2020 RIAND Award Winners
24 Carrot Award - Weight Control and Diabetes Research Center in Providence, RI
A note from our winners: In December 2019, faculty and postdoctoral fellows Drs. Carly Goldstein, Stef Goldstein, KayLoni Olson, and Emily Panza had the pleasure of collaborating with RIAND on the Weight Stigma Conversation. It was an honor to participate and connect with RIAND's membership, and we look forward to future opportunities to jointly serve providers and patients in Rhode Island.
Recognized Young Dietitian of the Year - Julianne Houtchens, MS, RD, LDN
Julie currently works as an inpatient Clinical Dietitian at Rhode Island Hospital on Medical / Surgical floors. In additional to inpatient coverage, she covers an outpatient diabetes clinical assisting patients with medical nutrition therapy. Julie has recently starting working with Johnson and Wales University as a member of the Advisory Board to review the culinary nutrition program to be in line with Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition & Dietetics (ACEND) Standards. Her future goals include working full time with the diabetic population as Certified Diabetes Educator and running her own private practice.
Emerging Dietetic Leader - Sarah Larson, MS, RDN, LDN
I'm currently teaching summer session while spending lots and lots of outdoor time with my kids. Starting later this summer, I'll be the new director of the Didactic Program in Dietetics for URI's Nutrition Department.
Outstanding Dietitian of the Year - Shira Hirshberg, MS, RDN, LDN
I have a private practice (all foods nutrition) where I specialize in digestive and women's health using a Health at Every Size® aligned approach. I teach introductory nutrition courses for nurses and will soon be starting to help teach online pedagogy classes for instructors at URI. I live on the west side of Providence with my partner and our two kids ages 2 and 4. In the future I hope to get involved part-time in a research project as well as to work to keep up with the latest science and learn new counseling techniques for my private practice. Personally since we are all spending lots of time at home, my partner and I are working every weekend to turn our little city yard into a plant-filled oasis.
Retired Dietitian of the Year - Cathy English, PhD, RD, LDN
Cathy (very recently) retired from her work as Professor, Department Chair, director of the Didactic Program in Dietetics for URI's Nutrition Department. She is still an administrator director of the MS in Dietetics online program.
URI Outstanding Dietetics Student Award – Cynthia Pytel
Cynthia is a second career student at URI's Nutrition and Dietetics Program. She previously graduated from Plymouth State University in New Hampshire with a Bachelor's in Social Work. She is headed to Bozeman, Montana in July to participate int he Montana State University Dietetic Internship where she will focus on sustainable food systems. Cynthia is excited to explore Montana and its career opportunities.
JWU Outstanding Dietetics Student Award – Emily Longmoore
URI Outstanding Dietetic Intern Award - Kaidy Cornell