Experiences
Professional Experiences
Regional Center for Border Health
Nutritionist/Health Educator
December 2021 - Present
San Luis Medical Mall
After two semesters of internship, while I was in my last undergraduate semester, I was offered a position at Regional Center for Border Health to become a part-time member of the Health Education Department.
Co-design programs (women's health, prenatal nutrition, adolescents, culinary medicine, and diabetes) that promote medical nutrition therapy and nutrition education/counseling to patient by implementing one-on-one nutrition consultations, group sessions, and clinical support to clinical provider during private consultations
Co-develop teaching kitchen and mobile kitchen, that include buying and inventorying products and equipment
Develop education materials distributed at the clinics across Yuma County about topics including women’s health nutrition, gestational diabetes prevention, pediatric nutrition, and culinary medicine
Coordinate health fair events with cooking demonstrations and educational presentations and represent RCBH at health fairs across the community
Teach lecture/hands-on classes about nutrition, culinary medicine, and physical activity in 2022 Nuestros Niños, Nuestra Comunidad Summer Program
Undergraduate Intern
I completed three semesters of undergraduate internship at the Regional Center for Border Health. My internship faculty was Professor Ashlee Linares-Gaffer, MS, RDN, FAND.
January 2021 - May 2022
San Luis Medical Mall - OB-GYN Department
June 2021 - May 2022
Shadowed Obstetrician and Gynecologist at Women’s Health clinic through in-person visits
Provided education about 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans during Pregnancy for pregnant patients across all trimesters
Created English-Spanish prenatal nutrition education handbook using MyPlate, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, ACOG, and CDC guidelines to promote increased prenatal nutrition awareness
Wrote pre-natal nutrition program project proposal designed to increase access to multi-modal nutrition education, with a focus on lifestyle interventions to prevent maternal obesity and gestational diabetes
Center for Children with Special Needs and Autism
January 2021 - May 2021
Observed speech language pathologist at feeding clinic through in-person and telemedicine visits; applied knowledge of nutritional principles, theory, and ethics in assigned readings and clinical hours
Created English-Spanish nutrition education handouts and sample menus in accordance with MyPlate; observed and participated in clinical counseling and nutrition education to increase health literacy
Developed professional skills through use of eClinical Works (EHR), Pediatric Nutrition Care Manual, Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Evidence Analysis Library, UpToDate, and EndNote software
Arizona Western College
Supplemental Instruction Leader
August 2019 - May 2022
Student Success Center
Conducted in-person and virtual Supplemental Instruction (SI) Sessions for General Chemistry 1 and Organic Chemistry 2, up to 84 students/semester; coordinated SI Sessions for over 300 students in the Chemistry Department
Created agendas/session plans and facilitated collaborative student learning groups through regularly scheduled study sessions twice a week outside of the class period in order to help student achieve success in class on examinations and laboratory assignments
Planned and organized activities based on assessment of student knowledge/learning gaps that integrate course content and learning strategies to supplement classroom instruction by utilizing different learning and studying methods on both an individual and group basis
Served on 2021/2022 AWC Foundation Scholarship Committee; reviewed 42 applicants
Mathematics and Science Tutor
January 2019 - May 2019
Student Success Center
Provided academic support and guidance to help students succeed through Arizona Western College Student Success Center Mission and support students growth, academically and professionally, into a capable and confident learner at Arizona Western College and beyond
Served as peer academic mentor to promote student learning with a focus on comprehension and application for Mathematics courses up to Calculus I, Biology courses up to Anatomy and Physiology II, Chemistry courses up to General Chemistry II
Obtained certification as Level 1 Tutor through College Reading and Learning Association and participated in training seminars to develop communication, teaching, and professional skills
Leadership Experiences
June 2022- Present
Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
President - Southwest District, Arizona Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
Voting Executive Board Member of the Arizona Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
Represent district membership, attend Executive Board Meetings and Annual Meeting
Coordinate district volunteering and outreach events
June 2021- June 2022
President-Elect - Southwest District, AZAND
Regularly attended meeting, help develop and participate in recruiting events
Coordinated mentoring program between members and UAZ-Yuma nutrition students
Served on 2021/2022 awards and scholarship committee to review and select candidates
June 2021- Present
Student Representative - Arizona Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
First Arizona Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Student Representative
Attend AZAND Board of Director meetings as non-voting member-submitting agenda information for affiliate to be aware of student initiatives and needs with a focus on greater student outreach
June 2021 - Present
Student Liaison - Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
Serve as a point of contact to communicate AND student member initiatives, messages and other information to UAZ nutrition students and participate in recruitment and retention of student members
Provide feedback on student initiatives through quarterly reports and postings on the AND Student Leader Community
Recipient of AND’s 2022 National Nutrition Month® Student Program Award
June 2021- Present
Poster Session Coordinator - Arizona Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
Actively recruit students and interns from all ACEND accredited dietetics programs in Arizona to present their research, experiential learning activities and internship projects at the Annual Meeting
Collaborate with committee members to develop equitable selection process for submissions
Attend all committee conference-planning meetings and participate in decision-making processes for all aspects of the conference including theme and speaker selection, conference schedule, conference promotion, and incentives for conference attendees to engage with poster session coordinators
Design promotional/advertising flyers for 2022 conference
June 2021 - Present
Co-Student Representative - Nutrition Education for the Public, Dietetic Practice Group
Co-develop FNCE student/member recruitment event with President-Elect and fellow student representatives, including developing theme, recruiting speakers, and coordinating event
Work in collaboration with fellow student representatives and Executive Team to develop student section on new website and develop video highlighting student benefits and experiences in the DPG
University of Arizona - School of Nutritional Sciences and Wellness
Undergraduate Preceptor
January 2021-May 2022
Medical Nutrition Therapy 1 (NSC 425)
January 2022 - May 2022
Grade disease activity assignments and provide individualized feedback through D2L learning management system; systems included cardiovascular, pulmonary, and renal
Develop activities and presentations about important Drug-Nutrient Interactions
Assist graduate assistant with development and presentation of exam reviews
Foundations of Medical Nutrition Therapy Lab (NSC 325L)
August 2022 - May 2022
Grade activity assignments and provide individualized feedback through D2L learning management system on topics such as the nutrition focused physical exam, tube feeding order writing, and motivational interviewing;
Assist with development of motivational interviewing assignment and create PlayPosit videos that highlight important MI practices in practice in order to promote students understanding and retention
A Systems Approach to Obesity Prevention (NSC 311)
January 2021 - December 2021
Grade journal entries for seven modules and provide individualized feedback through D2L learning management system designed to enrich student’s learning and understanding of obesity prevention
Assist with development of opportunities for students to engage in critical thinking through extra credit opportunities such as class assignments and speaking event
Mentor fellow preceptors by answering questions and creating teaching handouts and videos to support their understanding of the grading process and creating announcements about due dates in D2L for Fall 2021
Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Related Sciences,
Yuma Nutrition Chapter
Director of Mentoring and Networking/Founding Member
June 2021- Present
Co-develop peer mentoring program between junior and senior Nutritional Sciences students
Facilitate and coordinate networking opportunities between students and dietetic professionals
Undergraduate Host for Invited Speakers: Recruit/Invite, Coordinate, Provide Follow-Up
Beth Janda, MBA, RD, Nutrition Alliance, Yuma, AZ
Henna Muzaffar, MS, PhD, RD, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Illinois
Katelyn Barker, MS, RDN, Assistant Professor, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
Cheryl Chapman, RD, WIC Nutrition, Yuma, AZ
Jean Wright, MD, MBA, FAAP, FCCM, Retired Chief Innovation Officer, Atrium Health, Charlotte, NC
Linda Shiue, MD, Chef, Kaiser Permanente, San Francisco, CA
Co-write mission statement, vision statement, principles, and strategic plan, develop board of director positions and descriptions, and plan recruitment, outreach, and professional development events
Research Experiences
Arizona Western College, Honors Department
Principal Investigator
August 2018-December 2018
Dehydration in Southwestern Arizona: An Educational Approach to Vulnerable Populations
Sophomore Capstone Project
Conducted explorative study that examined dehydration from a global, national, and local perspective to determine frequency, correlation, and potential solutions
Recruited participants and analyzed survey results to identify vulnerable populations, fluid intake habits, trends, and potential correlations
Developed an educational approach consisting of the formation of educational handouts and presentations in both English and Spanish with fluid intake recommendations and hydration benefits; delivered education about hydration and fluid requirements to local 8th grade
Presented research and described development of research objectives and importance of research in nutrition and healthcare at Spring 2019 Arizona Western College Honors Seminar courses as student guest speaker, and at Arizona Western College Student Showcase in 2019
Arizona Western College, Honors Department
Principal Investigator
January 2018-May 2018
Medical Provider Burnout: The Leading Causes
Freshman Honors Research Project
Completed a review of literature related to research project about medical provider burnout and connected the physiological and psychological effects of stress to burnout
Recruited participants, local medical providers (MD, NP, and PA); conducted and analyzed survey results that evaluated medical provider’s stress level and potential causal factors
Identified possible solutions through primary and secondary research for main causal factors of medical provider burnout
Presented research at Arizona Western College Student Showcase in 2018
Volunteer Experiences
Women's Health Dietetic Practice Group
Communications Contributor
June 2021 - Present
Write research summary about contemporary nutrition studies for monthly eBlasts
Yuma Community Food Bank
Volunteer
June 2020 - December 2020
Worked on Food Box Assembly Line, Produce Sorting, Review Dry Line and/or Sanitizing Carts
Coordinate food drives between UArizona-Yuma Nutrition Chapter and Community Food Bank
Musician
Volunteer Cellist
2015 - Present
Yuma Youth Fiddlers - a volunteer strings group that plays at benefit concerts for charitable organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, in Nursing Homes, and Salvation Army Kettle Kick-Off
Church Cellist - play in strings duo both in Yuma, Arizona, and Zoom services
