It is hard to believe that just one year ago I had submitted
my applications, checks were mailed, and interviews were being scheduled. I was
initially intrigued by the University of Maryland College Park dietetic
internship for its widely diverse rotations and “information technology” focus.
I thought technology? Hmm… I like working on computers, learning the mechanism
behind things worked, and knew technology was an integral part of the future.
Up until now my internship time has been filled with 12+
weeks of clinical experience and shorter rotations in between. I recently just
finished my rotation at the Food and Nutrition Information Center (FNIC),
working specifically with the SNAP-Ed Connection team and really learned how
nutrition and technology go hand in hand.
I spent five weeks working with the SNAP-Ed team learning
how to code, develop new pages for their website, perform resource reviews,
attend conferences, and research materials for web pages. The SNAP-Ed
Connection website is a great resource for state and local snap-ed providers,
educators, and consumers. I learned html coding and was able to design
nutrition information pages about food preparation and cooking for all ages. As
a future registered dietitian, having webpage development skills and a
nutrition background can be a great marketing tool. When I was first provided
with the upcoming projects I would be working on, I would be lying if I say I
wasn’t nervous. I didn’t know how to code or interpret Google analytics, but I
do know how to listen and manage my time, which was key in being successful.
Using Google analytics, I was able to track site traffic and
hits and depict the reasoning for certain spikes or falls in views. After uploading
new materials, we are able to quantify data to make future decisions on the
work site for better or worse. Although working on the technical side of things
doesn’t involve patient interaction, I was able to see how my work truly made a
difference when users emailed the team thanking them for new materials and
describing the helpfulness to their classes even from behind the screen.
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