Health Careers Guide

INTERVIEWS WITH ALUMNI

Dana Fink '12

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What was your major as an undergraduate? Did you ever switch your major? What made you decide to choose your particular major?

I was Health Sciences with a nutrition emphasis. I actually changed my major a couple of times; I was undecided for about 3 semesters, then I was environmental science for 1 semester, then I switched to health sciences (nutrition). I realized that I was passionate about the environment but I was far more passionate about health. I knew I could really see myself working in healthcare, and it felt like a really practical major. I always just really enjoyed learning about nutrition, I never felt like those classes were work because even though the material could at times be challenging, I thoroughly enjoyed what I was learning about. 

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What led to your current career? Was it due to past professional experiences? Past successes/failures? Opportunities that IC presented you with such as clubs/activities/volunteer work?

I am currently a Registered Dietitian -- so I am working within the field that I studied as an undergraduate. I became a dietitian because I was passionate about helping people, improving their quality of life, and providing my patients with tools to prevent and help treat chronic disease. Additionally, I chose dietetics because there is far more flexibility in work-life balance when compared with other health care fields, while still being able to participate as part of a multidisciplinary health care team. It feels like the best of both worlds. My time at IC definitely provided me with a solid foundation of knowledge related to nutrition that I was able to build on as I became a dietitian. 

What does a typical day look like for you?

I work as an inpatient (hospital) dietitian, and I am responsible for covering our 2 ICU's (18 beds each). My day starts off with going through our patient census and making a list of patients that need to be seen that day. After my list is made I round with the ICU team (MD, nursing, case management, social work, respiratory therapy, and pharmacist) and obtain daily report on each patient admitted to my floors. This usually takes 2 hours! When rounds are over I begin to see my patients, doing full assessments as well as follow ups. The majority of the patients I see in the ICU are mechanically ventilated so they require tube feeding or IV nutrition support (TPN), so I manage their feeding. One of our ICU's contains a step-down unit where patients go after they've had cardiac surgery so I educate all of those patients on a heart healthy diet prior to discharge.

What do you like/dislike about your career? About the field?

The thing that frustrates me the most about my job is there SOMETIMES (not always) a lack of respect for our profession among physicians/nursing etc. I think this is changing though, and it obviously depends person to person. Another thing that can be very frustrating is that in my hospital dietitians cannot put in any orders. So, if I want a patient to have a Boost shake, I have to have a doctor order it. This is a problem because doctors in a hospital setting have a million and one things to do, and ordering a supplement like boost is on the bottom of their priority list. If dietitians had order writing privileges that would change my job satisfaction drastically.  

What have you learned being in your particular field?

Big question! I've learned a ton. I've obviously learned about nutrition and nutrition support, but I've also learned about being part of a multidisciplinary team and how to work cohesively with people in fields different from my own.
I've also learned a lot about how to meet a person where they are in terms of motivation for change.

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Tara Bartkoski '14

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What was your major as an undergraduate? Did you ever switch your major? What made you decide to choose your particular major?

I was accepted into IC as a student in the PreProfessional Program of the School of Health Sciences, so essentially I was an undecided major in the school of Health Sciences. I knew I wanted to do something in the healthcare/medical field but I wasn't sure exactly which area. During my sophomore year I declared a major, Health Sciences with a Nutrition Emphasis. My junior year I also added a minor in Anthropology. I had always had an interest in nutrition, but after taking a nutrition course my sophomore year I realized that was the career path I intended to follow.

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What led to your current career? Was it due to past professional experiences? Past successes/failures? Opportunities that IC presented you with such as clubs/activities/volunteer work?

As mentioned in the last question, I always knew I liked the healthcare field and after taking an introductory nutrition course, discovered my passion for nutrition and helping others. While at IC, I was able to have great internship/shadowing experiences where I further solidified my career choice. I spent time with dietitians at Strong Memorial Hopsital and Cayuga Center for the Healthy Living (associated with Cayuga Med) and numerous volunteer activities associated with nutrition in the community setting. I was also a member of nutrition club. 

What does a typical day look like for you?

I am currently a clinical Registered Dietitian at a hospital in the Albany area. I see patients in the hospital on various floors with various diagnosis and nutritional needs. I typically work on a general surgery floor where I provide diet education, assess for malnutrition and recommend interventions such as oral nutrition supplements and nutrition support (enteral and parenteral nutrition) management. 

What do you like/dislike about your career? About the field?

I enjoy helping  patients and educating people on the affect nutrition can have on all aspects of our health. As a fairly new RD I like the exposure to a variety of medical conditions that is offered in a inpatient, clinical setting. Everyone loves food, or at least eats everyday and I enjoy being able to relate to everyone in my profession. Proper nutrition can help people live better, healthier lives with less medication!

What have you learned being in your particular field?

I have learned so much about the healthcare field in my short time in it. It is better to assume that patients and their families are healthcare-illiterate and they need to be interacted with on their own individual level, never assume anything. We have a higher population of ethnic people in our community and cultural competence is so important. Ithaca gave me a great foundation for this. My field poses many challenges but even helping one patient can make it all worth it! Continuing education is really important and as I finish my MS in Nutrition in a few weeks I realize Ithaca instilled a great foundation for learning in me. 

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