At this year’s annual conference, the Michigan Dietetic Association honored Joyce Laing, RD, and Wanda Chenoweth, PhD, RD, for 50 years of membership in the American Dietetic Association and the Michigan Dietetic Association. Joyce and Wanda are also longtime active members of the Lansing Dietetic Association. Congratulations, ladies!

Talking with Joyce Laing, RD

Recently, Joyce shared insights from her education and career as well as advice for RDs practicing today.

Over the years, Joyce has enjoyed working and volunteering in the field of dietetics. Joyce has been active in LDA and MDA and has assisted MDA with state licensing issues, so she feels it’s fitting that Michigan RDs obtained state licensing during the year of her 5Oth anniversary of dietetic association membership. “The combination of registered dietitian and state licensing is an ideal standard for the dietetics profession,” said Joyce, “Perhaps we’ll see an improvement in employment opportunities for dietitians in Michigan as our state recognizes the need to protect the public from inadequately trained workers.”  

Joyce grew up on Michigan farms where her family raised and preserved most of their food. She belonged to 4-H, and in high school she took home economics and science classes. Joyce won a science scholarship to Western College (now Western Michigan University)

Joyce Laing, RD, receives a scholarship for her 12-month internship at University of Michigan Hospitals in 1956.

where she majored in dietetics. 

During her college years, there was a shortage of dietitians, so Joyce was able to get on-the-job experience working for a general hospital, a children’s hospital and the Joslin Clinic Camp for girls with diabetes. 

After her internship at University of Michigan Hospitals, Joyce was hired on as a clinical dietitian. Once she and her husband moved to Lansing, Joyce taught nutrition and diet therapy to student nurses, consulted for nursing homes, worked in public health and volunteered in a maternity clinic. 

Joyce feels that one of the most meaningful aspects of her career has been helping family members and friends who need food and nutrition information and advice as well as offering guidance to low-income young pregnant women. “It’s been very rewarding,” she said. 

During her career, Joyce also took graduate courses. Today, there are many more educational opportunities, including venues such as online programs allowing busy professionals and parents who work full-time to earn graduate degrees. Joyce’s advice is to take advantage of higher education opportunities. “With the competition for employment, it’s necessary,” she said.    

The Lansing Dietetic Association thanks Joyce for her many years of dedication and support and looks forward to many more!

Lansing area dietitians honored at 2006 Michigan Dietetic Association annual conference

Congratulations to Emily Ostrowski and Anne DeVitto!

Emily Ostrowski, RD

2006 Recognized Young Dietitian of the Year Award

The recognized young dietitian of the year award is given to dietitians under the age of 35 who have made outstanding contributions to the dietetic profession, the district and state dietetic associations and the general public.

Emily is the Treasurer of the Lansing Dietetic Association.

Visit Michigan Dietetic Associations Web site for more about Emily’s award:

http://www.eatrightmich.org/pdf/MDAI%202006%20Scholarship%20Recipients.pdf

Anne DeVitto MS, RD, CSP

2006 Michigan Registered Dietitian of the Year Award

An award to recognize an MDA member who has made an outstanding contribution to the district and/or state association through a single endeavor or activity in the past year.

Visit Michigan Dietetic Associations Web site for more about Anne’s award:

http://www.eatrightmich.org/pdf/MDAI%202006%20Scholarship%20Recipients.pdf

LDA Members Garner 50 Year MDA Member Awards

    Two Lansing Dietetic Association members have recently received the 50 Year MDA Member Award for their fifty years of dedication to the Michigan Dietetic Association.  Dr. Rachel Schemmel (left) and Clara Frederick (right) received their awards at the 2003 MDA annual conference in Midland.  To celebrate their accomplishments in the field of dietetics and their 50 years of membership with the Lansing Dietetic Association, Dr. Schemmel and Clara Frederick also received commemorative plaques from the Lansing Dietetic Association during the 2003 LDA Fall Social at La Senorita restaurant in Lansing.
   Dr. Rachel Schemmel earned her Ph.D. from Michigan State University.  She was a therapeutic dietitian at Children’s Hospital in Los Angeles, a professor at MSU for 45 years, and was recently named a Fellow of the American Society for Nutritional Sciences.  Rachel served as the President of the Lansing Dietetic Association and the Michigan Dietetic Association and has served on the MDA Board for 25 years, volunteering in many capacities for MDA including the Bulletin Editor, the Awards Committee, the Research Committee, and as ADA Delegate to MDA.
   Clara Frederick completed her internship and Masters Degree in a combined program at University of Iowa Clinic in 1953 and subsequently worked at the University of Chicago Clinic as a floor and outpatient dietitian.  Clara took a 15-year hiatus to raise her three children and then taught nutrition courses at Lansing Community College for the hotel/motel management curriculum and worked for 17 years at the county health department in community nutrition clinics and adult health clinics.  Clara has also served as Treasurer for the Lansing Dietetic Association.
   The Michigan Dietetic Association and the Lansing Dietetic Association greatly appreciate Dr. Schemmel’s and Clara Frederick’s volunteer efforts and their continuing dedication to and support of the dietetic associations.  Congratulations to Rachel and Clara!

Michigan Dietetic Association Recognizes
UDIM Staff Member with Distinguished Award

   United Dairy Industry of Michigan (UDIM) is proud to announce that Karen Giles-Smith, MS, RD has received the Michigan Dietetic Association’s (MDA) Registered Dietitian of the Year Award.  Karen, Manager of Nutrition Communications at UDIM, received her award on April 30, 2004 at the Michigan Dietetic Association’s 75th Annual Conference in Troy, Michigan.  The award acknowledges one MDA member who has made an outstanding contribution to the District and/or State Association through a single endeavor or activity in the past year.
   “I am thrilled that Karen Giles-Smith has received the MDA's Registered Dietitian of the Year Award,” stated MDA President Michaeline Raczka.  “While Karen has made many contributions at the state and local level, her commitment to member communication stands out. The development of the Lansing Dietetic Association member e-mail database and the launch of the LDA website are commendable. Congratulations to Karen. She is very deserving of this award.”
   In addition to providing sound nutrition education and research to Michigan media and health professionals through UDIM, Karen has also served on the Lansing Dietetic Association (LDA) Board of Directors for six years.  For the past two years, she has served as President of the LDA where she has encouraged member involvement and has enhanced communication to keep the LDA viable and moving forward to best meet the needs of area nutrition professionals, students and the community.  Mary Angela Neister, Secretary/Membership Chair of the Lansing Dietetic Association, nominated Karen for the award.