FIU Department of Dietetics and Nutrition | Annual Newsletter 2022-2023

DEPARTMENT OF DIETETICS AND NUTRITION NEWSLETTER

Message from the Chair

This year, the Department of Dietetics and Nutrition at Florida International University celebrated its 50th anniversary.

Since our start, the department has grown in its academic offerings, going from one to six programs two of which are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND).

We’ve also made our mark in U.S. News & World Report rankings to date, we are listed as No. 22 in the nation for best Dietetics major among public universities. In Florida, we come in at No. 3.

As chair of our department, I am so proud to see how far we have come since we first opened our doors. I invite you to explore this year's newsletter to learn more about the incredible contributions of our faculty, staff, and students. This year we welcomed several changes in our department, such as new leadership, promotions of our faculty and staff, and great additions to the team. We also celebrated many faculty honors, including the appointment of a new distinguished professor. But the stars of this year were truly our students, with numerous awards received for their efforts and contributions to our field.

Thank you to all who have contributed to this newsletter and to the students, faculty, and staff that make us proud each and every day.

Sincerely,

Cristina Palacios Chair and Professor Department of Dietetics and Nutrition

Department Highlights

Stats At A Glance

Professor Achievements

Alumni Highlights

Student Success

DEPARTMENT HIGHLIGHTS

Celebrating 50 years with faculty, staff, Dietetic Internship graduation

At its 50th anniversary celebration, the Department of Dietetics and Nutrition reached its $25,000 fundraising goal toward its endowment, which assists students with their education. We also raised funds for our scholarships. The event was organized by Evelyn Enrione, associate professor, Susan Himburg, retired professor and current associate vice president of academic planning and accountability, Darlene Moppert, clinical coordinator of the Dietetic Internship and Scarlet Figueroa, program coordinator.

Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo

The class of Fall 2022 celebrated their internship graduation with Evelyn Enrione, director, and Darlene Moppert, clinical coordinator. The program prepares entry-level registered dietitian nutritionists through experiential learning and evidencebased practice to be leaders who are ethically and culturally proficient.

This year’s Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo (FNCE) brought together food, nutrition and dietetics experts, including representatives from the department, to take part in educational sessions, poster presentations of their research findings, and networking opportunities.

STATS AT A GLANCE

Active Students

Rankings

129 undergraduates graduates

259

FIU'S RD Passing exam rate: vs. Nationally:

80% 68%

Best Dietetics major among public universities #22

#3 Best Dietetics major in Florida

#4 Best Master’s in Dietetics programs

PROFESSOR ACHIEVEMENTS

Dr. Cristina Palacios appointed to the HHS/USDA 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee

The Dietary Guidelines have a nationwide impact as they form the basis for federal nutrition policy and programs, nutrition education efforts, and health promotion and disease prevention initiatives.

Dr. Marianna Baum named distinguished professor

The distinguished professor is the highest recognition available to full professors at FIU. To qualify for this rank, the individual must have held the rank of full professor for five years and be recognized as a pioneering force in their specific research, scholarship, and creative activities.

was selected as Chair DP for the Florida Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics

The Florida Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (FAND) is the state’s largest association of dietetics and nutrition professionals who are at the forefront of health and nutrition information and education.

Dr. Sabrina Sales Martinez was chosen to serve in the American Society of Nutrition Foundation's Board of Trustees (2023-2025)

American Society of Nutrition (ASN) is the leading nutrition organization in the U.S.

Dr.

continues leadership positions at FAND and SFAND

She will serve again as the chair of the Membership Committee for the Florida Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (FAND) and secretary for the South Florida Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (SFAND).

Dr. Catherine Coccia

Tania Rivera

ALUMNI HIGHLIGHTS

Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development

Office of the Chief Scientist USDA

University

Department of Health Sciences

University of Central Florida

Department of Dietetics and Nutrition

Dr. Deirdra Chester Director

Shante Jeune Assistant Professor

Dr. Krista Casazza Associate Dean of Research & Scholarship Florida Gulf Coast

Dr. Heidi J. Silver Research Professor of Medicine Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Dr. Samer Koutoubi Department Chair School of Health Sciences American Military University

Priscilla Clayton Postdoctoral Fellow

to: Dr. Cristina Palacios, crpalaci@fiu.edu

STUDENT SUCCESS

Scholarships awarded by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND)

Lukkamol Prapkree, Foundation’s Patsyjane O'Malley Memorial Scholarship (2021)

Maria Aguado, Commission on Dietetic Registration Diversity Scholarship (2021)

Christina Collazo-Velazquez, Colonel Katharine E. Manchester Scholarship for $5,000 (2022)

Patsy Diaz Delgado, Diversity Scholarship for $5,000 (2022)

Maria Rivero Luzardo, Foundation’s Scholarship Award (2022)

Scholarships awarded by FIU

Alexandra Prince, Dean's Excellence Award (Fall 2021)

Christina Collazo-Velazquez, Stempel Research Scholarship (2021)

Jordan Faith, Dean's Excellence Award (Spring 2022)

Julia Trifan, Dean's Excellence Award (Summer 2022)

Shante Earle, Dean’s Excellence Award (Summer 2022)

Angelique Gouin, Dean’s Excellence Award (Fall 2022)

Michelle Duthil, Dean’s Excellence Award (Fall 2022)

Priscilla Clayton, Stempel Publication Award (2022)

Alexandra Briceno, CV Starr Scholarship (2022)

Gatto, Alayne, FIU RETI Award – Inaugural Rewarding Excellence in Teaching Incentives (2022)

Daira Deicmane, Dean’s Excellence Award (Spring 2023)

Rebecca Lakes, Dissertation Year Fellowship (Spring 2023)

Margaret Gutierrez, Afnan Alandanoosi, Huda Mobarki, Kathryn Ayres, and Jose Bastida, Departmental Data Collection Award (Spring 2023)

Shornare Brown, CV Starr Scholarship (2023)

Niliarys Sifre-Acosta, Undergrad to PhD FIU scholarship (2023)

Auslander Scholarship Recipients

Christina Collazo-Velazquez (2022)

Alejandro Saldana (2022)

NIMHD Health Disparities Research Institute Scholars (2022)

Dr. Janet Diaz Martinez (2022)

Other Scholarships

Priscilla Clayton, McNair Fellowship (2018-2022)

Shante Earle, McKnight Fellowship (2021-2022)

Jackeline Hernandez, SHARP scholarship from Columbia University (2022)

Maria Martinez Russo, Latin American-Caribbean (LAC) Scholarship (2022)

Niliarys Sifre-Acosta, American Society for Nutrition (ASN) Foundation’s Undergraduate Diversity Research Fellowship (2022)

REAL TRIUMPHS GRADUATES

FIU honors individuals selected for their extraordinary academic, professional, and personal achievements as they graduate from FIU. The Real Triumphs Graduate honor is bestowed upon students in good standing who have unique accomplishments that show excellence, perseverance, and impact.

Fabiana Caldera, Priscilla Clayton, and Jafar Ali Ajaj Jaafar were all selected as Real Triumphs Graduates for their impactful contributions as students.

Fabiana Caldera Spring 2023

Priscilla Clayton Summer 2022

Jafar Ali Ajaj Jaafar Fall 2021

PUBLICATIONS

Development and pilot testing of the Baby-Feed web application for healthcare professionals and parents to improve infant diets.

The association between hydration status and total fluid intake in healthy children and adolescents.

Factors That "Nudge People towards the Healthier" Snacks-A Qualitative Study with Student, Faculty, and Staff Leaders and Decision Makers.

Effect of a Short Messaging Service (SMS) intervention delivered to caregivers on energy, nutrients, and food groups intake in infant participants of the WIC program.

Skin optical properties in the obese and their relation to body mass index: a review.

Interventions to improve calcium intake through foods in populations with low intake.

Transforming Obesity Prevention for CHILDren (TOPCHILD) Collaboration: protocol for a systematic review with individual participant data meta-analysis of behavioural interventions for the prevention of early childhood obesity.

Perception about the effectiveness of different vending machine interventions to promote healthier snack selection among college students.

Calcium supplementation for the prevention of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy: current evidence and programmatic considerations.

Associations of Vitamin B6 Intake and Plasma Pyridoxal 5'-Phosphate with Plasma Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in US Older Adults: Findings from NHANES 2003-2004.

A snapshot of eating behaviors in undergraduate college students living in South Florida.

Perceived Role of Asian Indian Fathers in Florida During Mealtimes: Factors to Consider for Their Involvement in Childhood Obesity Prevention.

Dissemination trial for Health for Hearts United: Model development, preliminary outcomes and lessons learned.

Impact of a Montessori-Based Nutrition Program on Children's Knowledge and Eating Behaviors.

Calorie Compensation and Self-Regulation of Food Intake in College Students.

How much and what: Using a buffet to determine self-regulation of food intake among young school-age children.

Diet Quality and Liver Health in People Living with HIV in the MASH Cohort: A Multi-Omic Analysis of the Fecal Microbiome and Metabolome.

Effectiveness of a 6-Month Nutrition Intervention in People Living with HIV and Prediabetes Progressing through Stages of Change towards Positive Health Behavior.

Multiomic analysis reveals microbiome-related relationships between cocaine use and metabolites.

Cocaine use associated gut permeability and microbial translocation in people living with HIV in the Miami Adult Study on HIV (MASH) cohort.

Day-to-day impact of COVID-19 and other factors associated with risk of nonfatal overdose among people who use unregulated drugs in five cities in the United States and Canada.

Use of COVID-19 testing in the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic among cohorts of people at the intersection of drug use and HIV.

Stress Increases the Association between Cigarette Smoking and Mental Disorders, as Measured by the COVID-19-Related Worry Scale, in the Miami Adult Studies on HIV (MASH) Cohort during the Pandemic.

Factors associated with self-reported avoidance of harm reduction services during the COVID-19 pandemic by people who use drugs in five cities in the United States and Canada.

COVID-19 and the HIV continuum in people living with HIV enrolled in Collaborating Consortium of Cohorts Producing NIDA Opportunities (C3PNO) cohorts.

The relationship of alcohol and other drug use during the COVID-19 pandemic among people with or at risk of HIV; A cross-sectional survey of people enrolled in Collaborating Consortium of Cohorts Producing NIDA Opportunities (C3PNO) cohorts.

Associations between Vitamin D, Omega 6:Omega 3 Ratio, and Biomarkers of Aging in Individuals Living with and without Chronic Pain.

Cocaethylene, simultaneous alcohol and cocaine use, and liver fibrosis in people living with and without HIV.

HIV, psychological resilience, and substance misuse during the COVID-19 pandemic: A multi-cohort study.

Polysubstance use and adherence to antiretroviral treatment in the Miami Adult Studies on HIV (MASH) cohort.

Serum cotinine as a predictor of lipid-related indices in Turkish immigrants with type 2 diabetes: A clinicbased cross-sectional study.

Microalbuminuria and Hypertension among Immigrants with Type 2 Diabetes: A Community-Based CrossSectional Study.

Rate of Nutrition-Related Chronic Diseases Among a Multi-Ethnic Group of Uninsured Adults.

The association between hydration status and body composition in healthy children and adolescents.

Economic and Cardiometabolic Risk Factors Are Predictors of Lower Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH)

Levels in Hispanic/Latinx Adults with Euthyroidism-A Community-Based Study.

Use of Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for recruiting healthy participants in nutrition-, physical activity-, or obesity-related studies: a systematic review.

GRANTS

In 2022, Dr. Cristina Palacios, chair and professor, received $728,696 in grants towards the MetABone Trial, which is a nutrition research study that aims to help children grow strong and healthy bones. She was also awarded an administrative supplement to expand the study.

Marianna Baum, distinguished professor, ed $2,246,348 in grants in 2022. Dr. Baum is the principal investigator of the Nutrition Science Lab and is spearheading various research projects including:

Community-Engaged Research on COVID-19 Testing Among Underserved and/or Vulnerable Populations Phase II

OMICs to define the impact of cocaine on immunity and HIV persistence in treated HIV infection

An unbiased OMICs approach to identify mechanisms of Cocaine regulation of the HIV reservoir

Dr. Sabrina Sales Martinez, assistant professor, received $442,259 as part of a $19.4 million grant awarded to the Research Center in a Minority Institution at FIU. Funding will support Dr. Sales Martinez's project, which will explore microbiome profiles, sleep, and cognition among mid-life Latinx adults.

NEW IN THE DEPARTMENT

Dr. Cristina

is now the Chair of the Department of Dietetics and Nutrition

She is also now a Full Professor

Dr. Tania Rivera was promoted to Associate Clinical Professor

Scarlet Figueroa

Dr. Cristina Palacios

Laurie Holmes

Dr. Tania Rivera

Palacios

Laurie Holmes was promoted to Office Manager

Scarlet Figueroa joined the Department of Dietetics and Nutrition as a Program Coordinator

RETIREMENTS

Joan Marn retired in 2023

Joan Marn started at FIU in 2009, when she was hired as an adjunct professor. She later moved on to the position of advising coordinator and to clinical instructor in 2010, and then to the director of the Didactic Program in Dietetics in 2012. She served in this position until she retired in May 2023. Prior to FIU, Marn held other clinical positions in Baptist Health Systems, Westchester General Hospital, HealthSouth Rehab Hospital, Family Nutrition Center of South Florida, AMI Kendall Regional Medical Center, Doctors Hospital, and The Ohio State University hospitals. She has been a member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, the Florida Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and the Miami Academy of Nutrition and Dietetic Association for about 40 years. She retired in May 2023 to spend more time with her new grandson.

Dr. Fatma G. Huffman retired in 2023

Dr. Fatma G. Huffman started at FIU in 1995, when she was hired as a professor and as the director of Graduate Programs in our department. She was chair of the department from 2006 until 2017 and director of the PhD program from 2017 to 2018. She has been an active researcher in the areas of nutrition, diabetes and cardiovascular risks among racial/ethnic groups, with 12 funded grants from USDA, NIH, foundations, FIU, and more. She has had 154 peer-reviewed articles and 7 book chapters published, in addition to hundreds of conference presentations. Her service at FIU was exemplary; she served in different capacities such as the representative to Faculty Senate, chair of the Chairs Advisory Council, faculty senator and senate secretary, among other roles. She received important awards, such as FIU's Lifetime Achievement for Mentorship Award which was the first time it was awarded to anyone at the university. She also received the Fellow of the American Society for Nutrition, the highest honor bestowed by the organization. As a mentor, she was very dedicated to her students and she graduated 27 PhD students under her mentorship. She retired in May 2023 and her future plans are to return to her home country, Turkey.

Dr. Adriana Campa retired in 2022

Dr. Adriana Campa started at FIU in 2001, when she was hired as a research assistant professor. In 2007, she was promoted to tenured associate professor. She became the director of the Master’s program in 2016 and then the chair of the department in 2017. She retired in April of 2021, but since 2022, has served as the chair of the Health Sciences IRB and is also an emeritus associate professor. Before coming to FIU, she served in various roles at the University of Miami, such as assistant director of the Fogarty International TB and AIDS training programs, a research assistant professor in the Division of Disease Prevention, and project director of the Low Fat Diet and Breast Cancer Recurrence Outcome Trial in the Division of Disease Prevention.