by Kylie Avery
Marissa Wertheimer, MS, RD, LDN, and Fran Blackman, MS, RD, CDCES, are this year’s recipients of Allied Health’s Dietetic Internship Excellence in Education Awards.
Wertheimer received the precepting award for health promotion through her exemplary role as a dietitian at VUMC’s Center for Medical Weight Loss.
Blackman, an advanced level practitioner in diabetes care, was recognized for her leadership in the Vanderbilt Nutrition Clinic, where she focuses on disease management.
“Preceptors take on an incredible amount of responsibility in teaching our future dietitians.
“They provide patient- and family-centered care and coordinate care plans with interprofessional teams, all while taking the time to train our interns in best practices during those moments,” said Sarah Ferguson MPH, RDN, LDN, program director of the Dietetic Internship.
Leadership faculty of the Dietetic Internship nominate preceptors who use innovative teaching techniques to facilitate skill development, exemplify the highest standards of professionalism and leadership, and demonstrate continued engagement with the internship program for at least 12 months.
These leaders demonstrate effective instruction through design tools that elevate engagement; they exemplify professionalism in the field and cultivate a culture of inclusivity and advocacy to development of well-equipped and educated future dietitian nutritionists.
“It’s of the utmost importance to equip our future workforce with the skills and knowledge they need to help them succeed in their future area of expertise. Having dedicated preceptors who are passionate about instilling excellence is an essential part of helping them achieve that,” said Peggy Valentine, EdD, Vice President of Allied Health Programs.
“We’re incredibly thankful to our preceptors and want to recognize their commitment to our program and their continued excellence,” said Ferguson.