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uab.edu/nutrition CHAIR’S REPORT UAB DEPARTMENT OF NUTRITION SCIENCES CHAIR’S LETTER 2 UAB Department of Nutrition Sciences > 2024 Chair’s Report Dear Friends, It has been an exciting year for the Department of Nutrition Sciences. Incredibly, much of the renovation for the Webb Building has been completed. The new metabolic kitchen on the sixth floor is active and supporting teaching and research. The student space on the fifth floor is bright with natural light, includes a nice kitchen area, and is already filled with happy students. The new indirect calorimetry suite on the second floor is finished, is undergoing testing, and will soon be providing data for research studies. The lobby and facade are the last piece and will be gorgeous when completed. These all give the Webb Building a whole new (and classy) look! Undergraduate Growth Our Biobehavioral Nutrition and Wellness (BNW) undergraduate program continues to evolve. Eric Plaisance, PhD, is serving as interim director and we now have three Blazer Core courses. In addition to “Well Being and You” (NTR 121) and “Healthy People, Healthy Planet” (NTR 201), “Nutrition and Health” (NTR 222) achieved Blazer Core status in 2024. “Nutrition and Health” has historically been our highest enrolling course. We tried something new in 2024, dividing the course into multiple sections to improve the faculty-to-student ratio. We met in October to review this change, and it was deemed a success by all. We may make some additional changes to improve the student experience, but we will keep the multiple sections going forward. In all sections combined, 805 students passed through “Nutrition and Health” in 2024. Our Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) certificate, part of the undergraduate program, launched this past year under the direction of Carleton Rivers, RDN. This program will prepare students to enroll in the Dietetic Internship program. As part of the DPD, we are teaching “Food Science and Food Systems” (NTR 355) for the first time this spring. Led by Kelly Berg, RDN, LDN, “Food Science and Food Systems” will use the new metabolic kitchen for instruction. This is one of many planned uses for the new kitchen (see page 29). Research Our research effort has also been exciting. DNS investigators are principal investigators on 50 active grants (with six new grants funded in 2024) and had more than 70 manuscripts published in peer- reviewed journals over the last year (see page 13). Nutrition for Precision Health (NPH) continues to recruit and test patients. If you are interested in participating in the nation’s largest precision nutrition study, finding out about your metabolic health and how you respond to different diets, and eating some exceptional meals provided by our own dietitians and kitchen staff, please contact Sarah Ehrlicher, PhD, RDN, at serlich@uab.edu. The DISCOVERY study officially launched in October (see page 16). DISCOVERY is recruiting children aged 9–14 years for research to understand 3 uab.edu/nutrition risk factors for pediatric type 2 diabetes. The UAB site will recruit 240 children over the next 2.5 years. The UAB Diabetes Research Center (DRC) held a successful search for a new director and announced on November 13, 2024, that Ananda Basu, MD, will take over as center director May 1, 2025. Dr. Basu is on the faculty in the Heersink School of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Diabetes. He is a great fit for our center, and we look forward to his leadership. This is a bittersweet transition, however, as W. Timothy Garvey, MD, steps down as director. Tim was awarded the DRC (then it was a DRTC) in 2008 and has served as director since inception, successfully renewing the grant in 2013, 2018, and 2023. We owe Tim a huge “thank you” for all he has done for our department and for diabetes research at UAB. Tim will continue his work as professor and C. E. Butterworth, Jr., MD, Endowed Professorship in the Department of Nutrition Sciences. New Metabolic Health Clinic We have launched a new brick and mortar Metabolic Health Clinic in the Webb Building. Some of you might remember EatRight, the weight loss clinic we had back in the 1990s and through 2013. We are once again helping people reach their optimum health via diet. This time around, we are focusing specifically on metabolic health, offering diet advice designed for type 2 diabetes, prediabetes, and fatty liver disease. Amy Goss, PhD, RD, is the clinic director. Assisting her are Suzanne Choquette, RD, Rebecca Hanson, RD, and doctoral student Carly Drake, RD. We offer patients a range of services, including an oral glucose tolerance test for assessment of fasting and postchallenge insulin, beta-cell function, and insulin sensitivity. The new clinic was developed in response to requests from patients for help with carbohydrate- restricted diets and allows us to translate our research findings into clinical care (see page 22). It is rewarding to look back on 2024 and see how far we’ve come. Thank you everyone! Here’s to a happy and productive 2025! Barbara A. Gower, PhD Professor and Chair CONTENTS 4 EDUCATION 12 RESEARCH 20 HONORS & RECOGNITION 22 Clinic & Community 23 In the News 24 ALUMNI ENGAGEMENT 26 Scholarships 28 Webb Renovations78 BNW Students 36 Nutrition Minor 89 Master’s Students 23 PhD Students 8 Postdoc Fellows EDUCATION The UAB Department of Nutrition Sciences is recognized globally for our ongoing contributions to the field of nutrition science. We offer an undergraduate major in Biobehavioral Nutrition and Wellness (BNW) and a Nutrition minor, and students may opt to complete an undergraduate certificate in Nutrition and Dietetics. Our graduate programs include multiple master’s degree tracks with a clinical or research focus, as well as a PhD in Nutrition Sciences. Our graduate students and postdoctoral fellows have the opportunity to work one-on-one with internationally renowned faculty and gain exposure to a wide range of topics in nutrition, obesity, and wellness.EDUCATION 5 uab.edu/nutrition BNW STUDENT FACTS (2024) ◗ 76% Institutional Scholarships ◗ 35% First Generation Students ◗ 32% Honors College ◗ 40% Pre-Professional Tracks ◗ 2 D1 Athletes ◗ 1 Marching Band Member ◗ 3 Military Affiliations ◗ 8 UAB Employees BNW Major and Nutrition Minor O ur Biobehavioral Nutrition and Wellness (BNW) undergraduate program completed its third year in 2024. Eric Plaisance, PhD, is serving as interim program director of the BNW undergraduate major and the nutrition minor. Nutrition and Dietetics Certificate T he new Nutrition and Dietetics Certificate launched in the fall with four BNW students, Bridget Goins, Kaitlyn Gurley, Cecilia Pagan, and Elise Raque, in the first cohort. This optional undergraduate certificate is designed specifically for students in the BNW program who wish to enter the workforce in nutrition and dietetics or to continue their graduate education to become a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN). Learn more at go.uab.edu/nutritionmajor or contact us at nutrition@uab.edu or 205.934.3006. BNW STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT ◗ Addy Bias received the SHP Charles Brooks Award for Creativity and the BNW Spirit and Service. ◗ Holli Marshall received the SHP Dean’s Leadership and Service Award. ◗ Thomas Ward received the SHP Cecile Clardy Satterfield Award for Humanism in Health Care. ◗ Belle Collins and Kaylee Renshaw tied for the BNW Strength and Resiliency Award. ◗ Zoe Winkenwerder received the BNW Research and Innovation Award. BNW STUDENT RESEARCH BNW senior Julia Wolter and Nutrition minor Briahna Ballay, working with Maria De Luca, PhD, successfully submitted an abstract to the American Aging Association annual meeting held in Madison, WI, June 2–5. Briahna attended the meeting with Denise Vecchié. Julia Wolter and BNW senior Jesse Perry are co-authors on the paper “The impact of the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor lisinopril on metabolic rate in Drosophila melanogaster,” published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences, with Denise Vecchié and Maria De Luca, PhD. One of the findings is that lisinopril may increase the Drosophila metabolic rate via the accumulation of a bradykinin-like peptide, which, in turn, enhances cold tolerance by upregulating uncoupling protein genes.6 UAB Department of Nutrition Sciences > 2024 Chair’s Report ◗ Clinical Track/Dietetic Internship (CT/DI) – One-year online program with in-person dietetic internship that prepares students for the Registered Dietitian Nutritionist credentialing exam. ◗ Dietetic Education Program (DEP) – Coordinated program with online coursework and internship that can be completed anywhere in the country in preparation for the Registered Dietitian Nutritionist credentialing exam. ◗ Clinical Track – Prior Learning Option (CT-PLO) – Online program that allows RDNs to earn an MS in Nutrition Sciences degree. ◗ Lifestyle Management & Disease Prevention Track (LMDP) – Online program that prepares students to provide general nutrition information to the public. Students interested in becoming RDNs can incorporate the Dietitian Education Graduate Certificate Program (DEP-C) into their plan of study. ◗ Research Track (RT) – Mentored program that prepares students to pursue a PhD or research career in nutrition sciences. Learn more about our education programs at uab.edu/shp/nutrition/education. MS in Nutrition Sciences T he MS in Nutrition Sciences program offers a comprehensive experience for students, including coursework and experiences in how to save lives, prevent disease, and improve quality of life. This program offers several degree tracks including:7 uab.edu/nutrition EDUCATION Nurse Practitioner Finds Purpose in Psychiatric Care and Nutrition F or Leah Pickett, DNP, CRNP, a career in nursing paved the way for a unique specialization blending psychiatric care and nutrition. Now, after completing the Lifestyle Management and Disease Prevention (LMDP) track with the Dietitian Education Program (Coordinated Program in Dietetics), this nurse practitioner is driven to revolutionize patient care through an integrative approach. Her journey began unexpectedly. When she was working as a staff RN in a hospital- based nutrition clinic, plans to establish an eating disorders treatment center inspired her to pursue advanced psychiatric nursing. While the center never materialized, she discovered a passion for psychiatry and built a thriving career. Years later, her work led her back to nutrition. “Over the past few years, I kept thinking about how psychiatric patients are at increased risk of obesity due to the types of medications prescribed and lifestyle factors associated with conditions such as depression,” Pickett said. Similarly, she recognized that weight-loss and bariatric patients often lacked access to essential psychiatric services. These observations fueled her desire to bridge this gap. “I decided to go back to school to become an RD so I could offer at least a foundational understanding of nutrition to my patients,” she explained. “I also serve as the wellness manager for UAB Advanced Practice Providers, so I have a strong desire to incorporate everything I’m learning as a dietetic student into the wellness programs and activities I plan.” Her personal experience has added depth to her professional journey. After undergoing gastric bypass surgery herself, she gained firsthand insight into bariatric care. “Learning about nutrition academically while living as a bariatric patient gives me a unique perspective on supporting weight-loss goals,” she said. Balancing her work as a nurse practitioner with school hasn’t been easy. “I thought I was an organized person, but I have really had to step up my game to stay on top of things,” she admitted. Juggling responsibilities required discipline, prioritization, and leaning on her supportive colleagues and supervisors. “I’ve had to take an honest look at myself and accept that I cannot do it all, and what I can do, I will need help with! It has been humbling, to say the least,” Pickett reflected. UAB has been pivotal in her journey. “I’m learning from top nutrition science experts,” she said, highlighting courses taught by Drs. José Fernández, Yenni Cedillo, Catia Martins, Doug Moellering, and Paula Chandler- Laney. Her clinical experiences at UAB have further solidified her commitment to combining psychiatric and dietetic expertise. Looking ahead, she envisions a future where integrated care becomes standard practice. Her aspirations include expanding her bariatric psychiatry clinics and gaining additional training in treating eating disorders. Her goal? To become an expert in bariatric psychiatry, seamlessly combining her roles as a nurse practitioner and RD. “It’s the best of both worlds,” she said. I decided to go back to school to become an RD so I could offer at least a foundational understanding of nutrition to my patients. I also serve as the wellness manager for UAB Advanced Practice Providers, so I have a strong desire to incorporate everything I’m learning as a dietetic student into the wellness programs and activities I plan.8 UAB Department of Nutrition Sciences > 2024 Chair’s Report DEP Highlights The DEP has 50 students enrolled for 2024–2025, and the fall 2024 DEP cohort was the largest to date, with 27 students from Alaska, Utah, Hawaii, Oregon, New Jersey, and across the Southeast. Christine Ferguson, PhD, RD, CSG, joined the program as assistant director, working with program director Lizzy Davis, PhD, RD. The DEP had a 100% one-year pass rate as of the most recently published RD exam pass rates. STUDENT ACHIEVEMENTS ◗ Sophia Tannatta was quoted in the UAB News article “A closer look at food dyes.” ◗ Lia Puzzo received the Outstanding Graduate Award (Spring 2024). ◗ Chandler Compton was awarded the Lettie Pate Whitehead Foundation Scholarship (Spring 2024). ◗ Jaquelin Adan and Nicholas Wilson received the Outstanding Graduate Award (Fall 2024). CT/DI Highlights The CT/DI graduated its 60th cohort of dietetic interns in August. STUDENT ACHIEVEMENTS ◗ Soyeon Lee was awarded the spring 2024 Lettie Pate Whitehead Foundation Scholarship. ◗ Maggie Walsh was awarded the Carol Brewster Craig Endowed Scholarship. ◗ Maria Suarez was awarded the Rebecca L. Bradley Endowed Scholarship. Current CT/DI program director Keith Pearson, PhD, with previous directors Susan Miller, RD, Rebecca Bradley, RD, and Carleton Rivers, RDN9 uab.edu/nutrition EDUCATION F irst-year graduate-level Dietitian Education Program (DEP) student Eboni Bright has lived all around the world – Germany, Texas, Kansas, Washington, and now Alaska – but she grew up in Mississippi, and that will always be where her heart is. “Being from the South, I love to eat and love to cook!” While her childhood friends were watching the Disney Channel and Cartoon Network, she was watching the Food Network. Her matinee stars were Mario Batali, Sandra Lee, Emeril Lagasse, and her favorite – Alton Brown and “Good Eats.” In 2010, Bright earned her Associate of Science degree from Le Cordon Bleu Culinary Arts program. By then, she was married with children, and her husband’s military career meant frequent relocations. Each move essentially meant starting over. Fast forward a decade. With things somewhat settling down for this mother of four, she began pursuing her bachelor’s degree in dietetics from Kansas State University. While there, Bright earned a prestigious Zero Hunger Internship with the Congressional Hunger Center. “Jesus was a giver, and I also want to have a servant’s heart,” Bright said. “If I can be of any help to anyone, then I want to help, whether it is money or time or a kind word or a hug or a smile.” In 2020, Bright volunteered to serve with the American Diabetes Association’s “Project Power” program. When she started, the program taught children ages 5–12 the value of physical activity and nutrition. Today, the project she lovingly calls “my little baby” has grown to serve adults – delivering a diabetes lifestyle change program that is eight modules over 12 weeks. We know what you’re thinking. How does a married mom of four with an undergraduate degree from Kansas and a full-time job with the ADA in Alaska wind up in a graduate school program in Birmingham, Alabama? The simple answer: it was personal. As someone who finds her work so personal and takes it so personally, she was hooked when she learned UAB does the same for their students. “I sent emails and made calls to a lot of different graduate schools, but Dr. [Marian] Carter was the only one who shared her contact information and told me to call or email or Zoom with my questions,” said Bright. “I was immediately like, this is where I need to be. It was the personal touch. It took my words away.” And then the work took her breath away. “First semester of grad school at UAB was rough! Full-time work, full-time mom, full-time wife – it’s been tough,” said Bright. “But this semester has made me a believer – yeah, we are going to be okay (laugh).” Eboni’s story is a testament to the power of perseverance, passion, and the desire to give back. Upon her graduation, she plans to work as a clinician dietitian in Alaska and then transition to community and public health when she and her family finally return to the South and plant roots of their own. I sent emails and made calls to a lot of different graduate schools, but Dr. [Marian] Carter was the only one who shared her contact information and told me to call or email or Zoom with my questions. I was immediately like, this is where I need to be. It was the personal touch. It took my words away. Personal Touch: Alaska’s Eboni Bright Finds a Match at UABNext >