Student Corner Interview

Pam Nisevich, BS
Dietetic Intern, Graduate Student, Ohio State University

Pam, tell us yourself, your background, and your program at Ohio State.

I’m from Beavercreek, a suburb of Dayton, OH. An avid athlete, I competed in several sports in high school. As an undergraduate at Miami University (Ohio), I focused on soccer and running and toured the country with my club soccer teammates representing the Miami RedHawks. In my free time I enjoyed trail running and competing in a bike races. I still play soccer and bike but most of my efforts are focused on running. I am fresh from the finish line of the Boston Marathon, my fifth marathon. Not highly competitive in the marathon; my strong suit is the half-marathon. However, I finished the marathon in 3:30, taking nearly an hour off my previous experience at Boston. This marathon truly exhibited the fact that proper sports nutrition can make a positive impact on performance. This was the first marathon where I had no mental breakdown and remained completely strong through the finish line. It was an amazing experience and one I look forward to repeating. In accordance with my drive for competition and adventure, I recently became a member of the PowerBar® Team Elite, a grassroots effort by PowerBar® to sponsor athletes while making nutrition information and PowerBar® products more accessible to the general public.

Attending Ohio State University (OSU), a very large school, was quite an adjustment after small-town Miami. Fortunately, the faculty was very welcoming and I began to appreciate the many resources at OSU. My program is in the School of Allied Medical Professions where I attend classes with other health care professionals. While at OSU, I completed a dietetic internship. As an intern, I gained experience in various clinics, hospitals, and schools throughout Columbus. The dietetic internship was invaluable. While you can read a textbook from cover to cover, it won’t make the lasting impression that working is a hospital setting will do. From my internship, I determined which areas of nutrition practice weren’t for me, and I learned that weight loss, lifestyle changes, and sports nutrition are the areas of dietetics in which I am truly interested.

Since a thesis is required for my graduate degree, I began exploring thesis options early in my program. Deciding on a topic to research was one of the hardest parts of the process. Pursuing my interests in exercise, I chose to research the exercise habits of registered dietitians. I compared our profession’s exercise habits to the goals and objectives in the CDC’s Healthy People 2010. After an exhaustive exploration of current research and hours spent creating and revising thesis chapters, I have begun compiling data. I am confident that this research will yield exciting results.

How did you become interested in nutrition?

Before entering Miami, I considered going to culinary school and becoming a professional chef. I have always been captivated by the powers of the kitchen. Cooking and baking allow me to express my creative talents. While I could follow a recipe, I always try to create new variations that are more nutritious. I owe thanks to friends who weren’t afraid to try my “experiments.”

Miami has an excellent business school and, as a freshman, I initially chose business as my major. However, I soon found that no matter how profitable a job in business might be, it was not for me. Instead, I chose to pursue pre-med and dietetics, ultimately graduating with a degree in dietetics. Because the Division of Dietetics is in the School of Physical Health and Sports Studies, I was fortunate to be able to focus most of my non-dietetic classes on sports and exercise physiology. In due course I chose dietetics as my career because I felt that I could help people through prevention as opposed to pharmaceutical treatments. I am confident that if I can motivate clients to choose healthy living styles, we can work together to prevent chronic diseases and costly medical services. To me, good nutrition and wholesome lifestyles seem like a natural, common sense approach to health.

You assisted Jenna Bell-Wilson, PhD, RD, for the article, “Eating for Endurance” in the March 2006 issue of Today’s Dietitian. Tell us about that experience and something you learned.

One of the main differences I found in the transition from undergraduate to graduate studies was the expectation that students do literature reviews and stay up-to-date on research and journal articles. When my advisor, Dr. Bell-Wilson introduced this project, I was eager to try writing. One of my professional goals is to write for a magazine or newspaper, and I thought this article would be the perfect place to begin.

Before writing the article, I performed a comprehensive investigation of recent and relevant research. Dr. Bell-Wilson steered me in the right direction for research and we created an outline of the direction in which we wanted the article to go. I am lucky to have Dr. Bell-Wilson as my advisor because she is so well-versed in exercise physiology and nutrition. Her doctorate is in exercise physiology. While I focused on the nutritional aspects of eating for endurance, she supplemented my work with her professional background in both exercise and nutrition.
From this experience, I learned that articles are revised many times and one shouldn’t take constructive criticism personally! I also realized that you must “publish or perish”; when you have the opportunity to write for a journal, a magazine, or even a handout, take that opportunity and get your name out there. These are opportunities to improve your writing and resume.

What other experiences have you had in sports nutrition or in professional writing?

I have written countless handouts and created sports nutrition presentations intended for group audiences. I am currently working via PowerBar® to expand my nutrition education presentations. I am very fortunate to have Dr. Bell-Wilson in my corner; she frequently informs me of groups looking for a presenter or counseling. I plan to become more involved in SCAN and ADA and look forward to the day when I can publish MS, RD, and LD after my name.

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

Currently, I am working with children with Type 1 Diabetes at Dayton Children’s Hospital. I am working under the title of “Nutrition Associate” until I become licensed and registered. While I never thought I would immerse myself in the world of pediatrics, I am realizing the importance of nutrition in youth. I am also realizing the impact a nutritionist can have on the very young.
After accumulating clinical experience and aiding in research trials, I plan on returning to school to earn a PhD. I am leaning toward a PhD in exercise physiology, although I haven’t discounted a PhD in nutrition. With a PhD, my goal is to teach at the college level and to continue giving nutrition presentations, particularly in the area of sports nutrition. In addition to teaching and presenting, I plan on consulting or privately counseling in the areas of weight loss, lifestyle changes, and sports nutrition. Following my desire to immerse myself in sports nutrition, I plan on becoming certified as a Specialist in Sports Dietetics (CSSD). While at this point in my career I am not eligible to sit for the examination, I feel that this certification is well warranted and the field has long been awaiting this distinction. The CSSD will allow for serious sports nutritionists to stay up-to-date and connected to new research and new products so that we can advance our client’s performance and nutritional health.

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

My advice to other students is to get involved. Many of us are likely guilty of ignoring opportunities to volunteer, thinking we’re simply too busy. Make time for these volunteer opportunities because you can make wonderful contacts and, you never know, a small volunteer opportunity may lead to bigger and better opportunities. Set a goal to become more involved and to truly make an impact on our profession.