Amy Volkman is a registered dietitian-nutritionist in the Munroe-Meyer Institute.
When I had the opportunity to join the Munroe-Meyer Institute as their full-time dietitian, I jumped at the chance.
My background — providing nutrition care for people with disabilities, neurodiversity and dual diagnoses — is a calling I’ve grown to cherish. In addition to MMI’s well-established reputation as an advocate for those with intellectual and developmental disabilities, I also was drawn to the opportunity to continue working as part of an interdisciplinary team. In my previous position, my clinical services improved tenfold when closely collaborating with other clinicians, such as behavior analysts, occupational therapists, physical therapists, speech pathology, recreation therapists, psychologists and nurses on a regular basis to provide care.
Continuing my career in an environment that cultivates a multidisciplinary approach and provides all of these invaluable therapies, I now have the privilege of expanding my team of colleagues to include geneticists and genetic counselors. I am genuinely grateful to collaborate with a multidisciplinary team in the genetic department.
In my role, I continually strive to demonstrate the value dietitians bring to a health care team. Nutrition is complex and can be complicated, with conflicting recommendations from well-intentioned friends, family and even health care providers. The path to becoming a dietitian is more than a “nutrition certification.” Medical nutrition therapy requires a degree from an accredited university, supervised clinical hours, passing a board-certified exam and obtaining licensure. Dietitians not only study human sciences — from cellular metabolism to digestion to nutrient transport — but also study food science, biology of plants and animals, and hone culinary skills.
This comprehensive understanding of how food, formulas and supplements function in diverse environments allows us to approach nutrition dilemmas with a well-rounded perspective. Dietitians consider various factors when determining recommendations, including laboratory results, anthropometrics, diagnoses, social needs, cultural considerations and the long-term impact of dietary restrictions. Prioritizing nutritional care is often crucial, yet it also can be challenging for patients juggling multiple health issues. A clinician with experience and solid clinical judgement is important when caring for individuals with complex health needs, and nutrition care should be no different.
Beyond the opportunity to work as part of the MMI team, I feel fortunate to continue working with kids and adults with a range of abilities and diverse ways of thinking and expressing themselves. The passion, tenacity, humor, transparency and direct honesty from some of the individuals I work with not only provides invaluable learning experiences but also brings joy to my professional life.
I encounter “sunshine” moments almost daily at work — instances that make me smile or warm my heart. These moments might come in the form of a fun story shared by a patient, a witty remark, a significant achievement or even those bigger-than-life facial expressions that convey volumes without words. These are small but unique interactions that I try not to take for granted, knowing not all professions have these kinds of special connections.