5th Annual CHHS Farm To Table Dinner Celebrates 10th Anniversary of the Department of Nutrition and Food Studies

eander6 — Thu, 21 Oct 2021 13:04:20 +0000

5th Annual CHHS Farm To Table Dinner Celebrates 10th Anniversary of the Department of Nutrition and Food Studies eander6 Thu, 10/21/2021 - 09:04

In This Story

Kerri LaCharite, PhD

Lawrence J. Cheskin, MD

The College’s Development team and the Department of Nutrition and Food Studies hosted its 5th Annual Farm To Table event on Friday, October 15^th, with the support of the CHHS Alumni Chapter Board and student volunteers. The event celebrated the bounty of Fall as well as the Department’s 10^th anniversary. Guests enjoyed a jazz ensemble, nutritious appetizers, and a variety of drinks as they mingled outdoors and in the multipurpose room of the Population Health Center. Attendees, including alumni, faculty, staff, and other guests enjoyed a buffet style dinner, including an array of local treats: butternut squash soup, spinach salad, Capon Chicken, beef tenderloin, wild mushroom strudel, and assorted vegetables. Sacher Torte was served for dessert with seasonal apple cider.

Following a brief introduction from Dean Germaine Louis, attendees enjoyed a 10th-anniversary video for the Department of Nutrition and Food Studies. In the video affiliated faculty members reflected on the growth and success of the department.

Constance Gewa, associate professor, talked about how the program become a formal department within the College back in 2011, recalling just how far the department has come in just 10 years. “Because there was no space on campus, we had our offices located on Democracy Blvd, and our kitchen was a former Silver Diner,” remembered Gewa. The first graduating class had 21 graduates.

“…I don’t think that many other programs in this country have such a range of expertise and specifically focus on community nutrition and sustainable food systems,” said Kerri LaCharite, assistant professor. Presently, the department enrolls 57 students who participate in a host of field placements across Northern Virginia.

Members of the nutrition faculty were able to reconnect with alumni.

To conclude, the Chair of the department, Dr. Lawrence Cheskin, discussed the future of the program. “As we become a College of Public Health, it’s very important that nutrition continues to play an important role.” There are 217 alumni in the department to date.

After the presentation, the Vice President of Advancement and Alumni Relations, Trishana Bowden, highlighted the importance of the department. Dr. Cheskin also presented alumni awards to Jaianna Johnson (MS Nutrition ’20) and Jessica Reilly (MS Nutrition ’20), in acknowledgment of their continued support to the department and the College.

See the 10th-anniversary video for the Department of Nutrition and Food Studies here.

All COVID safety protocols were followed at this event.

Topics

College of Health and Human Services Department of Nutrition and Food Studies

CHHS News

Rising Healthcare Leaders Making Connections at Mason

eander6 — Thu, 30 Sep 2021 13:30:08 +0000

Rising Healthcare Leaders Making Connections at Mason eander6 Thu, 09/30/2021 - 09:30

In This Story

Brenda Helen Sheingold, PhD, RN, FNAP

PJ Maddox, EdD, MSN, RN

RHLM leadership team with the Director of the Master of Health Administration program, Brenda Sheingold.

On September 16, Rising Healthcare Leaders at Mason (RHLM), a Mason Registered Student Organization (RSO), hosted its first in-person networking event since March 2020. The graduate student leadership team in the Department of Health Administration and Policy (HAP) worked to make the event a successful networking opportunity for attendees. P.J. Maddox, chair of HAP, and many HAP faculty members were present as well as alumni and students. Mark Lainoff, an Inova administrative fellow, also attended and spoke with students who were interested in pursuing an Administrative Fellowship. The event was supported by a team of volunteers from the undergraduate Health Administration program.

The president of the RHLM leadership team, Akshaya Chinnathevar Ramesh, delivered comments to thank those who attended. “Rising Healthcare Leaders at Mason is a registered student organization representing the HAP department,” said Ramesh. “Our mission is to open the platform for students to enhance their career advancement through networking and other activities, and this event is a stepping-stone toward that goal. We want to set a path for the future leadership team as well as the emerging healthcare leaders who have joined [us] in our journey.”

Brenda Helen Sheingold, director of the Master of Health Administration program, said that the event was successful thanks, in large part, to the student leadership team’s efforts to create a safe and professional environment for students and faculty to connect during the pandemic.

"The Master of Health Administration is a network-intensive degree, and students haven’t had the opportunity for face-to-face interaction with healthcare executives, the faculty, or each other for over 18 months,” said Sheingold.

All COVID safety protocols were followed at this event.

Topics

Rising Healthcare Leaders

Healthcare

Health Administration

Inova

HAP Faculty

HAP Alumni

Department of Health Administration and Policy

Student Spotlight

CHHS News

Emma Anderson

5th Annual CHHS Farm To Table Dinner Celebrates 10th Anniversary of the Department of Nutrition and Food Studies

In This Story

See the 10th-anniversary video for the Department of Nutrition and Food Studies here.

Topics

Rising Healthcare Leaders Making Connections at Mason

In This Story

Topics