Dietetic Internship Program Graduates 30th Class

North Oaks Health System’s Dietetic Internship faculty and staff honored seven graduates for completing the program with a graduation ceremony on Thursday, June 15. The health system’s Chief Human Resources Officer Jeff Jarreau presided over the ceremony, held at the E. Brent Dufreche Conference Center on the North Oaks Medical Center campus.

Graduates include: Peyton Cherry of Covington; Pamela Cosio of Oxnard, California; Hannah LeCompte of Husser; Gabriella Miller and Alexis Theriot of Hammond; Yoshihiro Motomura of Chico, California (originally from Japan); and Cam’ryn Panks of Baton Rouge.

Two graduates received awards.

Alexis Theriot received the Mary Nelson Award that is given by program preceptors and faculty in recognition of eagerness to learn, dedication to the profession and high professional standards. The award was presented by North Oaks Clinical Nutrition Manager Ashley Smith and is the namesake of the late Mary Nelson, who gave 30 years to the profession of dietetics and educating dietitians.

Yoshihiro Motomura was selected by his peers to receive the Dannye Young Taylor “Always Remembering Others” Award in recognition of selfless assistance of others and teamwork. Now retired, Taylor was a longtime patient representative for North Oaks Health System. The award was created in her honor by her husband, Dr. Rodney Taylor, in recognition of her motto, “always remember others.” North Oaks Dietetic Internship Program Director Leslie Ballard presented the award to Motomura.

Erin McKinley, who is assistant professor and director of the didactic program in dietetics for Louisiana State University, served as guest speaker. McKinley also is president of the Louisiana Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

In her remarks, she encouraged the graduating interns to look at every opportunity in their personal and work lives through the lens of “How can this make me a better person and dietitian?”

“Trust the process,” she continued. “You have been given all the tools you need to be successful. You know more than you think, and always remember that you are a part of something bigger than yourself.”

Diplomas were conferred by North Oaks Dietetic Internship Program Director Leslie Ballard.

Since 1994, the North Oaks Dietetic Internship Program has offered qualified individuals a unique opportunity to attain eligibility for the Registration Examination for Dietitians through one year of supervised experience.

For more information about the North Oaks Dietetic Internship, contact the program office at (985) 230-6548.