Michigan winters are unlike any other—full of crisp air, snowy landscapes, and the quiet beauty of nature blanketed in white. Whether you're enjoying the thrill of outdoor activities like skiing, snowshoeing, or simply strolling through a frosty forest, there’s no shortage of ways to make the most of the season. And of course, nothing beats cozying up indoors with a warm drink while the snow falls gently outside. As we embrace the unique magic of a Michigan winter, let’s find joy in the stillness, the season’s natural wonders, and the warmth of community. Stay safe, stay warm, and enjoy everything this winter has to offer!
Student Highlights
The EMU Student Dietetics Association (SDA) created holiday cards for Marywood Nursing Care Center!
Follow the SDA on Instagram.
Preceptor News
The School Nutrition Association of Michigan meeting fall 2024 in Traverse City, awarded Richard Browder (center), longtime EMU dietetics program preceptor and Director of Student Nutrition at Brighton Schools, Director of the Year award. Congratulations, Richard!
Learn more about Richard through his biography as Leadership Development Committee Election Slate at this School Nutrition Association link.
EMU Student Nominates Preceptor for the Outstanding Preceptor Award
Kayla, second-year distance-online EMU dietetics CP student, provided a nomination for her preceptor, Marcia Wirth, RD, clinical dietitian at Hammond Henry Hospital. Please see below, through Kayla's writing, one example of our dedicated and excellent preceptors.
"My preceptor demonstrated excellence in professional practice through her unwavering dedication to both patients and staff at Hammond-Henry Hospital. She actively engaged in initiatives to improve patient care, consistently going above and beyond to ensure that nutritional needs were met effectively, particularly for those in geriatric care. Her commitment to patient education was evident in her development of resources tailored to specific dietary needs, making nutrition more accessible and understandable for patients. Additionally, she organized training sessions for staff, sharing best practices and encouraging a collaborative approach to patient care. By fostering an environment of learning and support, my preceptor exemplified a dedication to excellence that positively impacted the entire healthcare team and the patients we served."
The EMU Dietetics faculty and staff appreciates your commitment to excelllence for all those around you, Marcia!
Valued Preceptor and Author
Joyce Patterson, MPH, RDN, BC-ADM, CPTis a diabetes care and education specialist at Michigan Medicine, a longtime preceptor of EMU students (and others), and recently shared the good news that her book, Think Like a Dietitian, has been CDR-approved for 16 CPEUs. She's received some wonderful feedback about the book.
Kathy Rhodes PhD, RDN was kind enough to write a review. Please check it out. Another reader provided this message: "I am a new dietitian and it resonated so much with what you were saying about just beginning / being in clinical rotations. I’ve been reading your book and I love it. I have recommended it to so many people. It was so nice to know I wasn’t the only one who felt that way starting out (especially from a more seasoned dietitian)! It has been so helpful as I begin my career as an outpatient dietitian / diabetes educator. I have been applying some of the counseling techniques and they make all the difference! So thank you for writing the book - it has helped me so much!!!"
If you are needing to earn 16 CPEUs and additionally gather some patient education materials, more information is available here.
Alumni News
School Nutrition Association of Michigan 2024 Speaker
Callie Gavorek, MS, RD, CC, FMP, SNS (EMU Dietetics CP class of 2016) is a School District Consultant with the Michigan Department of Education and presented sessions at the School Nutrition Association of Michigan 2024 Conference in Traverse City. She is the lead project manager of the USDA Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Program Grant (FFVP) in the state of Michigan. She provides consultation, oversight, technical assistance, and support to local school districts, non-public schools, intermediate school districts, partnering agencies and organizations administering the FFVP. Additional responsibilities include consultation on USDA Professional Standard requirements for School Nutrition Program sponsors and food safety requirements for Child Nutrition Program sponsors.
Innovation in Nutrition Education
Ann Whetstone, MS, RD, SNS (EMU Dietetics CP class of 2020), also a Certified American Sign Language Interpreter, works as a Dietitian Coordinator with Plymouth-Canton Community Schools.
Plymouth-Canton Community Schools were recognized by the USDA for their innovation in nutrition education.
Certified Eating Disorders Specialist-Consultant/Supervisor Certification
Melissa Giovanni, MS, RDN, LDN, CEDS-C (EMU Dietetics CP class of 2015) has worked as a dietitian with eating disorders in a variety of settings including residential, PHP, IOP and outpatient. She has been providing nutrition counseling in outpatient care for 8 years and started Balance Nutrition Counseling in 2019. Melissa most recently obtained her Certified Eating Disorders Specialist-Consultant/Supervisor certification.
AlumnA Interview
Myssa Saleh
Myssa Saleh, MS, RDN, LCE (EMU Dietetics CP class of 2020) and WIC Department Manager within the Wayne County Department of Health, Human & Veterans Services, began her journey toward dietetics as a graduate from Eastern Michigan University’s (EMU) Human Nutrition (HN) MS program. After completing this program, she became a nutritionist with the Michigan Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program. This position solidified her passion for public health and community nutrition. After this, she took an “unconventional” route and went back to EMU for the Coordinated Program (CP) in Dietetics. Myssa is thankful for Eastern’s education because it taught her the knowledge and skills necessary to not only pass the Registered Dietitian (RD) exam, but practice as an entry level Dietitian back in the community nutrition sector. She states that the CP’s curriculum in both supervised practice experience and didactic coursework provided not only the foundation, but solidified core knowledge and achievement of competencies for the future RD. Myssa shared that the EMU Dietetics CP program fostered a supportive environment for their dietetic students. She felt there were no barriers to communication in the program: there was always someone to reach out to, whether a professor, coordinator, or director, to offer guidance. As a 2020 CP graduate, Myssa stated the program did a wonderful job supporting its students through navigating the COVID-19 pandemic crisis.
After successfully passing her RD exam in 2020, Myssa worked as a WIC RD and Certified Lactation Specialist in the City of Detroit for over 4 years. She has now accepted a new position as a WIC Department Manager for the Wayne County WIC program. As a federally funded supplemental nutrition program, WIC serves income eligible pregnant/postpartum women, infants, and children up until the age of 5. The WIC program provides nutrition education/counseling, nutritious foods, referrals, and lactation support to clients.
Myssa currently leads a team of nutritionist across 5 clinics. In her position, she assists with planning and coordinating the WIC nutrition program, oversees the day-to-day clinic(s) operations, and supports the WIC Program Coordinator. Part of her position includes creating nutrition education plans. Because Myssa is a RD, she often steps into the clinic to offer nutrition counseling to WIC families. Myssa shared she is part of wonderful team, where everyone seeks to establish respect and rapport with clients. Myssa states “I feel fulfilled every day in my position.”
Myssa describes that the WIC program focuses on client-centered services while also encompassing interdisciplinary teams, as needed. While access to nutritional foods and nutrition education is essential to maternal and infant health, WIC goes one step further in that it helps families connect to overall healthcare, developmental, mental health, and lactation programs and services. Myssa wants current students to know they shouldn’t be afraid to ask questions during supervised practice and in classes. She says it is a great idea to focus on preceptor-client/patient interactions. Overall, she says to enjoy your time, and EMU CP is here to support you. Thank you, Myssa, for your information and time!
Dr. Judi Books
Students, colleagues, and friends of the late Judi Brooks, PhD, RD still fondly remember and envision her teaching in the Marshall Building. She mentored many graduate and undergraduate students in her 23 years at EMU and was more than a professor of nutrition and dietetics. For many, Dr. Brooks was more than a teacher—she was a role model, parental figure, and trusted confidante. She brought a very caring and warm presence to her classes and students appreciated her knowledge and encouragement. Dr. Brook’s exceptional record of teaching, research, service, and collegiality over the years has enriched and left a long-lasting legacy in the Dietetics program, Human Nutrition program, School of Health Sciences, and the university. Dr. Brooks passed away on Feb. 21, 2022 and is greatly missed by her School of Health Sciences colleagues, university colleagues, students, and alumni.
In April 2022, Dr. Judi Brooks was awarded posthumous recognition as Emeritus Faculty.
A memorial scholarship has been established in Judi's memory to support nutrition and dietetics students. To make a gift of any size visit EMU Foundation "Make a Gift" or mail a check to the EMU Foundation c/o Judi Brooks Memorial Scholarship, PO Box 972057, Ypsilanti MI 48197.
We are excited to share that we have reached our goal of $10,000 donated! At the same time, we encourage all to continue to donate to support our EMU nutrition and dietetics students.
Thank you for remembering Dr. Brooks and her contributions to our programs and the university. For questions about this fund, reach out to Christa Reid, Director of Development at CReid20@emich.edu.
Newsletter Updates?
Please let us know! We'd love to share updates on employment changes, publications, new opportunities, and other successes. Please provide any updates to Sandy Pernecky, MS, RDN at spernecky1@emich.edu. Thanks for considering!
Credits:
Created with images by Tom Pavlasek - "Treestop winter" • vaaseenaa - "Beef meat slow-cooked soup with carrot, potato, corn and sweet potato. Winter comfort food concept." • Arkadiusz Fajer - "Soup with barley and chicken gizzards." • M.studio - "onion soup with bread slice and gruyere on wood background"