Welcome to MDA!
2012 MDA Annual Meeting
The MDA Annual Meeting will be held on Friday, April 27 at the Conference Center at the Maritime Institute in Linthicum Heights, Maryland. It is approved for 7.5 CEUs for RDs and DTRs. This year's meeting offers three learning tracks: Clinical Nutrition, Leadership/Management, and Public Policy. Included in the day are Concurrent Sessions, Posters & Exhibits, the MDA Annual Awards, and an Afternoon Reception with Senator Ben Cardin. Registration fee includes continental breakfast, snacks, lunch, reception, and FREE parking!
Registration opens Monday, January 30.
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Legislative Day 2012
Click here for more information.
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Scholarship Opportunities!
The Maryland Dietetic Association Foundation is a 501 (c) (3) organization dedicated to raising funds to provide scholarships for Students of Dietetics. Applications are being accepted through March 16, 2012 for scholarships for the 2012-13 academic year. Winners will be awarded in April at the MDA Annual Meeting. Click here for more information.
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MDA Annual Awards
Do you know a talented, motivated dietetics professional? (Of course you do!) Now is the time to recognize and be recognized as leaders in the field of dietetics! We look forward to giving awards for: Recognized Young Dietitian of the Year (RYDY), Recognized Dietetic Technician of the Year (RDTY), Emerging Dietetic Leader (EDL), Outstanding Dietitian of the Year (ODY) and Outstanding Dietetics Educator (ODE). For more information on these awards or to find out how to nominate yourself or someone else, click here.
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Academy Spokesperson Application Deadline Approaching!
The deadline for applying to become a spokesperson of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics is just one week away (Feb. 1). If you actively work in the media and are interested in joining this elite group of registered dietitians who serve as the voice of the Academy and the profession, please apply today. Learn more and download the application at www.eatright.org/members/spokespersonapplication.
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ADA is Now the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics!
The American Dietetic Association, the world’s largest organization of food and nutrition professionals, has changed its name to the Academy of Nutrition Dietetics (see full statement here).
- Academy of Nutrition Dietetics and Commission on Dietetic Registration: Based on legal advice, the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) has made the decision to retain its current name. Since the Commission is referenced in multiple state licensure statutes a CDR name change would require that state laws be revised. This process would likely incur challenges from those opposing the statute and additional expenses for legal fees. The Commission will use the tag line credentialing agency for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
- Same Great Journal Content, New Journal Name: As of January 2012, the Journal of the American Dietetic Association’s official name will change to:Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.The US National Library of Medicine has determined that the abbreviation for the newly-named Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics will be: J Acad Nutr Diet.This abbreviation should be used when citing articles from the Journal. For more information or questions, please send an email to journal@eatright.org.
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Winter 2012 Edition of the Chesapeake Lines is Now Available
(click image to open)
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We Did It! White House Reaches 25,000 Signatures-- But We Still Need Your Help!
We did it! White House petition reaches 25,000 signatures Members of the Academy responded across the US to reach the required number of signatures for the White House petition asking the President to urge the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to reconsider its decision to excluded dietitians as billable providers for intensive behavioral therapy for obesity. Thank you for promoting this effort within your membership. We could not have achieved our goal without your support.
What happens now?
The Academy has already begun to prepare for the next step which could include communication or a meeting with the Obama Administration. Now that the petition has reached the signatures threshold, the Administration will contact the Government Relations team in the Academy’s Washington, D.C. office. In addition, the Academy is working with members of Congress to also urge CMS to reconsider its decision.
What can you do?
We need you to lead by example and encourage our constituents to keep the momentum moving!
First: If you haven’t sent a letter to your members of Congress, please take action today! Overall less than 2% of Academy members have done so (see state-by-state breakdown). Visit the Academy’s Grassroots Manager at: http://www.eatright.org/members/actioncenter.aspx to send your letters and share this link again with your members through electronic newsletters, blogs and listserves. It only takes a few minutes and will ensure our voices are heard in Congress.
Please review the attached information regarding participation by each state. Despite at least three public policy panel leaders and an affiliate board of directors, some states have less than 3 responses to this advocacy campaign. It is difficult to expect members to respond to our advocacy alerts if volunteer leaders do not make this a priority – please send your letters today!
Next: Every member should be considering their next steps as outlined by Academy President Sylvia Escott-Stump in her message on December 8, 2011. On a continuous basis, strive to:
· Participate in activities that document the RDs worth.
· Start in your own backyard - does your personal health insurance include coverage for RD services?
· Become a Medicare provider for Part B MNT services. We need to demonstrate that we have the providers to meet demand.
· Form relationships with Primary Care Practitioners to provide nutrition counseling services in medical practices.
· Market your services to the healthcare community and other community groups.
· Work with your DPGs and Affiliate Public Policy Panels - provide your expert input when issues arise.
· Attend the Public Policy Workshop. PPW 2012 is scheduled for April 5-17 in Washington, D.C. http://www.eatright.org/ppw/
· Donate to the Academy Political Action Committee. The PAC is our way as a profession to support federal elected officials who are supportive of our causes. https://eweb.eatright.org/eweb/DynamicPage.aspx?webcode=pacdonationslist&site=pac
· Vote in national and local elections.
· Be a preceptor for dietetic students - we need to build the RD and DTR workforce.
· Keep our voice strong and united-get involved in legislative and regulatory issues affecting food, nutrition and dietetics.
Watch for further updates on the Academy’s efforts to address this situation.
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ADA Comments on CMS’s Final Decision on Intensive Behavioral Counseling for Obesity
December 1, 2011 Statement (click here)
December 8, 2011 Letter to ADA members from Sylvia Escott-Stump, ADA President (click here)
Please consider signing ADA's petition to President Obama to urge CMS to include RDs in obesity treatment. We need 25,000 signatures for the White House to review:http://wh.gov/DWX. (Click on “open petitions”; Click on CMS petition; Log in or create account; Sign petition)
We encourage you to post it to your Facebook and Twitter accounts, as well as, sharing with clients and colleagues. With everyone’s help, we’re confident we can easily surpass the minimum goal to address this issue.
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2012 ADA Election Slate of Candidates
The Nominating Committee of the American Dietetic Association is pleased to report the selection of candidates for the 2012 ballot. Please click here to see the complete list. The election will occur February 1 through March 3, 2012. Candidate information will be made available late-December at www.eatright.org/elections.
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Interested in becoming an RD or DTR?
Contact the MDA State Professional Recruitment Chair, Lindsay Martin,
Lindsaymartinmsrd@gmail.com 540-455-0034
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