Ronda Saenz
San Antonio,Tx
Overview
1
1
Certification
23
23
years of professional experience
Work History
Nutrition Specialist III (Chief Clinical Dietitian)
Health & Human Services of Texas-San Antonio State Hospital
San Antonio, Texas
02.2018 - Current
- Performs advanced nutritional care for high risk patients. Duties include providing medical nutritional therapy for the patients, attending multi-disciplinary meetings, communicating important patient information to appropriate direct care, health care professionals and dietary staff.
- Collaborates with Food Service Management to design menus that comply with nutrient standards and accommodate patient preferences, dietary restrictions, and clinical requirements.
- Developed and implemented nutrition education programs for patients and food service staff to enhance understanding of dietary guidelines and improve compliance.
- Input menu-related data into nutrition/food service software, update data weekly, and prepare reports to ensure accurate tracking of therapeutic and standard menus that meet patient nutritional needs.
- Supported overall functioning and objectives of Clinical Nutrition Services department by coordinating activities and ensuring alignment with departmental goals.
- Works with psychiatrists, social workers and other staff that compromise the multidisciplinary team for both forensic and acute behavioral health units.
Chronic Disease Educator
Houston Healthcare
Warner Robins, GA
08.2015 - 05.2017
- Delivered diabetes and heart failure education to in-patients and out-patients, enhancing patient understanding and self-management. Diabetes self-management education class instructor. Provided nutrition education and meal planning for DSME class referrals. Collected data for purposes of reducing ER re-admission rates. Provided heart failure education and monthly nutrition group classes. Led support group meetings for patients and families, fostering a community for discussing challenges and sharing experiences.. Provided medical nutrition therapy as Clinical Dietitian in Nutritional Services Department, addressing needs of high-risk patients.
- Developed lesson plans to engage diverse student learning styles.
- Facilitated classroom discussions to encourage critical thinking and collaboration.
- Assessed student progress through regular evaluations and feedback sessions.
WIC Program Director/Public Health Clinic Dietitian
St. Elizabeth's Health Center
Tucson, AZ
03.2011 - 05.2013
- Supervised and managed daily operations of WIC program and Nutrition Network (SNAP) Programs, ensuring compliance and effective service delivery. Delivered nutrition education and counseling for medical clinic referrals, addressing diverse disease states to enhance patient outcomes. Participated in quality assurance team to evaluate and improve program standards and client services. Monitored and prepared budgets.
- Managed program development and implementation for patient care services.
- Coordinated multidisciplinary teams to ensure effective patient treatment plans.
- Oversaw compliance with healthcare regulations and standards for operations.
Research Nutritionist
University Health Science Center
San Antonio, Texas
06.2003 - 05.2007
- Assessed educational needs and provided tailored nutrition counseling for diabetics in longitudinal NIH study, enhancing participant understanding of diabetes management. Developed engaging educational handouts and class materials for presentations on diabetes management, meal planning, weight loss, and exercise, improving participant engagement. Collected and analyzed data on diabetes outcomes for LookAhead Study, contributing to research insights on effective diabetes management strategies.
- Developed personalized nutrition plans for diverse patient populations.
- Conducted comprehensive dietary assessments to identify nutritional needs.
- Collaborated with healthcare teams to integrate nutrition into patient care strategies.
Education
Dietetic Internship -
The University of the Incarnate Word
San Antonio, TxMaster's in Public Health (MPH) - Health Policy and Management
Texas A&M University
College Station, TexasBachelor of Science - Home Economics & Nutrition
The University of Texas at Austin
Austin, TexasSkills
- Medical nutrition therapy
- Nutritional assessment
- Menu planning
- Chronic disease management
- Proficient in Computrition
- Budget management
- Decision making
- Interpersonal collaboration
Certification
Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, Licensed for State of Texas, Active Member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, BLS certified
Timeline
Nutrition Specialist III (Chief Clinical Dietitian)
Health & Human Services of Texas-San Antonio State Hospital
02.2018 - Current
Chronic Disease Educator
Houston Healthcare
08.2015 - 05.2017
WIC Program Director/Public Health Clinic Dietitian
St. Elizabeth's Health Center
03.2011 - 05.2013
Research Nutritionist
University Health Science Center
06.2003 - 05.2007
Dietetic Internship -
The University of the Incarnate Word
Master's in Public Health (MPH) - Health Policy and Management
Texas A&M University
Bachelor of Science - Home Economics & Nutrition
The University of Texas at Austin