Lauren Kasten
Registered Dietitian
Summary
Dynamic individual with hands-on experience in Public Health Nutrition and talent for navigating challenges. Brings strong problem-solving skills and proactive approach to new tasks. Known for organizational prowess and dependability while simultaneously managing multiple priorities with a positive attitude. Committed to making meaningful contributions and advancing organizational goals.
Overview
14
14
years of professional experience
1
1
Certificate
Work History
Public Health Nutritionist Manager (Region 1)
Louisiana Department of Health - Office of Public Health
2023.01 - Current
- Serves as the WIC program specialist and nutrition expert for the Greater New Orleans Region providing oversight to 12 WIC clinics in 4 Parishes and managing the annual operating budget of $600,000.
- Engages with the OPH regional leadership team, Bureau of Nutrition Services staff and partners in the region to bring awareness to the WIC program and maternal health needs in community. Led yearly outreach events including baby showers, film screenings, nutrition presentations, and several panels at community events.
- Serves as subject matter expert in nutrition, breastfeeding and maternal child health fielding nutrition questions from community in person or via phone/email.
- Performs wrap-around, holistic case management activities for clients, including proactively linking program participants to other services, performs high-risk nutrition counseling services and approves, orders and manages special formula for clinic.
- Supervises 7 WIC staff members serving the Public Health Units in Jefferson Parish, ensuring clinic coverage, appropriate staffing levels for FTE requirements and ensure all mandatory trainings are complete for all WIC and State deadlines.
High Risk Nutritionist
Access Health Louisiana
2012.04 - 2023.01
- Performed nutrition assessments using critical thinking to determine nutrition risk in WIC Participants from infancy to post-partum.
- Developed MNT plans for all high risk patients, set goals with caregivers through counseling and monitored progress through bi-monthly appointments.
- Promoted breastfeeding through education and counseling instilling confidence and motivation to pregnant and breastfeeding mothers.
- Co-facilitator for the Diabetes Self-Management Program with a Registered Nurse to both individuals and groups of up to 20 people multiple days a week.
- Served as supervisor for 2-6 staff members for 1 year.
Public Health Nutritionist 3
City of New Orleans Health Department
2018.10 - 2022.01
- Perform nutrition assessments using critical thinking to determine nutrition risk in WIC Participants from infancy to post-partum.
- Educated caregivers on infant, toddler and early childhood nutrition and developed MNT plans assisting clients with setting goals for both nutrition and physical wellness.
- Provided technical assistance to coworkers regarding childhood nutrition, breastfeeding and obesity prevention.
- Promote breastfeeding through education and counseling instilling confidence and motivation to pregnant and breastfeeding mothers.
- Provided drive-through triage services with NOHD medical teams, distributed formula, guidance and nutrition expertise to residents in the community through the New Orleans Emergency Operations Center (EOC) help-line during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Education
Dietetic Internship - Human Nutrition
Tulane University
New Orleans, LA2011-06
Bachelor’s in Applied Science - Human Nutrition, Psychology
University of Illinois
Chicago, IL2010-05
Skills
- Effective leadership
- Operational administration
- Attention to detail
- Analytical problem solving
- Autonomous task management
- High productivity
- Disease risk management
- Behavior modification techniques
- Nutrition assessment
- Nutrition counseling
- Medical Nutrition Therapy
Accomplishments
- Increased Parish Health Unit participation in WIC program from 2,189 to 3,730 participants served each month.
- Managed a Parish Health Unit WIC Program that ranked #1 in the state for breastfeeding referrals throughout 2023 and #1 for breastfeeding rates surpassing 98 other WIC clinics state-wide.
- Coordinated saltwater intrusion efforts regionally distributing over 2,500 cases of water through organized pop-up drive-through clinics and managed hundreds of records for the receiving families.
Certification
- Registered Dietitian, #1018623, Commission on Dietetic Registration, August 2011
- Licensed Dietitian Nutritionist, #2376, Louisiana Dietetic Association, April 2012
- Certified Lactation Counselor, #ALPP-238923, Healthy Children Project, Jan 2016
Timeline
Public Health Nutritionist Manager (Region 1)
Louisiana Department of Health - Office of Public Health
2023.01 - Current
Public Health Nutritionist 3
City of New Orleans Health Department
2018.10 - 2022.01
High Risk Nutritionist
Access Health Louisiana
2012.04 - 2023.01
Bachelor’s in Applied Science - Human Nutrition, Psychology
University of Illinois
Dietetic Internship - Human Nutrition
Tulane University