Hi everyone, I am Carly Clark, I am from Mars, Pa (Northern Pittsburgh) and will be a senior at Penn State this year. I am currently majoring in Nutritional Sciences, Dietetics Option and minoring in Spanish. At Penn State, I am involved in Student Nutrition Association, THON, and the Club Cross Country Team. I have completed three marathons, and my passion for running makes me want to pursue a career in the health and wellness field in the future.

This summer I am completing an internship at St. Barnabas Rehabilitation and Long Term Care Facility in Gibsonia, Pennsylvania. At St. Barnabas I am working under the Clinical Dietitian and Dietetic Technician. This internship has opened my eyes to how demanding being a Clinical Dietitian really is. The Clinical Dietitian must coordinate with other medical professionals such as the wound nurse, speech therapist and the dietary staff in order to plan an appropriate well balanced diet. For example, if a patient has a pressure ulcer or open area, the wound nurse must notify the dietitian so they get a higher protein diet or supplement added to their meal.

At St. Barnabas I have been attending a morning meeting to get an update on the patients’ health status every morning. I have also been attending care conferences where the medical professionals update families of the patients on their current health condition. At these conferences, the families decide on the next step for their loved one’s care. My most frequent job is reviewing patients’ medical records and writing assessments and care plans. Patients’ diets may need to be adjusted due to the medications they have to take or their ability to chew and swallow food. Every Monday the Dietetic Technician and I visit patients to complete meal preferencing, where they are asked about what foods they do and do not like. This internship for St. Barnabas is a great experience and I am learning so much about Clinical Dietitians.