Last year I sat with the leader of our local student dietetic association and brainstormed how we could connect students with local professionals in the community. Being the local district dietetic president at the time, I saw the disconnect between dietetic students and RDs in the field. It wasn’t that either group was opposed to spending time together but we didn’t really have opportunities to do so and that is how “Networking for Nutrition” was born. My student contact took the idea and ran with it by creating a professional “speed dating” event for students & RD professionals to dialogue. Basically students or RDs can rotate from one table to the next and exchange ideas & contact info. Personally, I love this event and I think it’s a great way to give students a realistic view about what being a dietitian is all about. I would have loved this opportunity as a student. It also reminds me of why I chose this career path in the first place.

As a professional, what type of ways or even events do you use to connect with students? How are you building relationships with the leaders of the next generation?