infant and pediatric mixed formula feedings in the hospital setting at the home institution.

Objectives of Practicum:

The RD/healthcare professional will:

  1. Acquire or develop tools to implement a centralized, lean operation of feeding preparation at their home institution.
  2. Adeptly discuss the criteria for utilizing best practices to prepare breast milk and infant and pediatric mixed formula feedings in the hospital setting.

Learning Activities:

The three day program will be precepted by the Milk Room Supervisor, from our Department of Patient Food and Nutrition Services. The learning activities will encompass, but are not limited to, the following broad domains to ensure complete understanding of the complex decision making processes involved in implementing a centralized feeding operation.

  • Operational Planning
  • Scope of Service Discussions and writing of Policies and Procedures
  • Infection Control & Aseptic Technique
  • Set Up Plan, including Equipment Needed & Procurement Considerations
  • Necessary Staffing Model, Work Processes, and Training Plans
  • Creating and Managing a Breast Milk Inventory System
  • Order Processing, Standardized Orders, and Recipe Writing Process
  • Team work with our Registered Dietitian Nutritionist
  • Emergency Plans and Security Plans
  • Quality Improvement Efforts

CPEU: Participants will receive 20 CPEU credits
Cost: The registration fee for the 3 day practicum is $1,000. The practicum fee applies for attendance of up to three individuals from one institution. The candidate(s) is responsible for any additional costs associated with lodging, travel, and meals.

Interested candidates may visit the website for information at http://www.med.umich.edu/pfans/services/confinfo.html

Pediatric Leadership Training Opportunity

Pediatric Leadership Training: Nutrition traineeship with a focus on children with neurodevelopmental disabilities and interdisciplinary care. The program provides a 10-12 month curriculum of didactic courses, interactive seminars, clinical and community-based practica, and systems level policy activities. Applicants for admission must be students currently enrolled in a master's or doctoral program or a graduate of such a program. Registered dietitians and nutrition graduate students who demonstrate leadership potential and have career goals to practice in the field of childhood developmental disabilities are encouraged to apply. Funds are available for tuition assistance and a stipend for qualified applicants.

For materials or more information, please contact Janet Willis at 804/828-0073, or e-mail mailto:jwillis@vcu.edu. Application materials and course information on the web site: http://www.vcu.edu/partnership/valend/.

Maternal and Child Nutrition Traineeships

Four universities offer education and training opportunities in maternal and child nutrition to RDs seeking a master's or doctoral degree in public health nutrition. The programs vary in their emphasis and length of study, but all provide support in the form of tuition assistance, fees, and a monthly stipend. The US Maternal and Child Health Bureau, US Department of Health and Human Services funds these traineeships. Contact the individual university programs listed below for information and application materials.

University of California, Los Angeles
Department of Community Health Sciences
School of Public Health
10833 Le Conte Ave, Box 951772
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1772
Attn: Marion Taylor Baer, PhD, RD
Email: mtbaer@ucla.edu

University of Minnesota
Division of Epidemiology
School of Public Health
Suite 300, WBOB
1300 South 2nd Street
Minneapolis, MN 55454-1015
Attn: Jamie Stang, PhD, MPH, RD or Mary Story, PhD, RD
Email: stang@epi.umn.edu or story@epi.umn.edu

University of North Carolina
Department of Nutrition
CB #7400
McGavran-Greenberg Hall
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7400
Attn: Jan Dodds, EdD, RD
Email: jan_dodds@unc.edu

The University of Tennessee
Department of Nutrition
1215 West Cumberland Avenue
229 JHB
Knoxville, TN 37996-1900
Attn: Betsy Haughton, EdD, RD
Email: haughton@utk.edu
Carrie J. Barker
725 Brookridge Circle
Knoxville, TN 37920
865/405-0625
email: cbarker3@utk.edu

Ketogenic Diet Training Webinar endorsed by the Charlie Foundation for Ketogenic Therapies

Sign up for one of the upcoming series:  each series are three – 2-hour classes.

  • Learn from 2 RDNs with over 41 years of combined experience in ketogenic therapies for a variety of applications.
  • Expand your practice beyond ketogenic diet therapy for epilepsy.
  • Includes hard copies of supportive media: professional, pediatric, adult and enteral.
  • Approved by the CDR for 6 CPEs.

Fall class series:  October – 10, 17, 24: 3:00-5:00PM CST

Early winter class series:  November – 6, 13, 20: 2:00-4:00PM CST

Download webinar brochure HERE