Talayeh Tabriz - Region 12

Hello everyone! 
​My name is Talayeh.  I am a current Sodexo intern in Los Angeles, California.  I am towards the end of my internship and am in the process of completing my final community rotation.  My experience as a Sodexo intern has been extremely rewarding and educational.  The different facets of the internship have all provided me with unique experiences and I’m confident I have received the training I need to start my career as a dietitian.
One of the most memorable experiences I had was being able to observe a bariatric surgery in the OR during my clinical rotation.  I had seen bariatric surgery patients post-operatively, but this experience really gave me a deeper understanding of the full journey patients with morbid obesity go through.  Being able to observe how precisely the surgeons operated and how the OR functioned like a well-oiled machine with everyone playing a vital role (nurses, OR techs, surgeons, anesthesiologists) was amazing! 
Another experience during my clinical rotation that I will always remember was being able to host an event during National Nutrition Month.  The theme of the month was “A World of Flavors”.  I made different smoothies using ingredients from various countries (India, China, Mexico, and my home country of Iran).  I gave the hospital staff smoothies along with handouts detailing the nutritional benefits of the ingredients in the smoothies.  Some of the employees later told me they have started making healthy smoothies at home!
During my internship I’ve been able to see the full scope of how nutrition plays a vital role in people and patient’s lives.  I’ve learned how a nutrition department works, rounded with the ICU team on the sickest patients in the hospital, worked with a dietitian at a skilled nursing facility, and now I’m helping educate people with mental health disorders on diet and nutrition. 
I’ll be sad when my internship ends and will cherish this experience forever!

---