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We’ve collated six of the best professional development courses for dietitians to help you expand your career, keep abreast of the latest research, and better support your patients.
Furthering your training could also inspire new approaches to dietetics and patient management and potentially help you accrue continuing professional development (CPD) hours at the same time. If you’re returning to practice after a long break, these courses will refresh your knowledge and ensure you’re up to date on the latest developments in dietetics. And if you want to grow your professional network and collaborate in-person or online with other dietitians, check out our list of upcoming events and conferences.
1. Learn through the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics in the US offers a series of courses through its EatRight Pro platform that you may be able to attribute to your CPD hours. Courses include Integrative and Functional Nutrition, which consists of five unique modules covering topics like the whole-systems approach to digestive health, the impact of environmental toxins, and developing a critical thinking framework for dietary supplements. Another course on offer is Treating Gluten-Related Disorders, which is about the art and science of assessing a patient’s quality of life on a gluten-free diet, and evaluating and treating non-responsive celiac disease. All participants will receive a Certificate of Learning. The Academy also offers EatRight Pro TV on YouTube where you’ll find educational videos and a comprehensive range of interviews with other dietitians.
2. GI OnDEMAND education platform
Mindset Health partner, GI OnDEMAND, is the American College of Gastroenterology’s (ACG) virtual care and support platform. It aims to make digestive health expertise, resources, and support accessible to all clinicians working in gut health, as well as your patients. GI OnDEMAND University offers free evidence-based webinars on a variety of gastrointestinal topics, including the brain-gut axis, the causes of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and managing diverticulosis or diverticulitis with nutrition.
3. British Dietetic Association courses for all levels
If you’re based in the UK, the British Dietetic Association (BDA) offers courses for entry-level dietitians who have just begun their professional practice, as well as advanced training opportunities for experienced practitioners. They also provide training opportunities suitable for those working as dietetic support workers and other health professionals. Advanced Dietetics in Mental Health explores topics like nutritional assessments and psychological approaches to mental health. Starting Out as a Freelance Dietitian offers guidance for those interested in establishing their own practice and promises to help you develop your business plan, better understand insurance considerations, and teach you how to tap into freelance dietitian networks.
4. Dietitians Australia’s courses for everyone
Dietitians Australia (DA) offers training courses that non-members are welcome to enroll in to advance their knowledge and skills. DA offers the two-hour webinar Effective Communication for Nutrition Presentations for those who want to improve how they talk and communicate about nutrition across all platforms. If you’re new to dietetics and have been practicing for just a few years or are returning to work and need a refresher, Gastrointestinal Nutrition for Dietitians will take you through four case studies on celiac disease, gastrectomy, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) ,and Crohn’s disease.
5. Learn to facilitate gut-directed hypnotherapy with Nerva
Mindset Health’s Nerva for IBS Clinicians’ Course provides dietitians with three hours of on-demand content. The course is designed to help you become a confident facilitator of gut-directed hypnotherapy and show you how to refer and support your IBS patients through the Nerva program without having to deliver the hypnotherapy yourself. It’s also an opportunity to dive into the research, discover how the low FODMAP diet compares to gut-directed hypnotherapy as an IBS management tool.
Contact us at healthcare@mindsethealth.com for a course discount code for dietitians.
6. On-demand webinars at Dietitian Connection
Dietitian Connection is a passionate community of nutrition professionals which aims to educate and inspire dietitians through its extensive webinar offerings. On their website you’ll find more than 100 free webinars covering a wide spectrum of nutrition-based content, including The Role of Fermented Foods, Ingredients and Nutrients on the Gut Microbiome, Gut, Brain, Diet: How Are They Connected?, and The Gut Microbiome and the Role of the Dietitian. However, if you’re after more comprehensive training and education, they have a series of paid webinars as well, including the Gut Health Online Symposium, which is a series of six webinars about the interaction between gut microbiome and food components in the management of IBS (this one counts towards your CPD hours if you’re an Australian- or New Zealand-based dietitian). Alternatively, the Clinical Nutrition Symposium is a webinar series covering gut health myths, nutrition for fertility, the Blue Zones, eating disorders, and adverse food reactions.
Upcoming events and conferences for dietitians
If you’re looking to network either in-person or virtually with other dietitians and nutrition professionals, conferences and specialist events are an ideal way to meet like-minded practitioners and grow your knowledge about the latest in nutrition and dietetics research.
2023
October
FNCE (Food and Nutrition Conference and Expo)
7-10 October
Denver, USA
Virtual attendance: Yes
The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics is hosting the Food and Nutrition Conference and Expo (FNCE) in Denver, Colorado. The expo promises to bring together dietitians, nutritionists, nutrition and dietetics technicians, researchers, policymakers, healthcare providers, and industry leaders to learn about the latest trends and developments in nutrition and patient-centered care. The Mindset Health team will be there in person, so please come and say hi to learn more about gut-directed hypnotherapy. Some attendees will have the opportunity to contribute to their CPD and professional development portfolios.
ACG (American College of Gastroenterology)
20-25 October
Vancouver, Canada
Virtual attendance: Yes
ACG is one of the biggest conferences on the GI education calendar, and it’s known as the best one-stop-shop for discovering new GI developments and research. You will have access to a comprehensive program of events and education covering the entire spectrum of GI care. Program highlights for our team will include Dr. Bill Chey’s session on microbiome-based IBS treatments, the ‘Practical Pearls of Wisdom in IBS’ symposium, and a lunch and learn discussing the nutritional approach to IBS.
November
IHCAN (Integrative Healthcare and Applied Nutrition) Summit
18 November
London, UK
Virtual attendance: No
Registered nutritional therapists, integrative health practitioners, and complementary and alternative medicine professionals are invited to join ICHAN for its annual summit. The event promises learning and networking opportunities and an expo with the UK’s leading integrative healthcare and nutrition suppliers. CPD is available for attendees.
December
New Zealand Society of Gastroenterology/New Zealand Society of Gastroenterology Nurses Annual Scientific Meeting
6-8 December
Rotorua, New Zealand
Virtual attendance: No
Over two comprehensive days, conference organizers promise an educational schedule of events with many opportunities for networking and collaboration with other GI practitioners.
BDA (The Association of British Dietetics) Research Symposium
6 December
Birmingham, UK
Virtual attendance: No
BDA’s symposium is offering dietitians, dietetic students, and researchers an opportunity to showcase their research findings and methods, highlight the ongoing development of dietetic practice, and be published in the BDA Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics.
2024
April
International Conference in Advances in Gastroenterology and Hepatology
19-20 April
Dubai, UAE
Virtual attendance: Yes
Gastroenterology 2024 will feature learning opportunities in innovative treatments and techniques, precision medicine and personalized therapies for digestive diseases, the gut microbiome’s impact on digestive health and disease, advances in endoscopic techniques, and new treatments for inflammatory bowel disease.
May
DDW (Digestive Disease Week)
18-21 May
Washington D.C, USA
Virtual attendance: Yes
Join the Mindset Health Healthcare team at Digestive Disease Week (DDW) in Washington D.C. It’s an opportunity to network with over 10,000 physicians, researchers, and nutrition professionals to gain new insights and inspiration about managing and treating digestive diseases. If you can’t make it in person, online attendees can still watch over 60 live-streamed or on-demand sessions and access DDW’s ePoster website. This is where you’ll find full-text abstracts and posters and the chance to interact with the authors in virtual meeting rooms to get your questions answered in real-time.
Dietitians Unite
31 May
Sydney, Australia
Virtual attendance: No
Now in its 10th year, the team at Dietitian Connection are offering a one-day event to bring together dietitians and nutritionists from around Australia and the world to unite and showcase inspiring leadership and innovations. You can opt to participate in clinical, weight loss, or business streams to tailor the event to your interests.
June
ICND (International Congress of Nutrition and Dietetics)
24 June
Toronto, Canada
Virtual attenance: No
The congress will bring together nutrition and dietetics experts, researchers, and practitioners from a wide range of disciplines for networking and collaboration, highlighting the latest research, scientific advancement, and innovative approaches. It’s an opportunity to enhance your professional development, hone your skills, and stay up to date on current guidelines and best practices.
The Wrap Up
While you may have completed your degree, becoming a lifelong learner will help you stay across the latest trends and research in patient-centered care and management. Training courses and education platforms are here to help dietitians and nutrition professionals expand your knowledge, refine your practice, fulfill CPD requirements, and possibly even inspire a new career path. Attending conferences and relevant events (with many offering virtual attendance options) is the ideal time to network and connect with other dietitians and nutritionists.
