Alumni Spotlight

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Name: Lisa T.

Employer: Kaiser Permanente Medical Center

Title: Diabetes Care Manager

What do you do?
As a Dietitian I work on a team with nurses, doctors, pharmacists and social workers to improve the health of those with diabetes. I follow clients for at least 3-6 months and coordinate all their care.

How did you get your job?
Job posting in a dietitian publication (Jobs in Dietetics)

What is your educational background/degree(s) earned?
BS in Human Development at University of Calif Davis, Dietetic Internship at UI and MS in Health Science at San Francisco State University

Which degree(s) do you recommend for this career field?
I would recommend as much experience as you can get to experience all the variety available in the nutrition and health field. Work in the community and well as the clinical setting is ideal.

What talents, skills, or personality traits help someone do well in this job?
It is really important to be a good listener and to be able to deal with all types of people. You need to be able to relate to clients and also work with other professionals.

What are the challenges of this job/career path?
To find this job. Care management jobs are limited, but with the switch to more managed care and chronic disease management there should be more opportunity.

Any misconceptions about your job?
As a dietitian- we do menus and only deal with food.

What do you know now that you wish you knew as an undergraduate at The University of Iowa?
That I would use so much of my people skills and counseling that I developed by working and volunteering. I would have done more.

Final words of advice...
Take classes in a variety of fields and keep your options open- you never know what will come your way.