Chris Guarino - Region 1

​Hey everyone! My name is Chris Guarino, and I am a region 1 intern out of Nashua, New Hampshire. I completed both my bachelor’s and Master of Science in Nutrition at the University of New Hampshire where I learned advanced skills in Medical Nutrition Therapy and even taught students who are now Registered Dietitians! I also wrote a thesis titled “Associations Between Dietary Patterns and Brain Volume in the Boston Puerto Rican Health Study,” which I was lucky enough to present in-person at the American Heart Association’s Epidemiology conference and the American Society of Nutrition’s conference- both in Boston, MA! Right now, I am in my Advanced Clinical rotation at a Boston hospital, and I am also working on my Community Rotation at the Nashua Soup kitchen. In my spare time, I am busy working as a personal trainer with Orangetheory and a Clerk at Southern New Hampshire Medical Center where I can network with other dietitians.
 
My favorite clinical experience thus far has been in the ICU! The ICU is constantly changing, and the RDN has an increased role in working with the interdisciplinary team to make sure patients receive adequate nutrition in a short frame of time! I have already seen so many different cases of people who recover from being critically ill and go on to live healthier lives; it just goes to show how important feeding these patients is. While I have a few passions within nutrition, the ICU is by far my favorite place to work, and I decided to do my concentration in the ICU during my time with the Sodexo internship!
 
A few tips I have for future interns:

1. Do what you LOVE! If you have a specific nutrition interest, Sodexo almost definitely has a focus for you during your internship. If you don’t, your adviser and preceptor are eager and willing to help you cater your experience to your interests.
2. Be willing to learn and get ready to meet tons of new faces from many different places!
3. Make a calendar- coming from someone with ZERO time-management skills, even making an Outlook calendar with my work shifts, rotation days, and due dates for assignments has really helped me plan and stay on track. Your advisers are here to help you learn and are super understanding if something comes up.
4. Have fun. While the dietetic internship is a professional environment, remember you are a human being, and you can build rapport with your preceptors and colleagues. Even though I am an intern, I have already made so many new friends at my clinical site who are always willing to help me learn and answer any questions I might have for exam prep!

 
I have wanted to be an RD since I was 17 and following my interests has only broadened my horizons and opened my confidence in the professional world. In the end, if you love what you do- it isn’t work. 😊

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