Gianna LaBella - Region 3

​My name is Gianna LaBella, and I’m currently halfway through the Sodexo-URI FEM GP program based in Long Island, NY! I’m halfway through my community rotation where I am at some of the local outpatient sites associated with my clinical facility. My experience so far has been one that I feel incredibly lucky and grateful for. My main clinical facility has provided me with flexibility for changes if needed, multiple opportunities to expand my experience in every unit, and community events to provide education.
 
One community event I worked at has had a significant impact on me as a future dietitian and how I plan to work in the field. In February, I attended a Health Fair with another intern where we had a table discussing heart-healthy fats, cooking tips, recipes, and seasonings. We had educational material as well for participants on how to read a food label, the amount of added sugar in different beverages, high vs low salt food products, and building a balanced plate. This event was particularly impactful for me because of the connections built with our participants.
 
Specifically, one of the participants spoke with me one-on-one, trying to learn more about healthy eating on the go at work, meal prepping, and how to build nutritious snacks at home. This personal conversation allowed me to build a solid relationship and level of trust with this audience member who was genuinely seeking me out to listen to what we had to say. It was an empowering moment as an RD2BE and left me feeling confident in my future self’s ability to provide nutrition education and counseling when I am in practice. The participant also discussed many cultural barriers they are facing in their life that impact their ability to reach their personal nutrition and health goals. Hearing this audience member honestly express to me the challenges they face daily was a powerful moment for me as a future RD. This conversation allowed me to become more culturally competent in practice and expand my knowledge level on struggles faced within this culture. I left with a better understanding of the challenges one may face within this culture, eliminating any assumed beliefs that may have been present prior. I feel grateful for not only getting to expand what I knew of the lived experiences of this community but also to change the way I will work in this in the future to practice as a more competent professional.
 
Working as a dietetic intern has been filled with endless self-growth and new challenges or obstacles to face, allowing me to step into uncertainty and grow professionally and personally. I am excited and hopeful for what the future may hold for not only my career as a dietitian but for the world of nutrition and dietetics. I hope to work in each field of interest of through my career including the eating disorder patient population and women’s health (i.e., pregnancy, menstruation).

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