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Pediatric Nutrition Personal Statement Essay

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Personal Statement
I discovered dietetics my senior year of high school when my mother became sick to where she could barely leave the house. Physicians and specialists could not explain what was happening, until one integrative medicine physician suggested food allergies. She was finally diagnosed with an allergy to casein, and Celiac’s disease. Her diet underwent major changes, and as I helped her adjust, I recognized the powerful relationship between food and health. Having first-hand experience with the stress of changing an entire lifestyle, I understand how nutrition affects not only a patient but their entire family. I would like to work as a pediatric dietitian to support children and their families, that are just as scared as my family was five years ago. The Clinical Pediatric Nutrition concentration offered by the Duke University Hospital dietetic internship offers the unique opportunity to focus specifically on my career goals while working towards becoming a Registered …show more content…

Her patient suffered from multiple disorders, and was considered a “problem child.” The interdisciplinary team told the dietitian to “keep it short” because they felt she could not help him. As we walked into the room, the dietitian greeted the patient, and then introduced me to his mother. I simply knelt down to say hello to the boy and asked him about the stuffed elephant he was holding. To everyone’s surprise, he threw the toy at me and said “ I want nice lady to have it.” The mother and dietitian were both shocked because he had never spoken to the clinical team before. I was able to make a difference by breaking the communication barrier limiting this patient’s treatment by treating him like any other patient. Communication and equitable treatment are important for working with the wide range of conditions that an innovative hospital like Duke University

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