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Outstanding Dietitian of the Year:
Allison Schnitzer, RDN, LD Allison Schnitzer, RD, LD works in the Office of Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion at the Southern Nevada Health District on food system approaches and policy solutions for the obesity and chronic disease challenges that exist in Southern Nevada. She created the School Wellness Task Force to work with community partners to increase physical activity opportunities and healthy nutrition in Clark County School District schools. As the State Policy Representative for the Nevada Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Allison has worked on legislation to update Nevada’s dietetic licensure to ensure that registered and licensed dietitians in Nevada have the ability to practice within the full scope of their competency by allowing them to have order writing privileges at hospitals. She received her Bachelor of Science in Nutrition Sciences from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where she also completed her dietetic internship. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from Wellesley College. |
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Emerging Dietetic Leader of the Year:
Samantha Coogan, MD, RDN, CSSD, LD Sam earned her B.S. in Nutrition Sciences from UNLV in December 2011, then went on to earn her M.S. in Exercise Physiology in December 2013. She then passed the RD Exam in May of 2014. As DPND Director at UNLV, Sam is responsible for upholding and maintaining accreditation standards for the Nutrition Sciences DPND undergraduate degree program. She also teaches Sports Nutrition, Medical Nutrition Therapy, Community Nutrition, Food & Ethnic Issues, and Introduction to Human Nutrition at UNLV. She passed the national board exam for Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics in February 2018, after extensive work with the UNLV football team for two seasons in which she was their sole, team dietitian. In Sam's free time, she can more than likely be found in the gym (beating Jake at everything - especially deadlifts) while blasting metal music. And if you've not yet seen her person, she won't be hard to miss as she is covered in ink. |
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Recognized Young Dietitian of the Year, Southern Nevada:
Madeline Podmolik, RDN, LD Maddy’s love for food started on her family’s farm in Deerfield, Wisconsin. Her childhood consisted of sports, horseback riding, and selling every vegetable imaginable at local farmers markets. With the guidance of her mother Amy, also a registered dietitian, Maddy chose to study at Viterbo University in La Crosse, Wisconsin. It was here that she met her Vegas-born husband. Maddy is currently the Director of Dietetics at Horizon Specialty Hospital in Las Vegas, Nevada. She serves as a preceptor to University of Nevada, Las Vegas dietetic interns and she is passionate about helping future dietitians find purpose in our field. She serves as the Reimbursement Representative for the Nevada Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and she is a member of a state obesity care advocacy initiative, the STAR Program. In 2018 she started her own practice, Desert Dietitians. She hopes her future involves growing her business and empowering those with chronic diseases to improve their health while enhancing their relationship with food. |
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Recognized Young Dietitian of the Year, Northern Nevada:
Sarah Williams, MS, RDN, LD Sarah Williams is a clinical dietitian specializing in pediatric eating disorders, weight management and feeding issues. Her research on eating disorders can be found at the Center for Applications of Psychological Type and she has had articles featured in periodicals such as LIVESTRONG, The Nest, AZ Central and The San Francisco Gate. Sarah is proud to be part of an amazing interdisciplinary team at Renown’s Healthy Heart Program that changes the lives of patients every day. A native New Yorker, Sarah will be returning there this fall to begin physician assistant school to further her medical career and obtain a second master’s degree. This June, Sarah and her husband Gary will be celebrating 10 years of marriage. Her hobbies include traveling, playing guitar, singing, weight lifting, playing sports, cooking and drawing. |
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Outstanding DPD Student:
Sheena Skelton, BA Sheena was born in Clark Air Force Base, Philippines and has lived in various countries to include the Philippines, the United States, Panama, Turkey, and Japan. In 2007, she received a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Texas State University and commissioned into the United States Air through the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps, dedicating twelve years of both active duty and reserve service. Her enthusiasm for food, culture, science, and service to others led to her decision to pursue her dream of becoming a Registered Dietitian. In Spring 2016, she enrolled into the Nutrition Sciences program at the University of Nevada – Las Vegas and will be graduating in Spring 2019. After graduation, her goal is to focus on nutrition education and outreach to underserved populations, and eventually transition to a focus on nutrition in the global community with an emphasis on developing countries and humanitarian efforts. |
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Outstanding Dietetic Intern:
Chelsea Van Ornum, NDTR, RDN Eligible, CLC Eligible |