Food Systems, Nutrition, and Health
Master of Science
August 26, 2026
Clinical Decision-Making by Registered Dietitians Caring for Patients Who are Obese by BMI in Acute Care: A Qualitative Study
Objective: Dietitians in acute care settings are tasked with providing nutrition support to individuals with obesity amid complex clinical and systemic challenges, including variable application of clinical guidelines. This qualitative study aimed to examine registered dietitian nutritionists’ (RDNs) experience and perspectives related to providing nutrition care for individuals with obesity in acute care settings. Methods:...Beyond the Food Label: Nutrient Profiling Foods in the Indian Nutrition Data Bank for Public Nutrition Policy
The student developed What We Eat in India (WWEI), a new culturally relevant system for categorizing 1,014 cooked Indian recipes from the Indian Nutrition Data Bank. Two nutrient profiling approaches were applied and compared: the World Health Organization South-East Asia Region nutrient profile model and the Nutrient Rich Food model, including the NRF 6.3 and...Optimization of Intravenous Lipid Emulsion Use in Pediatric Patients Receiving Parenteral Nutrition at Harborview Medical Center
Current Harborview Medical Center (HMC) practice is to initiate pediatric parenteral nutrition (PN) with a soy-based intravenous lipid emulsion (SOILE) and monitor aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) weekly to assess liver function. If these labs are measured three times above normal twice, the patient is transitioned to soy-, MCT-, olive-, fish-oil lipid emulsion...Provider Perspectives and Institutional Assets and Barriers to Modifying NICU NG Tube Training for Families at Seattle Children’s Hospital
Comprehensive neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) pre-discharge family education on nasogastric tube (NGT) use is critical for a safe transition from hospital to home. Prior students’ work has identified NICU caregiver needs and informed the development of a family-centered NGT training curriculum. To fully implement the training, there is a need to better understand institutional...Development of ARFID Following Bariatric Surgery: A Case Study
A case study of a man in his early 40s who developed Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) following gastric bypass surgery approximately six months earlier. The client presented to The Emily Program with significant weight loss and limited dietary variety due to adverse experiences with early dumping syndrome, reactive hypoglycemia, and a history of esophageal...Assessing Dietitans’ Preparedness for Eating Disorder Care: A Preliminary Needs Assessment
As part of the Leadership Education in Adolescent Health (LEAH) Traineeship at Seattle Children’s, the student designed and conducted a preliminary needs assessment to examine dietitians’ preparedness to care for patients with eating disorders. After developing Interview questions, interviewing five dietitians, and analysing their responses, common themes related to confidence, training, clinical challenges, and organizational...Validation of Pediatric Micronutrient Supplementation Regimen at Harborview Medical Center
Severe pediatric burn injuries result in significant metabolic stress, increasing nutritional requirements and the need for targeted micronutrient supplementation to support wound healing, immune function, and recovery. Although evidence-based supplementation recommendations are well established for adults, pediatric-specific guidance remains limited. This quality improvement project evaluated the effectiveness of Harborview Medical Center’s existing pediatric burn micronutrient...Electrolyte Management After Kidney Transplant in Cystinosis
Nephropathic cystinosis is a rare inherited lysosomal storage disorder caused by mutations in the CTNS gene, resulting in the accumulation of cystine within lysosomes and progressive damage to multiple organ systems, particularly the kidneys. Renal Fanconi syndrome develops early in life, leading to significant urinary losses of electrolytes and nutrients, impaired growth, and eventual progression...February 25, 2026
Listening to Schools: Insights to Inform the Development of a Toolkit for Implementing the 20-Minute Lunch Duration Rule in Washington State Elementary Schools
School meals are a consistent part of students’ days, supporting more than just nutrition. Lunchtime gives children the chance to eat, socialize, and practice executive functioning skills that support them throughout the rest of the school day. Elementary school students often have inadequate time to eat due to travel time to the cafeteria, time spent...November 26, 2025
Expanding the Registered Dietitian’s Role in Eating Disorder Relapse Prevention
A quality improvement project was conducted to supplement eating disorder relapse prevention efforts by Registered Dietitians (RDs) at Seattle Children’s Adolescent Medicine Clinic. As part of a broader effort to standardize the nutrition workflow, a standard process document was updated to ensure inclusion of relapse prevention elements for the final nutrition appointment of the eating...Next page