CAND ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2018: POMONA, CA

Between the days of May 3rd, 4th and 5th, the CSUN Nutrition Therapy focused Dietetic Interns
ventured to Pomona, California to attend the California Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Annual
Conference. This year’s theme was Fad vs Fact, the specific lectures presented of each of the 3 days are
included on the following pages. Don’t be fooled by the pictures below only exemplifying one outfit that I
wore; I partnered up with one of the other Dietetic Interns, Shely Salemnia, and carpooled to Pomona for
all 3 days of the conference. Some of my favorite presentations were as follows: “All are not the Same:
Dietary Variances Among Hispanics and Latinos with Diabetes” by Nilda Benmaor, MS, RDN, CDE;
“Advancing Nutrition Practice with Metabolomics” by Francene Steinberg, PhD, RD and former
Professor from UC Davis; “Diabetes Medication Update: Putting the Pieces Together,” by Beverly
Thomassian, RN, MPH, CDE, BC-ADM; and “The Science of Having Your Cake and Eating It Too:
How Research Supports Intuitive Eating’s Positive Health Outcomes” by Alyssa Snow Callahan, MS,
RDN and Sarah Pruett Soufl, MS, RD.
During the course
of the 3 day event, I not
only obtained the
opportunity to expand my
social network but also
was given the opportunity
to see old mentors and
friends that I had made
during my journey at UC
Davis (Class of 2017).
One mentor that I saw was
previously mentioned in
the “Peer Mentor
Pathways Program”
section, Professor Joan
Frank from UC Davis.
Upon seeing her, I was
able to tell her all about
the success of the mentorship program and how her resources were benefiting people not only in Northern
California but also Southern California. During the event, it also came to my attention that my fellow
colleague and Dietetic Intern, Francisco Rodriguez, also had Joan Frank as a professor when he attended
UC Davis, despite us graduating in different classes. Out of pure excitement, I asked both of them to take
a photo with me, which you can see above!
Additionally I got the opportunity to see and catch up with Golnaz Ghomeshi Friedman, CAND’s
2017-2018 President elect and a former mentor I had when I was UC Davis’ and the Academy’s Student
Liaison in 2017. Together we discussed out favorite lecture presentations and the goals both and her and I
envision for the future of Dietetics and specifically for the Academy. And of course, I couldn’t leave
without a photo with her, which you will find on the next page.
 Outside of seeing old friends and catching up, the Nutrition Therapy cohort and myself
represented CSUN’s Dietetic Internship program during Friday night’s Student-New Member Reception.
During the Reception, the interns and myself prepared our CSUN tables filled with several giveaways
such as water bottles, notebooks, pens and other goodies. The event was overall a huge success, leaving
us with a wealth of knowledge and the ability to share our resources with others.