WRDA Student Blog

WRDA Clinical Update 2017- “An Ounce of Prevention…Food for Healthy Living”

 By Co-President Elects Kathleen Ryan MS, RD, CSO, CDN  and Melissa Keeney MS, RDN, CDN, CDE

The Westchester Rockland Dietetic Association’s (WRDA) annual clinical update was on December 7, 2017. Around 100 nutrition professionals attended this year, including Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDN), Dietetic Technicians, Registered (DTR), and nutrition students. This year, the clinical update focused on disease prevention “An Ounce of Prevention…Food for Healthy Living”.

To start the event off, Niharika Jaiswal, WRDA’s President gave the opening remarks. Next, Diana Monaco, NYSAND’s Immediate Past President spoke about getting involved in the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and the New York chapter, NYSAND. It was then time to begin the presentations. Kathleen Ryan and Melissa Keeney, WRDA’s Co-Presidents Elect provided the biographies and introductions for each speaker. A mid-morning highlight to this year’s update was a Public Policy Update by Ann Darcy.

The presentation topics and the speakers for the Clinical Update were:

Presentation:  Sustainability and Culinary Nutrition Trends, Q&A
 Presenter:  Andrea Canada, MPH, RD from SPE Certified     

Presentation: Improving Patient Engagement Using Culinary Nutrition Tools and Programming, Q & A
Presenter:  Jeanne Petrucci, MS, RDN and Julie Harrington RDN, CPC from Living Plate

Presentation:  Treating Heart Disease with a Plant-Based Diet, Q & A
Presenter: Lauren Graf MS, RD from Montefiore Einstein Cardiac Wellness Program

Each speaker this year presented innovative ways that nutrition professionals can assist their clients to live healthfully. Andrea Canada discussed current food trends and how an RDN can add value and a health sustainability focus to a foodservice operation. Mary Beth Augustine discussed the microbiome, including the evidence for medical nutrition therapy and a risk characterization framework for clinical decision making. She also discussed emerging research topics regarding nutrition, healthcare, and the microbiome. Jeanne Petrucci and Julie Harrington discussed ways to engage clients with culinary nutrition, and how to grow your business by offering culinary nutrition program. They then provided us with a food demo and samples while discussing how the audience can incorporate this concept into their own practice. Lauren Graf discussed the role of plant- based diets in managing cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and chronic kidney disease.  She  shared some remarkable patient stories.

A huge thank you to our raffle sponsors. The WRDA raised $340 at the meeting through the raffle. Diana Monaco won the Capri Beauty gift certificate, Abby Walker won the cookbooks and Field Goods coupon, Roberta Gershner won attendance to next year’s Clinical Update, Terry Schlanger won next year’s WRDA Membership, Niharika Jaiswal won the gift certificate to Rouge Tomate, Jennifer Sukhdeo won the 2^nd Century Initiative basket, and Ellen Pospishil won the PAC basket. Thank you to all those who participated in the raffle!

A big thank you to our generous product sponsors this year, including Peanut Butter & Co, Harvest Snaps, Purely Elizabeth, Biena Snacks,  JCC of Rockland, Celebrate Vitamins, KIND, Manitoba Harvest, Shoprite, Once Again, and Kite Hill.

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Over 50% of colorectal cancers are preventable through a healthy lifestyle (including diet choices).  Elisa Bremner, WRDA President, Janice Shaw, NYSAND AME Chairperson, and Melissa Keeney, WRDA Nominating Chair took time out of their Sunday morning to help cheer on the runners at CCCF's fun run/walk at Manhattanville College.  WRDA provided nutritional guidance and a delicious colon-cancer-busting snack of hummus & veggie wraps (that pink thing in the background is a giant inflatable colon).  We hope this will be the start of many more event where WRDA members can get out our message to the public. 

There was a wide array of presentations focusing on the continuum of the aging process, management of Alzheimer's disease, usefulness of meditation therapy, nutrition therapy in the Aging process. 

The opening speech was given by WRDA President Elisa Bremner, followed by the information on NYSAND Centennial AME by Janice Shaw. Niharika Jaiswal, President-elect, provided an overview of the Clinical Update.

The presentation topics and the speakers for the Clinical Update were:

 Nutrition Across the Aging Continuum... Including End of Life:  Bindhu Thomas MD, CMD
Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeon, Department of Medicine/ Division of Geriatric Medicine and Aging.

Advances in the Management of Alzheimer’s Treatment and Prevention: Hollie Webb, MSN, FNP-C
New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center, Alzheimer’s Prevention Clinic

Meditation for Healthy Mind: Supriya Reddy Certified Meditation Trainer, Heartfulness Institute

Maximizing Nutrition in Aging: Miriam Pappo MS, RD, CDN Director of Clinical Nutrition Montefiore Medical Center
Jennifer Flood-Sukhdeo MS, RD, CDN  Director of Nutrition Hebrew Home at Riverdale

Dr. Thomas provided an excellent overview and in depth of understanding of the human physiology on the complex topics of aging, end of life, palliative and hospice care, which are clinically relevant to members of the healthcare team providing nutritional care to their patients.   Speaker, Hollie Webb, provided cutting edge information on the different treatments utilized for the management of Alzheimer’s disease. In addition, participants were given an opportunity to partake in a meditation session under the guidance of Supriya Reddy. The final segment of the Clinical Update comprised of a presentation by Miriam Pappo, on understanding the nutritional aspect of the aging process followed by a panel session along with Jennifer Flood-Sukhdeo. There was a Q&A session where the participants were able to ask nutrition questions to the panelists.

During the Clinical Update, a session by Ms. Ann Darcy and Ms. Catherine Foley provided an update on public policy on nutrition related topics.  The Clinical Update finished with drawing of two raffle prize winners Sylvia Hawkins, and Antonella Caggiano receiving the WRDA membership for the year 2017.

Niharika Jaiswal MS, RD, CDN
WRDA President Elect

We look forward to seeing you at our October event on "Fearless eating for children" with Jill Castle at Phelps!

Thank you to our speakers. Please visit their websites and consider becoming a member of their Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)- Farm Share Program!

Stone Barns Center in Pocantico Hills: http://www.stonebarnscenter.org/visit/explore/stone-barns-csa.html

John McDowell, Rockland Farm Alliance in New City:   http://cropseycommunityfarm.csasignup.com/members/types

Steffen Schneider, Hawthorne Valley Farm in Ghent (Columbia Co.): http://hawthornevalleyfarm.org/where-to-buy/community-supported-agriculture-csa/

Mike Fedison, Hilltop Hanover Farm in Yorktown Heights : http://www.hilltophanoverfarm.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/CSA2014App1.pdf

Doug DeCandia, Food Bank of Westchester

Joan Dye Gussow, Teacher, Author, Organic Producer