Cassidy Pont
A healthier America awaits...
Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Internship
Throughout my time interning at the AND I was exposed to many different aspects of dietetics, in addition to public health. Prior to starting this position I created a news research table to keep track of relevant policy issues, pieces of legislation, hearings and briefings related to nutrition programs and services. Before the internship started Jennifer explained to me the importance of when to make the right move and how–politics– and to be aware of events that pertain to the work. This was an ongoing project I created for myself to be better informed about the happenings around policy, and allowed me to stay current on events on the hill. I read articles from a variety of different news sources that prompted many discussions and other side-projects that greatly contributed to my work; this table can be seen above as "News Research Table". I also completed a literature review on effective advocacy communication pieces to serve as a guide for the work I would be doing in the near future.
I hit the ground running and my pace did not slow down the whole eight weeks of working full-time. I attended numerous hearings regarding Farm Bill tenants, as well as health care, whose topics ranged from how to make federal policy more effective and cost less, to the opioid epidemic and prevention fund, to senior nutrition services, and much more. I would take very detailed notes and highlight programs of interest of Academy members. After hearings I would draft Eat Right Weekly (ERW) blurbs that were sent to all Academy members informing them on the most current information on the policy front; some of my ERW blurbs can be seen from the button above. Additionally I performed background research for all hearings I attended, and performed research for the lawyers in the office drafting questions to ask the panel of witnesses and before meeting with certain members of congress. An example of research I performed was seeing if nutrition services were qualified under a myriad of specific Medicaid programs.
I also attended various briefings and high-ranking meetings with my boss, which equipped me with skill to then make a solo appointment with my own Congress members’ staff to educate them on nutrition services in the prevention fund and nutrition education in the Farm Bill. A project that I created for myself was researching about flavored milk and how the Academy, as well as other organizations, could form a position on the new rules Secretary Sonny Purdue put forth about school lunches. This project came from reading different articles about the new rules and organization’s stances on them. After much scientific research, tapping into my boss’s network around the country and comparing nutrition labels, I formulated a condensed fact sheet, as well as drafted a stance paper the Academy is going to use to formulate a rebuttal to the new rules. Additionally, while at a coalition meeting Jennifer shared the research I had completed and other large organizations asked us to share that information so they could use it, too. I am incredibly proud of this task I created for myself on the side as practice and wanted to push the limit of tasks I was given to demonstrate my commitment to my current position and future profession; although I can not share the stance draft paper I have the "Flavored Milk Research" as an example of the work I completed at the top of this page.
The AND PIA’s Public Policy Workshop (PPW) was one of the largest events I was a part of. Over 350 Academy members flew in for this 2-day workshop of advocacy. I created communication pieces for the event including social media posts on Facebook and Twitter, as well as PPW newsletters sent before and during the event (seen above), in addition to live-event activities. My New Jersey constituents relied on my expertise before and during staff meetings on the Hill for the most effective way to communicate our ‘Ask.’ Having attended many other briefings with my boss, I had gained a myriad of tools and strategies of how to approach said meetings. There were many other events I was fortunate enough to attend including the Bipartisan Policy Center events, such as the Unseen Enemy event, the Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior conference and Hill day, coalition meetings, and task force meetings with the CDC and FDA.
Throughout my eight weeks I created a number of advocacy materials such as leave-behinds for members of Congress about school kitchen equipment grants, three one-pagers about the Academy’s recommendations for the Farm Bill, a social media advocacy one-pager for members to effectively use such platforms to advocate, created a communication package regarding the budget and sequestrations including a PowerPoint presentation, blog posts, drafted action alerts, press releases, Eat Right Weekly’s and letters to Congress. To complete these tasks I analyzed bill language and updated budget summary documents, as well as co-sponsorship spreadsheets, with new bill appropriations from the House and Senate. I acquired skills to effectively, and succinctly communicate both written and verbally, in a way that is adaptable to be tailored to whom is presented to.
My internship at the AND in D.C. demonstrated the importance of nutrition communications; this can encompass a host of different modes, whether it be Twitter, writing a letter to Congress, informing organization members of important happenings with advocacy materials, or verbally expressing important messages to Congressman on the Hill. Communication efforts allow people to voice their passions and demonstrate unity by rallying others that share the same message. This has impactful effects on decision makers that create legislation that guide public health practices. Furthermore, my internship demonstrated the importance of advocating for your passions and doing that with effective nutrition communications; it has inspired me to be more active by sharing my passion for the field and use a variety of different modes to do so. Susan Scott (AL Dietetics Association Public Policy Coordinator) at PPW2017 said, “Together we have a bigger voice!” and in the words of Thomas Jefferson, “Act! Action will delineate and define you.”
My toolbox is now over-flowing with skills and an even more robust network of people in the public health field from around the country. Every event I attended I left with more and more business cards having interacted with prominent figures in the public health community, members of Congress and staff, the former Under Secretary of the USDA, current FDA directors, president’s of well-known organizations, organization members and fellow students. These connections and skills acquired are critical to my future success in public health. Interning with the AND PIA’s team under Jennifer Folliard and her counterpart on health care, Stefanie Rinehart, has exceeded my wildest expectations for the experience.