Concordia College

Dietetic Intern Travels to Uganda

Aug 26, 2008
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
SABRINA WHITING, Dining Services marketing supervisor
218-299-4423
AMY KELLY, Media Relations director
(218) 299-3642

Concordia Dietetic Intern Travels to Uganda to Put Education to Work

    While young people throughout Fargo spend the summer playing softball, making extra money, or going to the lake, Amanda Beadell decided to put her education to work. Beadell, a dietetic intern at Concordia College, recently spent a week in Masindi, Uganda where she counseled people on nutrition, taught about AIDS/HIV prevention, and handed out donations.
    Beadell is a 2008 Concordia graduate with a degree in nutrition and exercise science. She is currently taking part in Concordia’s dietetic internship program. Upon completion of the program, Beadell will be eligible to take the exam which will allow her to practice as a registered dietitian. As an intern, Beadell has the opportunity receive practical experience in the three domains of dietetics: community and clinical nutrition and food service management.
    The people of Uganda are plagued with high blood pressure, diabetes and poor health. By traveling to Uganda, Beadell had the opportunity to give nutritional advice to people who normally wouldn’t have access to such information.
    “Traveling to Uganda really opened my eyes about the importance of nutrition. Through my internship at Concordia and my experience in Africa I feel like I am really prepared to be a dietitian,” said Beadell.
    “We are very proud to have a Concordia College dietetic intern representing our field in Uganda. Her experiences provide motivation and encouragement and show how nutrition professionals can make a difference in the world,” said Vanessa Berg, Dietetic Internship Director.
    Because of her experiences in Uganda, Beadell is considering moving to Africa in the future in order to help with the dissemination of nutritional information and food safety throughout the country. For now, Beadell is sharing her first-hand knowledge and information with the Fargo-Moorhead community in order to raise awareness about the health issues in Uganda.
    Beadell will be giving presentations about her trip to Uganda at a Fargo Lion’s Club meeting in September and at Concordia College the end of August.
    Beadell was able to travel to Uganda through Missions Made Possible, a non-profit organization based in the Twin Cities, and Lutheran Church Mission Uganda.
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