Careers in Dietetics

Registered Dietitians work in a wide variety of employment settings, including private practice, media, health care, business and industry, education and research.

Many work environments, particularly those in medical and health care settings, require that an individual be credentialed as an RD.

RDs work in:

• Hospitals, HMOs or other health care facilities, educating patients about nutrition and administering medical nutrition therapy as part of the health care team.  They may also manage the foodservice operations in these facilities, overseeing everything from food purchasing and preparation to managing staff.

• Sports nutrition and corporate wellness programs, educating clients about the connection between food, fitness, and health.

• Food and nutrition-related businesses and industries, working in communications, consumer affairs, public relations, marketing, or product development.

• Private practice, working under contract with health care or food companies or in their own business.  Registered Dietitians may provide services to foodservice or restaurant managers, food vendors, and distributors, or athletes, nursing home residents, or company employees.

• Community and public health settings, teaching, monitoring, and advising the public, and helping to improve their quality of life through healthy habits.

• Universities and medical centers, teaching physicians, nurses, dietetics students, and others the science of foods and nutrition.

• Research areas, in food and pharmaceutical companies, universities, and hospitals, directing or conducting experiments to answer critical nutrition questions and find alternative foods or nutrition recommendations for the public.