Emerging Dietetic Leader

Eligibility Requirements

  1. A Registered Dietitian or Registered Nutrition and Dietetic Technician, member of the Vermont Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
  2. Initial practice experience not less than 5 years and not greater than 10 years. Interrupted careers or time periods not in practice, are not to be considered or rationed into the 5-10 years of professional practice experience.
  3. Active participation in the national or state association for at least 5 years.
  4. Not previously selected as an RYDY or RDTY in your current or any other affiliate.
  5. Demonstrated concern for the promotion of optimal health and nutritional status of the population.
  6. Demonstrated leadership in the Association, community or employment. e.g., in legislation, research, education, management, etc.

 

Emerging Dietetic Leader Award Recipients

2017-Kelso Gero MS, RD, CD:  Kelsey serves as the main oncology nutrition preceptor at UVMMC. Her passion, knowledge, and work ethic are admired by those who work with her. She provides exquisite patient-centered care and is always expanding her knowledge and staying up to date on relevant topics. As one of her interns writes, she is an exceptional preceptor and has spurred my interest in clinical nutrition. She embodies her role as a dietitian by providing excellent care, being detail oriented and thorough, advocating for the profession, and modeling for and teaching dietetic interns. This year's Emerging Dietetics Leader is Kelsey Gero.

 

2016-  Emily Piazza, MS, RD, CD:  When I first met Emily, it was quite clear that she is a go-getter and has a passion for the profession!  She brings this same attitude to the various leadership positions she has held at work and on the VAND board.  For 3.5 years, Emily held the position of Community Health Team Nutrition Supervisor at work. In this role, she supervised up to 12 people including RD's, Health Coaches and a CDE.  Additionally, she has worked in a variety of settings to provide nutrition education to many different populations including older adults, and adolescent and young adult mothers.  Further, Emily has been a member of the VAND board since 2013 and has served as the Nominating Chair Elect, and as the Committee on Professional Issues Chair.  In every leadership position, Emily brings her positive attitude, balanced point of view, and listening skills to the table.  Although not in practice for that long, Emily has demonstrated her commitment to the profession and her passion for leading. I have no doubt that Emily will continue to take on leadership positions in the future and that she has all the right ingredients to continue being a wonderful leader.

2012- Heather Wolfe, RD, CD Heather is the Employee Wellness Dietitian for Dartmouth-Hitchcock's (D-H)Live Well/Work Well program, an integrative health and well-being program committed to achieving the healthiest population possible starting with the D-H workforce.  She is the first and only dietitian member of this multidisciplinary team offering employees and their families the resources to be able to enjoy a healthier lifestyle. Heather will receive her MPH degree this June from The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice. Her capstone project was a Healthy Beverages Initiative that eliminated the sales of sugar-sweetened beverages from the DHMC campus effective January 1, 2012.

2011- Breirley Wright, RD:  Brierley has developed from an intelligent and accomplished UVM student into an extremely porfessional journailst earning national acclaim. As soon as she graduated from Tufts University Communication Program, EatingWell hired her as Associate Nutrition Editor and was quickly promoted to Nutrition Editor.  Through her genuine writing style, she has become the trustworthy voice for EatingWell's nutrition content.  She is a talented writer who has the ability to present material in an accessible, trusted and informative manner. She is a team player with an inclusive leadership style.

2010- Jill Goodroe, RD  Jill is a Registered Dietitian with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Dietetics/Nutrition & Food Sciences from University of Vermont.  She has worked as a Public Health Nutritionist at the Vermont Department of Health and as Nutrition Consultant for Hannaford Food & Drug in South Burlington. Currently, she is the Nutrition Specialist at the New England Dairy & Food Council where she is responsible for creating and implementing nutrition programs that will improve the school nutrition environment while activating kids to make healthy choices.  She also directs local dairy campaigns and provides nutrition resources to area health professional organizations such as VDA. Jill has served on the VDA Board in numerous positions including Bulletin Editor, Public Relations Chair/Media Representative, CPI-Chair-Elect and will be taking the position of President-Elect in June.  Other professional activities include state team liaison for Action for Healthy Kids and member of Vermont School Nutrition Association. She also writes nutrition article regularly for two local papers, The Essex Reporter and Colchester Sun.

2009- Aaron Jones, RD, CD, a clinical dietitian at RRMC. He has made his mark there in the past 5 years by working with the critical care team to improve the nutritional status of the acute care patients on enteral and parenteral nutrition.

2007- Laura Biron
2004- Sharon S. Anderson, RD
2003- Lara Borders, RD, CDE
1999- Rachel Preston, RD, CD
1998- Maryse Therrien, RD, CD, CDE
1997- Lynn Grieger, RD, CDE