Rachel Leigh
Orange,CT
Summary
Experienced, culturally sensitive, person-focused Registered Dietitian Nutritionist. A critical thinker with a solid nutrition science background, proven leadership ability, and advanced culinary skills. Dedicated and innovative educator committed to facilitating engaging and effective learning experiences.
Overview
10
10
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Adjunct Professor
Southern Connecticut State University
01.2024 - Current
- Delivering asynchronous, online Intro to Nutrition course weekly using Blackboard and Macmillan Achieve, ensuring alignment with curriculum standards and learning objectives
- Offering personalized support and guidance to students through virtual meetings, email correspondence, and discussion forums
- Fostering a collaborative and inclusive online learning environment by encouraging active participation, facilitating discussions, and providing timely feedback.
Adjunct Professor
Gateway Community College
09.2022 - Current
- Delivering weekly in-person instruction to Dietetic Technology Students on evidence-based nutrition principles
- Providing course syllabi for instruction in collaboration with the program coordinator
- Creating course content, grading examinations, research papers, and other projects as assigned in collaboration with the program coordinator
- Boosted class participation rates by fostering a positive and collaborative learning environment.
Registered Dietitian
Southwest Community Health Care
11.2018 - Current
- Effective advocacy of patient-specific needs founded on evidence-based guidelines of Medical Nutrition Therapy to provide personalized, safe, efficient & timely care of patients in a courteous & positive manner
- Proficient use of electronic medical records to perform medically complex patient assessments while applying the nutrition care process to determine appropriate nutritional interventions that are medically, culturally & age-appropriate
- Skilled use of the nutrition care process and motivational interviewing techniques to diagnose, evaluate and help patients to reach creative solutions to individual nutrition problems
- Independently educates & supports patients and interdisciplinary medical teams in the outpatient setting to promote patient satisfaction & continuity of care
- Provides medical nutrition therapy, nutrition care planning, education, and counseling for weight management, diabetes management, HIV/AIDS, HTN, HLD, renal, and other diverse patient populations
- Facilitates nutrition education for group diabetes lifestyle and education classes.
Registered Dietitian Consultant/Staff Relief
Bishop-Wicke Health & Rehabilitation Center
08.2017 - Current
- Conduct comprehensive nutritional assessments for accurate diagnosis and effective treatment planning.
- Improve patient outcomes by developing and implementing customized nutrition plans based on individual needs and medical conditions.
- Collaborate with interdisciplinary healthcare teams to optimize patient care and ensure seamless delivery of nutrition services.
Registered Dietitian
Healthcare Services Group - Glendale Center
01.2018 - 12.2019
- Effective advocacy of patient-specific needs founded on evidence-based guidelines of Medical Nutrition Therapy to provide personalized, safe, efficient & timely care of patients in a courteous & positive manner
- Proficient use of electronic medical records to perform medically complex patient assessments while applying the nutrition care process to determine appropriate nutritional interventions that are medically, culturally & age-appropriate
- Skilled use of the nutrition care process and motivational interviewing techniques to diagnose, evaluate and help patients to reach creative solutions to nutrition problems
- Independently educates & supports patients, visitors & interdisciplinary medical teams in in-patient settings to promote patient satisfaction & continuity of care
- Provides medical nutrition therapy, nutrition care planning, education, and counseling for weight management, diabetes management, oncology, cardiac, renal, and other diverse patient populations
- Provides nutrition support recommendations for patients requiring Enteral and Total Parenteral Nutrition, contributing to high-quality patient care.
Breastfeeding Coordinator, Women Infants and Children (WIC) Nutritionist
Southwest Community Health Center
01.2016 - 12.2017
- Provided culturally sensitive and life cycle-appropriate nutrition counseling and nutrition education focused on facilitating health-promoting behavioral change to underserved women and children in greater Bridgeport
- Implemented the nutrition care process using evidence-based practice while helping participants to manage nutrition-related conditions such as gestational diabetes, hypertension, post-bariatric surgery nutrition, and overweight/obesity
- Used Motivational Interviewing techniques to facilitate behavior change and the adoption of health-promoting behaviors
- Provided lactation support and counseling for breastfeeding women
- Analyzed and implemented strategies to promote and support exclusive breastfeeding as recommended by WHO and AAP
- Guided breastfeeding policy and procedure to WIC nutrition staff
- Worked with other staff members to draft and implement a local agency plan to reflect WIC’s current performance goals.
Dietetic Intern
Yale New Haven Hospital
09.2014 - 08.2015
- Successfully completed a clinically focused comprehensive 50-week training program at an acute care 1,541-bed hospital, accumulating over 1800 hours of clinical nutrition experience.
Education
Master of Science - Human Nutrition
2019
Bachelor of Science - Nutrition and Dietetics
01.2014
Associate of Science - Dietetic Technology
12.2011
Skills
- Advanced degree in Nutrition and Dietetics
- Previous experience teaching in an online or blended learning environment
- Proficiency with learning management systems
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills, both written and verbal
- Ability to adapt instructional strategies to meet diverse student needs and learning styles
- Knowledge of pedagogy, instructional design principles, and assessment methods
- Commitment to fostering an inclusive and supportive learning community
- Strong organizational and time management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities effectively
- PCC Electronic Medical Record
- Meal Tracker
- EPIC Electronic Medical Record
- Blackboard
- NexGen Electronic Medical Record
- ESHA Food Processor
- CT-WIC
- Microsoft Office; Word, PPT, Excel
- Mac; Pages, Mac Keynote, Mac Numbers
- MYOB
- VectorWorks CAD
- SPSS
- SUMARI
- And others as needed
Certification
- Registered Dietitian, Nutritionist - 2015
- CT Certified Dietitian, Nutritionist - 2015
- Certificate of Training in Adult Weight Management – Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics - 2014
- Certificate of Fine Cooking, French Culinary Institute, New York - 2007
- Motivational Interviewing - 2017
- DTTAC Lifestyle Coach Training - 2019
Timeline
Adjunct Professor - Southern Connecticut State University
01.2024 - Current
Adjunct Professor - Gateway Community College
09.2022 - Current
Registered Dietitian - Southwest Community Health Care
11.2018 - Current
Registered Dietitian - Healthcare Services Group - Glendale Center
01.2018 - 12.2019
Registered Dietitian Consultant/Staff Relief - Bishop-Wicke Health & Rehabilitation Center
08.2017 - Current
Breastfeeding Coordinator, Women Infants and Children (WIC) Nutritionist - Southwest Community Health Center
01.2016 - 12.2017
Dietetic Intern - Yale New Haven Hospital
09.2014 - 08.2015
The University of New Haven - Master of Science, Human Nutrition
University of New Haven - Bachelor of Science, Nutrition and Dietetics
Gateway Community College - Associate of Science, Dietetic Technology
- Registered Dietitian, Nutritionist - 2015
- CT Certified Dietitian, Nutritionist - 2015
- Certificate of Training in Adult Weight Management – Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics - 2014
- Certificate of Fine Cooking, French Culinary Institute, New York - 2007
- Motivational Interviewing - 2017
- DTTAC Lifestyle Coach Training - 2019
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