UWS Launches Doctor of Clinical Nutrition Degree

Posted on by Dana Schatz

The University of Western States human nutrition and functional medicine program will begin offering an online doctor of clinical nutrition degree in fall 2021

Doctor of Clinical Nutrition

The University of Western States (UWS) human nutrition and functional medicine (HNFM) department has added a doctor of clinical nutrition (DCN) degree and is accepting applications for fall 2021.

The two-year online program includes 65 quarter credits with emphasis on developing stronger clinical skills while encompassing a broader range of conditions and therapies. Faculty of the program come from a variety of nutrition backgrounds and are highly respected in the field.

“During my years as HNFM program director, many of our master’s degree students have asked whether UWS would consider offering a clinically-focused doctoral program where they could continue their studies, deepening their knowledge of nutrition and functional medicine,” said Dr. Daniel Redwood, HNFM program director. “To have now reached the point where our DCN program is ready to admit students to its inaugural class is a moment of deep satisfaction and hope for the future of UWS and all those it serves.”

The UWS DCN program utilizes a functional medicine model, enabling students to integrate the best available scientific evidence with a comprehensive, whole-person care approach. With this knowledge, doctors of clinical nutrition can develop targeted, individualized prevention plans to help reduce the risk of chronic illness and support optimal physical, mental and emotional well-being for the patients and clients they serve.

“The doctor of clinical nutrition program is a timely addition to the programs offered by UWS,” said Dr. Alisa Bates, dean, college of graduate studies. “Adding this additional option for those in the human nutrition and functional medicine community allows us to expand our support of the professional field and the quality of clinical career provided through this lens. With faculty whose backgrounds integrate conventional medicine and nutrition-focused health care, we are eager to bring their experience to students through our curriculum and learning experiences.” 

The DCN program is application-focused and supported by key clinical tools created by the Institute for Functional Medicine (IFM), the organization which founded and developed many functional medicine concepts used today. UWS and IFM have a global agreement that leads to further collaboration between the two institutions, including integration of IFM’s novel patient assessment tools.

Graduates of the UWS DCN program may seek careers as a nutritionist, solo practitioner,* health and wellness coach, educator, lecturer, author or within an integrated practice.

“The UWS DCN program will empower graduates to better address complex, challenging patient cases that require advanced functional medicine strategies to solve,” said Dr. Chris Browne, HNFM associate director. “By deepening their understanding of evidence-informed clinical nutrition practice, DCN students will learn to deliver the very best in therapeutic and preventive care. In a competitive health care marketplace, these skills and knowledge will support our graduates’ clinical and career success. As functional medicine continues to grow and develop, we envision our DCNs as leaders in the field, helping more patients and communities to gain access to the healing power of nutrition.”

The doctor of clinical nutrition degree will be a meaningful extension to the robust Master of Science degree within the College of Graduate Studies at UWS. The enhanced clinical skillset conferred by the program will enable better realization of a whole-person care approach along with an improved capacity for developing and maintaining a meaningful therapeutic relationship with the patient.

About Nutrition Licensure

*Nutrition licensure varies state-by-state and is evolving toward greater inclusivity. Check out the valuable resource, theana.org/advocate, to learn more about the particular laws in your state and keep updated on the newest initiatives affecting the nutrition world.

It is the responsibility of the individual student to understand and comply with all relevant local or jurisdictional requirements for clinical practice, which are highly variable and subject to periodic change. UWS makes no representation or guarantee that completion of UWS coursework or programs will permit an individual to obtain certification, licensure or other authorization to practice in any specific jurisdiction.

About University of Western States

University of Western States designs and delivers evidence-informed curricula that embrace the science and art of health care, establishing a solid foundation and competitive edge in preparing professionals for clinical practice. UWS is a regionally accredited, independent nonprofit institution dedicated to improving the health and well-being of society through its educational programs, research and clinical services. Founded in 1904, the institution is world-renowned for excellence in health professions education. University of Western States students pursue an array of academic degree programs: doctor of chiropractic; doctor of clinical nutrition; Master of Science in human nutrition and functional medicine; Master of Science in sports medicine; Master of Science in diagnostic imaging; Master of Science and doctor of education in sport and performance psychology; and Master of Science in clinical mental health counseling. The institution sponsors approved continuing education programs for licensed health care professionals, and provides health-care services through University of Western States Health Centers. UWS is a founding member of the Oregon Collaborative for Integrative Medicine, an organization that aims to advance integrative health care through education, research, patient care and advocacy. To learn more about University of Western States and its academic programs, visit uws.edu.

Coming to Campus: What to Prepare For

Posted on by Dana Schatz

By: Caitlin Jones, 10th Quarter UWS Doctor of Chiropractic and Sports Medicine student

Front of Campus

Welcome to Portland Q3 doctor of chiropractic (DC) students! If you aren’t already here, I hope that you are excited to make the move and to finally have some in-person classes on campus. It will definitely make being in the DC program more real when you start working on your adjusting skills in a classroom setting. You can also get treated at the campus health center by upper quarter students and get to know the clinicians that you’ll be working with when you get to clinic. 

To help with the transition to campus life, here are some top things to prepare for:

  • Move to Portland! If you aren’t already here, be sure to reach out to admissions for advice on where to look for housing in the area. The admissions team and some of the student ambassadors have been active on your group’s Facebook page with ideas, so be sure to check them out. You can also check out UWS Switchboard to see if any of your classmates are looking for roommates too!
  • Explore Portland. There are some great places to explore and still remain COVID safe. There are a ton of local restaurants, hikes and neighborhoods to explore. Some of the best walkable neighborhoods are Mississippi, Alberta and the Pearl district. There are some great hikes within an hour of Portland along the Columbia River Gorge, up to Mount Hood, and out to the coast such as Cannon Beach and Astoria. There are also great outdoor spaces within Portland at Pittock Mansion, Powell Butte and Mt. Tabor. Keep an eye out for a blog coming up on great places to visit while you’re here! 
  • How to get to campus. You have the option for either a TriMet pass to use public transportation or a parking pass. TriMet passes can be picked up at the front desk. Parking is $35 a quarter and you’ll have the first week to pick up your pass from the front desk. So, don’t worry about getting a ticket on your first day! An email will be sent out with a link to the commute declaration where you can opt for either a parking or a public transportation pass. You can find the declaration form here.
  • ID Badge. You’ll receive an ID badge your first day which you’ll need to wear on campus. You’ll also need it to get into the building past the front desk and into certain rooms like the second floor study room.
  • COVID-19 precautions. I hope you know this already, but if you are feeling sick, please stay home! If you’re feeling great, then come to campus with your mask that is to be worn over your mouth and nose at all times. There are hand sanitizing stations in every room and all over campus. Please wash and sanitize your hands frequently throughout the day. There are only two places to eat on campus: the student commons and the mindful eating space. Social distancing is also incredibly important to help stop the spread. There are many signs on campus to help remind everyone to keep some space.
  • Standard Process Student Commons. A great open space with a variety of seating and lots of microwaves. This is also where the Spinal Tap coffee kiosk and campus store is located. There you can grab meals, snacks and some much-needed caffeine. They also have a variety of things such as mobility tools, UWS gear, educational books and study tools and more. 
  • Library. I know you all have spine models, but our library has a ton of resources for you! They have individual bone models including real bones and extremities. There are also books and the helpful library staff who can assist you with your research. In case you didn’t know, while you’re a student at UWS, you have access to some very expensive resources like Dynamed, Pubmed, SPORTDiscus and Natural Medicines. The staff are wizards at pointing you in the right direction for your research so be sure to utilize them!
  • Student Navigator. Have a question and not sure where to go? Check out the Student Navigator and it can point you in the right direction.
  • Student clubs. All clubs are currently meeting virtually, so you don’t even need to wait until next quarter to get involved! Joining student clubs are one of the best things you can do as a student. You meet other people and learn different techniques from upper quarter students. It really helps you to connect the things we learn and gives you enough chiropractic practice to help get you through the basic science courses you’re in. There are a ton of clubs to join so be sure to check out the list in the Weekly Vitals and follow the individual clubs Facebook and Instagram pages to get their Zoom links.
  • Make an appointment at the campus health center! As a student, you’re provided chiropractic care at the campus clinic. Just call 503-255-6771 to schedule an appointment. The clinic is amazing, because you get to see what you’re going to learn at UWS. You’ll make connections with upper quarter students, the clinicians you’ll be working with, and best of all, get chiropractic treatment! We have all of the physical therapy modalities like laser light therapy and therapeutic ultrasound as well as a brand-new rehab room with tons of great equipment. It’s a great experience treatment-wise as well as a learning opportunity. 

We are really looking forward to having you join us on campus and if you have any questions, please reach out to admissions, post on your Facebook group page, or feel free to reach out to me at [email protected].

See you in March!

Stephanie Halloran, DC, MS, 2020 UWS Alumna of the Year

Posted on by Dana Schatz
Alumna of the Year 2020

Congratulations to Dr. Stephanie Halloran, UWS doctor of chiropractic and human nutrition and functional medicine alumna for being named the 2020 UWS Alumna of the Year!
 
Dr. Halloran has gone on to fellowships with the Veteran’s Affairs (VA) and with Yale University. She has shown exemplary leadership serving in various professional organizations. Halloran’s colleagues have noted that she represents her profession with grace and inclusivity, opening doors for those who follow her lead.
 
“I am deeply humbled and honored to have been nominated and to receive this award,” said Dr. Halloran. “I am so grateful for my time spent at UWS and for the opportunities it gave me in pursuing integrated care. I look forward to continuing to work with students in pursuing the same career path that I have been so fortunate to have.”
 
Read more about Dr. Halloran in the upcoming UWS Annual Report, out in early April.

UWS SACA Named Chapter of the Year

Posted on by Dana Schatz
SACA awards

The University of Western States (UWS) Student American Chiropractic Association (SACA) chapter was named the 2020 SACA Chapter of the Year. The announcement was made during the 2021 American Chiropractic Association (ACA) ENGAGE conference presented virtually this year.

“We are truly honored to be recognized as the 2020 SACA Chapter of the Year,” said Danielle Pettet, past SACA president. “All SACA chapters were faced with many challenges this year, so to be selected for this award is quite the honor. Despite the online environment, we were able to boost our UWS SACA membership and host several successful fundraisers and virtual events. All of these things were made possible by our amazing SACA members and club advisor, Dr. Gary Schultz, who stuck with us during these uncertain times and kept the SACA spirit alive at UWS.”

Through the challenges faced this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, being able to think creatively and keep engagement up with members was critical in keeping members connected. The executive board created many well-attended virtual events to help keep a sense of normalcy and community.

“Working with this SACA executive board has been the antidote to 2020,” said Dr. Schultz. “Each member of this team has embodied leadership, positivity, good humor, creativity and persistence. They truly have been an inspiration both personally and professionally. To be honest, it really was not the least bit surprising to see them awarded SACA Chapter of the Year. I am so very proud of them and the hard work they have put in this year.”

Additionally, Caitlin Jones, past UWS SACA legislative representative was one of four recipients of a scholarship from Standard Process and was also elected to the SACA National Executive Board as the legislative vice chair.

SACA eboard
2020-2021 UWS SACA executive board: President – Danielle Pettet; Vice President – Leah Dash; Legislative Rep – Caitlin Jones; Legislative Assistant – Katrina Parsley; Treasurer – Kailey Koopman; Secretary – Sierra Zinke; Public Relations Chair – Carlee Thomson

About the American Chiropractic Association

ACA is the largest professional association in the United States representing doctors of chiropractic. ACA promotes the highest standards of ethics and patient care, contributing to the health and well-being of millions of chiropractic patients.

On behalf of its members, ACA lobbies for pro-chiropractic legislation and policies, promotes a positive public image of chiropractic, supports research, provides professional and educational opportunities for doctors of chiropractic, and offers leadership for the advancement of the profession.

At-Home Workout Motivation Tips and Tricks

Posted on by Dana Schatz

With many public gyms still closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, working out at home requires some extra motivation and creativity

By: Caitlin Jones, 10th Quarter UWS Doctor of Chiropractic and Sports Medicine student

StayFit Caitlin Blog

This past year, with the temporary closure of UWS’s campus fitness center and all of the gyms in the Portland area due to COVID-19 restrictions, getting a good workout in has required some creativity and a massive amount of internal motivation. Especially since my workouts typically consist of weightlifting and power lifting, and buying a barbell isn’t quite in my student budget. Luckily, I have a sandbag, some resistance bands and a great playlist!

In the beginning, the hardest part was trying to figure out what to do each day and to get the motivation to step away from studying (and Netflix) to workout. So, to help myself, I break it up throughout the day.  I wrote down a list of movements such as squat, lunge, single-leg Romanian deadlift (RDL), push-up, pike push-up, handstand work, mountain climbers, and the dreaded core work such as planks and Pallof presses. And just like we ask our patients to do McKenzie protocol every waking hour – I do 10-30 reps of a movement every waking hour. At least, when I’m not actively in class or clinic! This has helped keep my brain awake for all of the online lectures and it’s easy to fit in, because it only takes about 1-2 minutes. If I have some extra time or motivation, I do a couple of different movements or go on a long walk while listening to a podcast. 

The key to any workout routine is to schedule in these little bursts. After every lecture or recording I watch, I do a few movements. For the days when I’m wanting or needing more, I design a quick workout of 5-6 movements and complete 3-5 rounds of them. I’ve even started adding some sprints into my routine even though I hate running. But sprinting is at least over in a few seconds! So, if you hate running like me, then give 20 second sprints a try. Just be sure to ease into them so you don’t strain your hamstrings (but if you do, go see your favorite intern at the Campus Health Clinic)! 

The need to be extra creative with home workouts has been going on for 10 months now, so I try to switch things up to keep from getting bored. I’ve attended a few Zoom yoga sessions and worked on skills like handstands. Though it’s still a work in progress, it’s a fun way to stay active and challenge myself! But the best part about living in the Pacific Northwest and trying to find ways to be active – there are a ton of hikes in the area. It’s a great workout, a chance to get some vitamin D and there are plenty of terrain and elevation options. Now that it’s winter, the trails have thinned out and the rain and mud just add to the experience. Just be sure to bring a mask if you head out to the trails!

If you need an idea for a quick workout you can do with no equipment, give this a try!

3-5 Rounds

  • 20 jumping squats
  • 16 lunges
  • 10 push-ups
  • 10 dips (using a chair or couch)
  • 100m sprint
  • 30-second plank hold

Alumna Spotlight: Analia Camarasa

Posted on by Dana Schatz

Analia Camarasa, MS-HNFM, IFMCP, CNS, UWS teaching staff, UWS alumni mentor

Analia-Camarasa

Why did you choose the field/profession of human nutrition and functional medicine?

My brilliant father used to say, “no one can take away your education.” He understood the true meaning of this having only completed 6th grade. With that in mind, I chose the field of human nutrition and functional medicine out of need, having more health questions than answers for my daughter and myself. I had been suffering with crippling fatigue and gastrointestinal issues since college that conventional medicine could not fix. At a young age, my daughter suddenly developed unexplained large motor tics. It propelled me to seek higher-level education in pursuit of bettering the state of our health. Within two years, I had graduated and was able to take my health to greater heights with the knowledge gained during this very rigorous program. I felt I had a new lease in life.

Briefly share your experience in advocating for state licensure in North Carolina.

During my time at UWS, I took two elective courses through the Institute for Functional Medicine (IFM). These advanced practice modules introduced me to that wonderful educational organization. After graduating from UWS, I was hired to be teaching staff of the master’s program while I continued taking the advanced practice modules from IFM for three years. This experience complemented the education I had gained at UWS very well. In addition, after graduation, I sat for and passed the BCNS exam to become a Certified NutritionSpecialist (CNS). All the while, I was working on the 1,000 supervised practice experience hours required to gain the tile of CNS.

What does it mean to you to become the first licensed nutritionist in your state?

With the support of the North Carolina (NC) Board of Dietetics/Nutrition (the licensing board for dietitians and nutritionists in NC), the North Carolina Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, and the Nutrition Advocacy Group (now known as the American Nutrition Association) I advocated for about four years to change the NC Dietetics/Nutrition Practice Act. In 2018, after many discussions, meetings and drafting, a new pathway to license nutritionists in the state of North Carolina was enacted. When the opportunity to become a member of the North Carolina Board of Dietetics/Nutrition dietetics presented itself, I leapt at the chance to help more qualified nutritionists to become licensed in our state. As a result of my education at UWS with a master’s degree in nutrition plus having completed 1,000 hours of supervise clinical practice experience, I was honored to become the first licensed nutritionist (LN) in the state of North Carolina.

How have you evolved and adapted in your own practice or work during this intense time (pandemic, social upheaval, economic uncertainty)?

The good news is that all of my studying inspired my husband to grow his knowledge of nutrition and functional medicine as well. Aside from being an IFM certified practitioner, he is also a board-certified emergency medicine physician. This means that we when it came to the pandemic, we saw the writing on the wall and begun quarantine before it was required in our state. This lead us to start seeing patients virtually early on, at first over the phone. Soon, we began our first telehealth visits and our patients quickly adjusted to the new normal.

How did your work with UWS help you to become an IFM certified practitioner?

During my education at UWS, I took an elective class in Herbal Medicine. Inspired by the depth of knowledge of HNFM’s professor and western herbalist Jason Hawrelak (ND, PhD), I was accepted into a two-year herbal studies program with Registered Herbalist David Winston. Since graduating from UWS, I have taken many continued education courses and attended many conferences to deepen my knowledge of herbs as it relates to nutrition. Class starts in the fall of 2020 and I eagerly look forward to be once again a devoted student with the goal of becoming a registered herbalist.

I am so grateful I followed my dreams to earn a master’s degree, to become a CNS, a North Carolina licensed nutritionist, and an Institute for Functional Medicine Certified Practitioner (IFMCP). Continuously learning and helping one patient at a time gives me immense joy. I am forever grateful to have heeded my father’s advice and have started in this journey with University of Western States’ Human Nutrition and Functional Medicine program. It has opened my life to new opportunities, to be of service and touch the lives to the people in my community.