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The School of Dietetics trains personnel to work in the field of food and human nutrition. The dietitian can deal with the clinical aspect, quality control and nutritional values of food, hygiene of food production, health education, and analysis of the nutritional condition of a population.

Direct teaching and internships in hospital wards, practical work at food service facilities and at Marco Polo Hotel Institute, internships in food industries, food epidemiology surveys in the area.

Freelance; employment with public and private entities and with companies involved in food service and food production; collaboration in professional practices in the field of medicine and wellness; academic career; activities in developing countries.

Food is a fundamental moment for every individual: with proper nutrition we maintain our state of health and promote our longevity.
Feeding ourselves is not only about meeting nutritional needs, but also about connecting with others and with nature. Our body and our social living cannot do without food.

The dietitian learns:

• the functioning of the body in relation to the digestion, absorption, metabolization, and utilization of food
• the chemical properties of foods
• the psychological, social and environmental dimensions related to food 
• the techniques and technologies related to food production, storage and distribution 
• group catering and the standards that regulate it.

With this knowledge, the dietitian is able to:

• develop a nutrition research protocol
• identify dietetic-nutritional care needs from educational, preventive, clinical, and rehabilitative aspects
• implement dietetic-nutritional care interventions
• manage therapeutic education programs.

St. Catherine's Institute
. Via G.B. Marsano 87 - 2nd floor
16132 Genoa

1) What work does a graduate in Dietetics do?
. The graduate in Dietetics is the health professional competent in activities aimed at the proper application of food and nutrition, including educational and collaborative aspects, and the implementation of food policies in compliance with current regulations (Ministry of Health Decree No. 744 of September 14, 1994). Specifically: 1) organizes and coordinates the specific activities related to nutrition in general and dietetics in particular; 2) collaborates with the bodies in charge of the protection of the hygienic and sanitary aspect of the food service; 3) elaborates, formulates and implements the diets prescribed by the doctor and monitors their acceptability by the patient; collaborates with other figures in the multidisciplinary treatment of eating disorders; 4) studies and elaborates the composition of meals so as to meet the nutritional needs of population groups and plans the organization of community feeding services of healthy individuals or patients; 5) carries out didactic-educational and information activities aimed at the dissemination of principles of proper nutrition such as to enable the recovery and maintenance of a good state of health of the individual, communities and population groups; 6) directly contributes to the updating related to his professional profile and research.
 
2) What does a graduate in Dietetics not do?
. The areas of competence of the Dietitian include areas of autonomy and areas of collaboration, in the interprofessional perspective, referring not only to the relationship with the physician, but also with other health professionals. Regarding the development, formulation and implementation of prescribed diets, although the making of the prescription/diagnosis and the making of any clinical decision belong to the Physician, the Dietitian will be responsible for the development, formulation and implementation of diets. In particular, services related to the assessment of nutritional status, the detection of dietary habits and intakes, and the determination of nutritional needs, fall within the specific competence of the Dietitian and are carried out even in the absence of a doctor's prescription.
 
3) What kind of motivations do those who choose to major in Dietetics have?
. The student who is about to embark on the course of study to become a Dietitian must be driven by the desire to become a practitioner who educates users/patients to improve their eating habits and lifestyle, doing important primary prevention work. In addition, the Dietitian engaged in secondary rehabilitation and prevention must be driven to place the patient and his or her needs at the center of his or her intervention, must be predisposed to active collaboration with other health professionals, must provide for specific training and continuing education, and must have a self-critical spirit in order to be able to constantly evaluate the effectiveness of his or her professional activity.
 
4) Where can I find a job with a degree in Dietetics?
. Graduates with a degree in Dietetics will be able to carry out, with autonomy, their professional activities in dependency (in both public and private facilities) or freelance.
 
5) What types of users does a graduate in Dietetics work with?
. The Dietitian carries out his or her professional activities with all types of people in need of nutritional intervention and in all age groups. Specifically, in Public Dietetic and Clinical Nutrition Services and in specialized centers, departments, and outpatient clinics, he or she deals with the treatment of: chronic metabolic-degenerative diseases, nephropathy, obesity, eating disorders, cardiovascular, oncological, gastroenterological diseases, and malnutrition by default. The Dietitian is also involved in nutrition education in the school age, providing assistance to school cafeterias, and to the healthy population requiring to follow a balanced diet.
 
6) In what public institutions can a graduate in Dietetics work?
. The Dietitian performs professional work in public health facilities, food sanitation agencies, RSAs, Universities, Public Administration.
 
7) What outlets does a graduate in Dietetics have in the private sector?
. The Dietitian carries out his or her professional activities in private health care facilities, food services for school and company cafeterias, community canteens, food industries, private research organizations, and private professional practices.

 
8) What advanced studies can a graduate in Dietetics have access to?
. A graduate in Dietetics can continue his or her studies by enrolling in first-level master's degree and master's degree; in addition, after obtaining the master's degree, he or she can enroll in second-level university master's degree and doctoral degree.

 
9) How many chances does a graduate in Dietetics have of finding a job?
. According to recent data provided by the Roll Commission of the TSRM PSTRP Order (to which the Dietitians belong) of Genoa, Imperia, Savona it is estimated that about 80 percent of the members practice in the public and/or private sector.
 
10) What career opportunities does a graduate in Dietetics have?
. Access to coordinating and specialist function positions is provided for in Articles 14-17 of the 2018 CCNL health sector while professional leadership positions are provided for in Law 251/2000. Its career development also includes post-basic training articulation in health care leadership, research and professional specialization.

Instructional Secretary of the Department of Internal Medicine
. Gilda Palma
gilda.palma@unige.it

Technical internship coordinator
. Consuelo Borgarelli
consuelo.borgarelli@unige.it