Tell us about your background before coming to BU.
I grew up in a suburb of Boston and have always loved the area. I studied microbiology and gender and health studies at the University of Michigan before returning to Boston for the DPD/MS+DI program at BU.
What made you decide to come to BU for the DPD/MS + DI program?
Boston is a hub of medicine and healthcare, and I wanted to begin networking here. The combined DPD/MS+DI program met my academic needs, and I was more than happy to return to the Boston area after my undergraduate studies.
What have you liked most about the program?
The people and opportunities. Between the devoted faculty, wonderful classmates, and exceptional guest speakers, the program has exceeded my expectations. I have gotten the opportunity to explore different areas of dietetics, shadow professionals, lead workshops, assist professors, work on interdisciplinary teams and more.
Tell us about your dietetic internship and your experience with your clinical preceptors?
My experience during my dietetic internship has been wonderful. I cannot speak highly enough of all of the clinical preceptors. They were all fantastic to work with and provided excellent advice and feedback. The internship is rigorous, but rewarding and goes by quickly!
How do you feel this program has prepared you for the next step in your career?
Between the classwork, practical experience, and dietetic internship I have received an excellent education and made invaluable connections with professionals within the field. I feel prepared and am very excited to begin my career as a dietitian!
Leslie Caiola
2020 Outstanding Dietetics DPD Student of the Year, Massachusetts Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
Q&A with Leslie
Tell us about your background and your road to BU’s DPD/MS + DI program.
Nutrition is a career change for me and my path to the BU program has been unconventional, for sure!
I have an undergraduate degree in theater arts management from Ithaca College and worked in theater in NYC for several years. My partner and I spent two years living and working abroad in the Netherlands and immersing ourselves in Dutch culture. When we moved to Boston, I worked in fundraising and event planning. Along the way, I discovered a love for food and nutrition and spent my free time attending cooking classes, volunteering at non-profit organizations, and organizing nutrition groups and events.
I have done the DPD/MS/DI program part-time now for five years while working at BU. I will finish the whole process in 6 years + the DI. Completing the program part-time was a great way to continue gaining work experience, focus on one or two classes a semester, and get involved in projects at BU. It was hard work but absolutely possible and incredibly rewarding.
What do you like most about the DPD/MS + DI program?
I was excited about the opportunities at BU to explore a diversity of nutrition areas and career paths. I was also interested in research, discovering opportunities to collaborate with other specialties across BU, and getting hands-on experience through the practicum. The program exceeded my expectations. For my practicum, I participated in BU CHAMPS (Community Health Alliance of Medical Professionals), where I was part of an interdisciplinary team. I experienced firsthand the critical role a dietitian has on a care team and the profound complexities of working with individuals. I have been able to dive deeper into these concepts through Sargent College’s interprofessional education initiative, where I have enjoyed learning together with SLP, OT, AT, and PT graduate students each semester. I now look forward to working on an interprofessional team as part of my role.
What has been your experience with the nutrition faculty?
The faculty has had a profound impact on my graduate experience and growth throughout the program. They helped me gain confidence in my new field, incorporate skills from my first career, and develop as a leader. They are always available to provide meaningful feedback, talk through questions and challenging concepts, and make connections to opportunities in areas of interest. I have felt both encouraged and supported in bringing forward ideas and initiatives for the program and college. With the support of the faculty, I helped develop inclusive healthy eating workshops for Special Olympics, co-hosted a healthy eating webinar, and helped establish a cooking group for people with aphasia, led by an interdisciplinary student team. I have personally felt the BU faculty mission to help us succeed both in the program and as future dietitians.
How do you feel this program is preparing you for the next step in your career?
Throughout the program, I developed a wide range of skills that have prepared me for my career as an RD, including a strong foundation in nutrition science and the ability to critically analyze research. Through the practicum and coursework, I have learned the importance of evidence-based patient-centered care and interprofessional teamwork. With this foundation, I am excited to start the dietetic internship, continue this journey of lifelong learning and helping others.
Watch: Molly Winsten (Sargent ’18)
Winsten appeared on the Food Network series “Bakers vs. Fakers.”
BU Nutrition Club
The BU Nutrition and Dietetics Club (BUNDC) aims to promote a spirit of community, education, awareness, and development among Sargent’s undergraduate and graduate nutrition students. The club host a variety of events throughout the year including an annual Thanksgiving Turkey Drive, healthy cooking events, high intensity interval training group workouts, eating disorder awareness events, and alumni panels.
BUNDC members with nutrition alumni at the 2018 Alumni Panel event featuring: Leanna Shea, Clinical Dietitian at Brigham and Women’s Hospital (DPD/MS/DI ‘17), Nicolette Maggiolo, Community Dietitian with Massachusetts General Hospital (BS, ‘15), Mary Ellen Kelly, Sports Dietitian (BS ’04), and Rachel Oppenheimer, Director, Food & Nutrition Services with Sodexo at Newton Public Schools (BS ’08).
Leslie Caiola