In the Spring 2002 issue of JPHAS, I wrote an article on the role of dietitians in healthcare. It contained one such role of a dietitian who had creatively incorporated a culinary background into her field of dietetics. This article further illustrates the depth of the dietitian's career.

Dietitians play an essential role in today's healthcare system as clinicians, teachers, consultants and role models. You may see them practicing at universities, foodservice operations, nursing homes, and fitness centers, establishing careers that are flexible, yet challenging and endlessly fulfilling. Dietetics and nutrition experts possess knowledge in multiple areas, including food and nutrition sciences, foodservice management, biochemistry, anatomy and microbiology. Thus, these professionals are well rounded in many aspects concerning human health and well-being.

I used to believe that dietitians had a single traditional role. As I expand my network and knowledge base, through meeting professionals from clinical, corporate and educational settings, however, the depth of these individuals' career paths became apparent and enthralled me. Many dieticians have created their own unique roles and goals within their area of expertise. The career of dietetics contains vast opportunities due to the role that nutrition plays in nearly every aspect of life. Whether advertisements on the CTA, articles in the Chicago Tribune or news cover stories-there is much evidence of the array of connections between nutrition, exercise and disease.

Most recently, I had the opportunity to speak with a remarkable and inspiring woman who is passionate about her career in dietetics [1]. Julie Ann Lickteig has designed her own unique career path apart from financial success as the motivating force. In doing so, she has transformed uncertainties into opportunities. During the past forty years, she has taken on the role of teacher, researcher, diet manager and administrative dietitian. Her career has taken her to the Summer Olympics where she supervised the foodservices at the swimming and diving stadiums. The research component of her career has allowed her to specialize in altitude transitional problems amongst backpackers and climbers. Lickteig spent more than two months at Mt. Everest's base camp researching the food intake of climbers at an altitude of 17,800 feet. Lickteig and her colleagues kept detailed food records of the subjects during a nine-week expedition. The climbers were fed differing amounts of fat, carbohydrates and protein in order to assess the impact of the change in altitude with regards to their energy needs [2].

Since completing her internship in 1962, Lickteig has published her work in over twenty-five different journals, engaged in numerous public speaking events and served on many voluntary committees. Through her career, she has been able to work with a diverse group of individuals, both young and old. Though she has taken on some traditional roles, such as clinical and administrative roles, she has managed to individualize her career and create unique opportunities.

Ellie Zografakis also exemplifies passion for the field of dietetics, which can be seen through an equally unique career she has created for herself. At the age of twenty-eight, Zografakis is the co-owner and co-founder of NutriFormance, a fitness center that combines workouts with diet and nutrition. She and her husband, Dale Huff, opened the first NutriFormance center in St. Louis, Missouri in June of 2000 and added a second location in 2001. Together these two locations have five hundred members and approximately fifty employees. Due to the close-knit quarters of the facility, it is conducive to close interactions between clients and employees [3]. Thus, it is clear to see the deep concern personal trainers, registered dietitians, physical therapists and massage therapists have for their clients.

In addition, Zografakis performs nutrition counseling, and believes education is important to the facility as a whole. She specializes in eating disorders and receives many referrals from physicians and psychiatrists. Zografakis along with three other dietitians, assists in developing personalized nutrition goals for clients, taking into consideration medical and weight history, current exercise habits as well as food preferences. Their focus is on modifying behaviors to make it easier for clients to engage in healthier lifestyles [4]. She and her husband lecture nationally to trainers, and she has contributed articles regarding fitness for women in well-known fitness magazines such as Elle, Fitness and Shape. Zografakis and trainers also work with sports-specific training, individualizing each program for their needs. This young, energetic individual has shown leadership and passion in her work, and has stressed that education in nutrition and exercise is an integral part of establishing and maintaining healthy lifestyles.

As you can see, whether new to the field or having practiced for many decades, these two individuals prove a career in dietetics can be both fulfilling and challenging. This career choice allows one to work within almost any aspect of one's life-style and in doing so, creates opportunities that will allow individuals a better understanding of the vital role nutrition plays in society. From educating about the realities of altitude, in hope of reducing the risk of illness, to individualizing connections between nutrition and exercise, the possibilities are endless. For those who deeply care about their work and are hopeful of the joy it can bring into their lives, as well as others, dietetics may be your ticket.

Jamie is currently working on a registered dietitian degree, in hopes of one day working with adolescents and eating disorders. For more information on dietetics, please refer to her article in the Spring 2002 issue of JPHAS.