What can volunteering offer students and newly qualified dietitians, and where might a career in dietetics take you?
In the next instalment of our ‘Spilling the tea on dietetics’ series, graduate dietitian Kyle Kennedy sits down with dietetic student Nat Leeman to discuss their routes into the profession, their experiences of volunteering with the BDA and their ambitions for the future.
Both became involved with the BDA's Public Health Specialist Group while at university and have since taken on a range of volunteer roles, with Kyle now chairing the group. In conversation, they reflect on the skills they've gained, the challenges of balancing volunteering alongside study and work, and the opportunities it has opened up for them.
One of the biggest benefits, they explain, has been the chance to connect with dietitians and students from across the UK, learn from experienced professionals and build confidence outside of their academic studies and workplace settings.
They also share what first inspired them to pursue careers in dietetics. For Kyle Kennedy, it was a desire to combine a love of science with patient care. For Nat, working in the NHS during the COVID-19 vaccination programme sparked an interest in preventative healthcare and the impact nutrition can have on long-term health outcomes.
Their message to anyone considering dietetics is simple: it's a diverse and rewarding profession with opportunities across clinical practice, public health, research, policy, academia and industry.
As the latest members of the profession, they also highlight the important role dietitians play in providing evidence-based advice and helping people navigate the growing amount of nutrition information and misinformation available today.
Watch the full conversation below.