Lauren Kort

Tell us yourself, education, your background, and your current interests.

I am a 1st year graduate student and an MPH Candidate at the Gillings School of Global Public Health, at the University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill. Prior to attending UNC, I completed my BS in dietetics from the University of Dayton. I had a growing interest in nutrition, so I was thrilled to select a major that fit my interests and that I could use to help others. I am currently in a combined program where I’m earning a MPH degree in nutrition while completing my dietetic internship hours to become an RD. The highlight of my experience at UNC has been working with Jen Ketterly, MS, RD, CSSD, and Mary Ellen Bingham, MS, RD, CSSD as the sports nutrition intern working with UNC’s athletic teams.

You are an athlete. What are your experiences in sports?

When I was young I participated in swimming, dance, volleyball and softball, but really focused on swimming. In college I did club swimming and a little rowing, but most importantly found my place in running. I come from a family of talented distance runners, so it was my time to join in! I quickly transitioned from not enjoying running to completing 4 marathons (Chicago, Columbus, and Boston). I'm currently training for my first half ironman triathlon this spring.

How did you become interested in sports nutrition?

My experiences with sports and nutrition started when I was young. I grew up in Colorado Springs, CO, which is the home of the US Olympic Committee, US Olympic Training Center, USA swimming, USA triathlon, and USA volleyball to name a few. Having these facilities in my backyard provided me with some great training and networking opportunities growing up. Without realizing it, my interest in the field began to shift to sports nutrition. I was seeking out articles, projects, resources, and opportunities in sports nutrition. The rest is history!

What other experiences have you had in sports nutrition?

At UNC, I help out with various projects involving the UNC Sports Nutrition department. I spend about half of my time with the UNC football team during their lunch at the football stadium. Jen Ketterly has established a way to label the foods served at their meals according to a colored dot system. These dot labels range from "hard gainer", "weight control", "cramping" to carbohydrate-rich "energy" foods. The dot labels are simple, but really make a difference for a football player interested in his nutrition. I had very limited experience with football, so I have learned a lot and have had a blast doing it!

Aside from football, I spent a lot of time on projects for the women's basketball and baseball teams. In addition, I have had opportunities to do projects for some of our other teams. Some of my most memorable projects include:

• Hydration testing using urine specific gravity
• Helping screen for the female athlete triad
• Analyzing dietary recalls
• Helping plan pre- and post-game meals
• Learning iron and vitamin D dosing

I'm lucky to be at one of the few schools in the nation that employ not one, but two full time sports dietitians. I’ve enjoyed seeing how the sports dietitians, athletic trainers, physical therapists, and team physicians come together to form the sports medicine team. One of my favorite things about my job is attending as many UNC athletic events as I can. It is rewarding (and fun) to see our athletes competing and succeeding!

What are your professional goals? Once you become a registered dietitian, what kind of work do you want to do?

Upon completing my MPH and RD, I will begin working on gaining my CSSD credentials. I want to be to a sports dietitian at a major university, as I really enjoy working with the college age group. Currently, my main interests in the field are nutrition for endurance exercise, vitamin and mineral supplementation, female athlete triad prevention, and optimizing recovery post-workout. I want to work with team sports as well as individual athletes. Proper nutrition can take athletes to the next level, so I hope to inspire positive changes in people’s lives that they can use on and off the field.

Is there anything else you would like to share with other students?

Don’t be afraid to market yourself and make connections with as many people as you can. It is easy to make excuses, but shadowing and volunteering are a great way to break into sports nutrition. I would also encourage students to attend the SCAN symposium. The things you learn, people you meet, and experiences you get are well worth the time and money involved!