Meet Cecily Wise, MA, RDN, LD, a passionate Clinical Dietitian. Cecily works as a Registered Dietitian at Memorial Hospital of South Bend. She is dedicated to helping her patients recover from a variety of disease states. Cecily has been working as a clinical dietitian for over 7 years. Read more about Cecily and what her amazing team is accomplishing. - Katie

What attracted you to the field of nutrition and dietetics?

Growing up I was fortunate to have both my parents in my life, but my parents divorced when I was three years old. My mom had to raise two children as a single parent. She depended on food stamps to feed us. I was also the child with reduced school lunch fees.

As a child, I always preferred fruits and vegetables over chips. Growing up I thought I wanted to be a pastry chef, but I realized being a chef was not the life for me.

One day my mother suggested that I should be a nutritionist (of course I didn't know the difference between a nutritionist and a Registered Dietitian). My friend was going to Ball State to tour the campus, and I had asked her to look to see if they had a nutrition program. There was. I said, "okay, that's what I'm going to do."

I did zero research on the field, which was for the best. If I knew I would have been taking 4 semesters of chemistry, anatomy, physiology, biology, and microbiology I would have laughed and said, "no thank you, that's a hard pass." Seven years later here I am as a clinical dietitian!

What I love most is that I have the opportunity to help people of different cultures everyday no matter their socioeconomic status to improve their health.

What Company are you with now?

Beacon Health System - Memorial Hospital of South Bend

Your Job Title?

Clinical Dietitian

Social Media:

LinkedIn

A typical (or not so typical) day-in-the-work-life for you?

A typical day for us includes screening new admissions for nutrition risk or malnutrition within 24 hours. Each of us dietitians (team of 10 + 1 intern) have our set floors. After screening, we come together to talk as a team to assess if any of us will need help. After our morning huddle, we go our separate ways. We start with any doctor or nurse consults and then move on to our high-risk patients and so forth. Some of us do attend interdisciplinary team rounds.

I work with traumatic brain injuries (my favorite because I get to watch them come off tube feeding and start eating again), wire jaws, some elective surgery cases, and patients with multiple bone fractures. For our GI unit, I assist with Crohn's disease, Ulcerative Colitis, pancreatitis, diverticulitis, enterocutaneous fistulas, bowel obstructions, colostomy/ileostomy, and anything else that comes up. So, I spend my day charting, reviewing medical diagnosis, anthropometrics, biochemical data and seeing patients.

A non-typical week is when the full moon week strikes. For those of you that work in a healthcare setting, or a school you know what I'm talking about. This is when the most bizarre consults will come through, when the electronic medical record will decide to randomly scramble your note, when your computer needs that random update even though you shut down your computer each night, and when the outpatient center needs a last-minute tube feeding education/recommendations, but there is not any past medical history in the chart.

But let's be real, the past two+ years has been anything but typical. Our amazing team:

Gail, Aviva, Renee, August, Halie, Kelsey, Cassie, Carla, Martha, & Nancy are the greatest colleagues one can ask for. We also have a phenomenal pediatric specialty RD, Vickie. Together, we have fought COVID-19, dealt with running out of feeding pumps, formula supplies/recalls, cried on each other's shoulders (I would be lying if I said I never cried), and supported each other's views and ideas to help each other grow.

How did you get your current job in dietetics?

I initially applied for a Dean Ornish position, but my boss thought I would be a better fit for PRN. It was perfect! I was finishing grad school, assistant coach of my old high school's dance team, and studying for my RD exam. About 1 month before I graduated, I became full time.

What skills were you born with and what skills have you learned along the way?

Flexibility, empathy, and being friendly.I have been told I have always been flexible in most circumstances. Empathy - apparently when I was a young child (I don't really remember, but my mom tells the story) we went trick or treating at our local mall. I saw a homeless man outside and asked my mom if I could give him my candy. Friendly - if there is any profession, I get mistaken for it is a social worker (it's my mom's fault, she's the social worker).

The skills I have learned are how to stand up for myself, how to have difficult conversations when conflict arises, and how to be a better preceptor for our future RDs/RDNs.

What advice do you have for others wanting to be just as successful and fulfilled as you?

Be true to yourself. Don't compare. Stand up and speak up if you believe strongly in something.

If you could be paid for your job with something other than a paycheck, what would it be?

Unlimited paid vacations with my supporting husband and son, parents (in-laws included), siblings (in-laws included), and friends.

About the Author

Katie Padva, MS, RDN, LDN, is a Registered Dietitian passionate about delivering nutrition education through writing, teaching, and counseling to help prevent and manage chronic diseases. She works in a private practice helping individuals be the best version of theirselves through healthy nutrition. She also works as an adjunct instructor at a University educating students on nutrition concepts. When she is not working, Katie enjoys being outside, running, writing, cooking, doing yoga and hiking! Connect with her on LinkedIn.