President’s Message
Save the Date!
Spring Conference Update
We are excited to continue finalizing the plans for the 2019 Spring Conference. The conference will be held on March 21-22, 2019 at the Clyde Muse Center in Pearl, MS. We will have a full agenda of some very talented speakers and presenters offering a wealth of information on a variety of topics to meet this year’s theme: Expanding Your Horizons. The MS-AND Board of Directors along with numerous other volunteers have worked tirelessly to create a schedule of events that will appeal to all RDNs.
We will also be having a reception shortly after the closing session on Thursday March 21st to be held at Table 100 where you will have time to meet and mingle with fellow RDNs while also viewing student poster sessions for 1 hour CEU. All of the scheduled speakers will be invited to attend this reception to help increase our networking opportunities.
Please be looking for future email updates and mailings which will include a complete schedule and agenda along with promotional information to enlighten you on the work of our slate of speakers.
Remember to Renew Your License
Our Mississippi dietitian license expires March 31, 2019. You will get one notice of renewal from the Mississippi State Department of Health (see image below). If you have moved since your last renewal, and not updated the Mississippi State Department of Health, you will not receive the notice.
The easiest way to renew is online by clicking here: https://www.ms.gov/HealthLicensing/Main.do (you can also apply for a license, click here for the pdf: https://msdh.ms.gov/msdhsite/_static/resources/564.pdf).
The Mississippi State Department of Health recommends that you renew as soon as possible to avoid last minute complications.
2019 Elections are Coming!
The Nominating Committee of the Mississippi Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (MS-AND) has worked hard to attain a strong set of candidates for the 2019-2020 MS-AND Board of Directors. Our elections will run at the same time as the Academy elections: February 1-15, 2019.
The MS-AND ballot and voting instructions for the Mississippi elections will be distributed to the members soon. Please take some time to review the national ballot: https://www.eatrightpro.org/leadership/nominations-and-elections/national-election.
National Nutrition Month® – How Will You Celebrate?
March is National Nutrition Month®! In an effort to support the original purpose of National Nutrition Month®, “to increase the public’s awareness of the importance of good nutrition and position members as the authorities in nutrition”, the campaign will serve as its own theme. This allows the diverse areas in which National Nutrition Month® is celebrated to have more flexibility in the promotion and messages.
Be sure to check the National Nutrition Month® website periodically for updated information. There is a National Nutrition Month® Celebration Toolkit with promotional resources such as: web banners, half page ads, press releases, and a PowerPoint presentation. Soon Nutrition Tip sheets, activity handouts, and a social media toolkit will also be available.
A graphic promoting National Nutrition Month® is available to Academy groups for their websites, newsletters, and signage for events and other activities promoting National Nutrition Month® by filling out this form and sending it to [email protected].
Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Day will be March 13, 2019. The National Nutrition Month® website also features “Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Day Event Ideas”, and there is a graphic for RDN Day available upon request.
There is a National Nutrition Month catalog featuring a variety of items that will add to your celebrations. It is available for download or may be accessed through a link from the National Nutrition Month® website.
Let’s Move Your Way
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services selected Jackson, Mississippi as one of two launch sites for the 2nd edition of the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans and the Move Your Way Campaign (https://health.gov/moveyourway/). The official launch in Jackson will be February 9, 2018 at the Jackson Medical Mall with a “Try-A-Thon – Try What Works for You” event. Participants will be able to try a variety of different activities throughout the event.
There will be other activities in March, April, May and June. Check out the Mississippi State Department of Health website: http://www.msdh.state.ms.us/msdhsite/index.cfm/43,0,270,806,html. Please “like” the social media accounts at Facebook: MYWJXN or Instagram: moveyourwayjxn. The hashtags associated with this promotion are #MYW, #MYWJXN, and #moveyourwayjxn
MS-AND Award Nominations
The MS-AND Nominating Committee is seeking award nominations for the following awards.
Click here to view the awards criteria. Complete the attached Award Descriptions and Nomination Form 2018 and email it to [email protected], [email protected], or [email protected] by January 31, 2019.
Renal RDs of Mississippi Spring 2019 Conference
On Thursday, April 11th, the Renal RDs of Mississippi will hold their Spring 2019 Conference in Jackson, MS at UMMC. All Renal RDs who practice in the state (or any RDs interested in the renal field) are welcome to attend. Email [email protected] to be added to the email communications list regarding this meeting.
MS-AND’s Outstanding Student of the Year Award
Nominations will be accepted soon for MS-AND’s Outstanding Student of the Year Award so everyone interested in submitting nominations for this award should be on the lookout for email communications soon regarding criteria, eligibility, selection process, and deadlines.
Delta State University Coordinated Program in Nutrition and Dietetics hosts “Enteral and Parenteral Update” Workshop.
The Delta State University Coordinated Program in Nutrition and Dietetics will host a Workshop: Enteral and Parenteral Update on February 13, 2019 from 10 am until 3:00 pm at the Jacob Conference Center in Ewing Hall. All DSU preceptors, alumni, and instructors are invited to attend. CEU’s and lunch will be provided. There is no charge. Speakers for this event are Karen Lewis, MS, RD, LD and Pamela Roberts, MS, LD. RSVP to Ensley Howell at [email protected].
SCAN Dietetic Internship Award
The 2018-2019 SCAN Dietetic Internship Awards (fiscal year June 1-May 31) will be given out in the Spring of 2019. We will award 5 stipends of $500 to defray expenses associated with dietetic internships such as DICAS, D&D Digital Matching, application fees, tuition, and books.
Please complete the SCAN Dietetic Internship Award Instructions and Application Form and submit to SCAN at [email protected] by Friday, January 18, 2019 by 5:00 p.m. CST. An online five-question reference evaluation from a previous faculty member will also be required, please reference the Instruction and Application Form.
Poster Session
All SCAN members including students are invited to submit abstracts for the 2019 Symposium Poster Session. Submissions using the official application form only must be sent in to [email protected] on Monday, January 7th, 2019 by 5:00 PM (CST).
Abstract acceptance will be based on a peer review process and relevance SCAN’s mission.
Decisions on acceptance will be made and applicants notified mid February.
A call for Late Breaking Abstracts will be sent mid-February with a submission deadline of March 22, 2019 by 5:00 PM (CST). Notification of acceptance will be sent by Monday, April 1, 2019.
Posters will be judged and cash prizes will be awarded to the first-place poster in each of three categories: Professional, Graduate Student, and Undergraduate Student. Winners will be announced at the SCAN Symposium.
Abstract Submission
Content and formatting instructions as provided on the Criteria and Application Form for 2019 Symposium Poster Session must be followed exactly. Student submissions must include a letter from the faculty advisor approving the abstract for consideration and containing the advisor’s email address. Abstracts must conform to one of the following categories:
- Research abstracts contain a brief description of author’s original research, methodology, major findings, and conclusions or implications for practice.
- Project or program report abstracts contain information about the purpose of the project or program; the theory or previous research upon which it is based; the unique characteristics of the project or program; the characteristics of the subjects or target audience involved and the type of evaluation for the project or program.
- Excellence in practice tools and strategies abstracts contain a description of the author’s innovative practice tools or strategies, methodology, targeted audience, an explanation of application in practice, and evaluation outcomes, if available.
MS-AND Member Spotlight
Anna McCullough, MS, RDN, CDE, LDN
City: Fulton
Workplace: The Meadows of Fulton
What do you like most about your position?
– I enjoy interacting with the residents and feeling like I contribute to impacting their quality of life.
What is your favorite hobby/pastime outside of work?
– I love being active. I enjoy running. I have recently signed up for my 5th half marathon. I recently picked up tennis and that is a lot of fun too!
What is your favorite place to visit in Mississippi and why?
– Starkville!! I love the campus, especially the envirmoment during football season on game day.