Table of Contents:
- Introduction
- CEPH Competency #1
- CEPH Competency #2
- CEPH Competency #3
- CEPH Competency #4
- CEPH Competency #5
- CEPH Competency #6
- Conclusion
Introduction:
The following e-portfolio displays examples how I have fulfilled six different CEPH competencies during my Community Nutrition class at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Work examples used in this portfolio include:
- A needs assessment of working adults in the Sacramento community
- A hypothetical corporate wellness program proposal I designed
- A discussion I led on societal interventions to prevent obesity
- A discussion I led on healthcare reform policy in the US
- An evaluation of a nutrition education project I implemented during the semester
- A letter to my Congresswoman advocating for reimbursable nutrition services as a component of healthcare reform
For each sample presented, I also describe the following:
- How does this piece/sample relate to the competency?
- What are the strengths and weaknesses of this piece/sample?
- What did I learn from reviewing and reflecting on this piece/sample?
- What do I need to work on in the future to more fully meet this competency?
The goal of this e-portfolio is both to showcase my accomplishments and to reflect upon my learning experiences this semester.
CEPH Competency #1:
Select and use appropriate anthropometric, biochemical, clinical, dietary, functional, and socioeconomic assessment techniques to identify and prioritize nutritional problems and needs of populations and communities (CEPH).
Work Sample: Community Needs Assessment
How does this piece/sample relate to the competency?
- In this needs assessment, I identified, prioritized and summarized the nutritional needs of the Sacramento community (specifically targeting working adults), based on anthropometric, dietary, and socioeconomic data collected
What are the strengths and weaknesses of this piece/sample?
- Strengths: It includes several parameters, including statistical data and expert opinions.
- Weaknesses: A greater description and analysis of worksite wellness programs would have benefited the assessment.
What did I learn from reviewing and reflecting on this piece/sample?
- Conducting a needs assessment is a lengthy process, but reveals very valuable information. I am glad I put so much time and effort into this piece.
What do I need to work on in the future to more fully meet this competency?
- Learn how to incorporate biochemical, clinical and functional data into a needs assessment.
CEPH Competency #2:
Develop intervention strategies to correct nutrition problems in target populations (CEPH).
Work Sample: Worksite Health Promotion Assignment & Fit for Life Proposal
How does this piece/sample relate to the competency?
- This piece is a detailed intervention strategy developed to correct the hypothetical nutrition problem (prevalence of overweight in the workplace) described on page 270 in our Community Nutrition textbook.
What are the strengths and weaknesses of this piece/sample?
- Strengths: Proposal outlines multiple different strategies to increase participation in program and thoroughly describes program objectives and evaluation criteria
- Weaknesses: Hypothetical situation; not challenged by real-life constraints
What did I learn from reviewing and reflecting on this piece/sample?
- I enjoyed this assignment as it enabled me to design a worksite wellness program proposal for the first time. I had been researching and contemplating ideas for corporate wellness programs for the past few months, and this assignment gave me the opportunity to practice designing a proposal.
What do I need to work on in the future to more fully meet this competency?
- Develop intervention strategies for real-life populations
CEPH Competency #3:
Describe the role of agencies, advisory bodies, and professional organizations responsible for development and dissemination of technical information and for formulation of nutritional policies (CEPH).
Work Sample: Nicole’s Obesity Discussion Thread
How does this piece/sample relate to the competency?
- Several agencies, advisory bodies, and professional organizations responsible for development and dissemination of technical information and for formulation of nutritional policies related to obesity were described in the discussion I led during the obesity unit. They included:
- The Institute of Medicine
- Women, Infants and Children (WIC)
- The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
- The Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
- The Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
- The U.S. Department of Education
- The American Dietetic Association (ADA)
What are the strengths and weaknesses of this piece/sample?
- Strengths: The roles of numerous organizations were woven into this discussion thread, illustrating how multiple agencies can play a role in addressing a single topic or issue
- Weaknesses: The full extent of these organizations’ roles are not described in this discussion
What did I learn from reviewing and reflecting on this piece/sample?
- As stated previously, numerous organizations play a role in the development and dissemination of information and affect the formulation of nutrition policies surrounding a single topic. This discussion thread shows how several agencies play a role in addressing the obesity epidemic.
What do I need to work on in the future to more fully meet this competency?
- Describe in greater detail the roles and activities of these organizations
CEPH Competency #4:
Identify the relationships among local, national, and global nutritional and public health problems (CEPH).
Work Sample: Nicole’s Healthcare Discussion Thread
How does this piece/sample relate to the competency?
- This piece identifies the strengths and weaknesses of the US Healthcare system, and compares them on a global level to other nations’ systems.
What are the strengths and weaknesses of this piece/sample?
- Strengths: This discussion reveals some of the weaknesses of our nation’s healthcare system, including unequal access to healthcare and lack of funding for preventative care, by comparing our system to those of other countries. It also makes some suggestions for improvement.
- Weaknesses: Healthcare issues at the local level are not discussed.
What did I learn from reviewing and reflecting on this piece/sample?
- Identifying relationships between the public health problems at the various population levels can assist in devising solutions.
What do I need to work on in the future to more fully meet this competency?
- Compare issues in greater detail, including at the local level.
CEPH Competency #5:
Translate results of nutritional research to different target populations (public, peers, parents, etc.) (CEPH).
Work Sample: Nutrition Education Project Evaluation
How does this piece/sample relate to the competency?
- It translates the results of my nutrition education project findings to my peers.
What are the strengths and weaknesses of this piece/sample?
- Strengths: It is a detailed report, complete with tables, graphs, images, background and discussion of the results.
- Weaknesses: There were some inherent limitations of the research (described in paper), and the results have thus far only been translated to educated peer groups, and not other target populations.
What did I learn from reviewing and reflecting on this piece/sample?
- After reading others’ advice, part of me wishes I had directed people only to the individual blog pages (rather than the home page) so I could have calculated the tutorial views more accurately.
What do I need to work on in the future to more fully meet this competency?
- Describe nutrition research to other target populations
CEPH Competency #6:
Integrate knowledge in nutrition, public health, and other disciplines for the identification and evaluation of nutritional problems and the development and implementation of guidelines and policies (CEPH).
Work Sample: Letter to Congresswoman Matsui
How does this piece/sample relate to the competency?
- It integrates my knowledge of nutrition, public health, and politics into specific recommendations for healthcare policy reform.
What are the strengths and weaknesses of this piece/sample?
- Strengths: It directly applies to the competency. It is a succinct, evidenced-based recommendation to my Congresswoman.
- Weaknesses: It is a recommendation, and does not ensure changes will be acknowledged or implemented. It also does not describe in great detail how changes should be implemented.
What did I learn from reviewing and reflecting on this piece/sample?
- I am fortunate to have a Congresswoman who is likely to support my recommendations
- As we are some of the relatively few public health nutritionists in our nation, it is important that we make our voices heard
What do I need to work on in the future to more fully meet this competency?
- Assist in the actual development and implementation of policy changes
Conclusions:
It is amazing to consider how much I have accomplished in just this one 3-unit class, and how much I will accomplish by the time I have completed all 44 units required in this program. This class has been a great introduction to public health nutrition, and demonstrates that learning in higher education need not be confined to a traditional classroom setting. The discussions that have taken place this semester were some of the highest caliber I have ever experienced. The diverse group of students, from all over the world and with different professional backgrounds, as well as the ability (or more accurately: requirement) to cite your sources when participating in a discussion acted to elicit this high quality of discussion. Additionally, the assignments were all interesting, relevant, and enhanced my understanding of public health nutrition. I feel confident that the knowledge and skills acquired in this class will enhance my abilities in future academic and professional endeavors.
