Dietetic Interns Present During Malnutrition Awarness Week 2022

Malnutrition Awareness Week, which took place September 18-22, is an annual, multi-organizational campaign created by ASPEN (American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition) to raise awareness about malnutrition.

Malnutrition often goes undiagnosed in clinical settings, resulting in greater length of stay and financial burden for both the patient and the hospital. This year, Meredith College dietetic interns developed and implemented a presentation to bring greater recognition to the condition, involving educational handouts, chef-made snacks, and statistical information to provide to healthcare professionals.

The project was presented at three different hospitals, WakeMed Raleigh, WakeMed Cary, and WakeMed North, reaching a variety of clinicians and healthcare staff. With a broad audience, the dietetic interns were able to effectively discuss the importance of early detection and intervention, and provide a greater understanding of the value of nutrition in the healing process.