UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS

COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
DEPARTMENT OF NUTRITION AND DIETETICS







Public Health Nutritionist






Submitted by:
Patricia Miliza T. Valde
4N2

Submitted to:
Maam Eleanor Sibug

Public Health Nutritionists develop, implement and evaluate nutrition policies and
programs, generating the evidence base and applying scientific knowledge to ensure
understanding of the impact of food and diet on health and well being of people and
communities, and improving the diet, nutrition and health of people and communities. Roles
can include health improvement, addressing inequalities in nutrition and health, nutrition
advocacy, developing/commissioning and implementing policies and programs, monitoring,
evaluation and assessment of diet in groups/communities, education and generating
research evidence linking food/nutrients and health.

Job Description
Responsible for the provision of high level public health nutrition and dietetic services to
people in remote communities and contribute to the planning, development and
implementation of programs/services with an emphasis on continuous quality
improvement.
1. Develop networks and work in partnership with stakeholders to identify, plan,
implement and evaluate activities that aim to improve nutritional status and
increase participation in physical activity in remote communities.

2. Act as the primary source of specific nutrition knowledge within the local team and
with other service providers and contribute to the professional development of
others in the area of nutrition and physical activity.


3. Provide support to less experienced staff involved in implementing nutrition and
physical activity programs and supervise students on placement.

4. A small component of the role is the provision of routine clinical dietetic services to
clients and consultative support in the delivery of clinical services.

Job Specification

A local public health nutritionist must possess a baccalaureate degree, with major studies in
food and nutrition, from a regionally accredited or New York State-registered college or
university, and be registered as a dietician.
Public Health Nutritionist Skills/Qualifications
Being People Oriented
o Enjoy working with diverse groups of people. You must sense and
understand clients reactions to a plan or to new information. Also, a
personable and patient demeanor builds rapport and trust with clients.
Service Orientation
o The willingness to help people.
o
Communication Skills
o Since your work involves scientific information, you must be able to turn
complicated details into language clients can understand.
Some technical skills
o Technical know-how is very important because you will use tools and
equipment including calorimeters to gauge metabolism, glucose meters to
evaluate blood sugar and bioelectric impedance machines to electronically
measure body fat.
Basic Analytical skills
o The ability to work with ideas and look for facts, apply nutritional
knowledge to craft eating plans for clients and patients.
Being Non-Judgmental
o Must possess the ability to listen to people with an open mind and use that
information to help them with their eating.

Roles of a Public Health Nutritionist
Plans, arranges and conducts the nutrition component of public health care programs to
promote health and dietary control of disease; conducts in-service training programs and
serves as a consultant in nutrition for departmental staff and local health and community
groups on food preparation, food value and dietary needs of various groups; interviews,
identifies and assesses individuals and groups at high risk to nutritional deficiencies
including expectant or nursing mothers, infants, children, seniors, individuals with chronic
illnesses or physical handicaps and the economically disadvantaged; develops, implements
and monitors individual nutritional care plans to address specific client needs; provides
consultant services on menu planning, food preparation, purchasing, modified diets and
nutrition education to food service personnel in schools, institutional facilities, group care
and other community centers; assists public health nurses with specific nutrition and
related problems of clients and their families; conducts studies and surveys relating to
nutritional status, dietary patterns and food needs of various groups; participates in
workshops and conferences in order to promote nutrition; may act as liaison to the state
and other public agencies on nutrition issues; prepares, writes, or recommends pamphlets,
posters, exhibits, news releases, audiovisual materials and other publicity on nutritional
subjects; recommends policies, procedures and protocols as required; prepares reports,
funding applications, nutrition budget components and correspondence; maintains records;
and supervises or directs assigned staff.

References:
http://www.health.nt.gov.au
http://www.finduniversity.ph/majors/bs-in-nutrition-and-dietetics-philippines/
http://sccounty01.co.santa-cruz.ca.us/personnel/Specs/NU7spec.html