Here are some sample letters constructed by the Instructors at the Normandale Dietetic Technology Program.   Ask your co-workers and supervisors to also send comments, feedback.  Thanks!


Edit, add your own words and send these letters to 

Vera Bartasavich BA, DTR, At Large Delegate for Academy HOD verabart@ameritech.net

Charlene Quinn BA, DTR, At Large Delegate for DTP DPG  charlenelquinn@hotmail.com

-or-  Academy Committee on Future Practice  FuturePractice@eatright.org  

RD working with DTRs

I am writing to strongly suggest you reconsider the elimination of the DTR credential.  As an RD who works with DTRs, I witness on a daily basis that the DTR is a qualified nutrition professional who is highly capable of delivery of nutritional care.  I rely upon DTRs to provide the nutritional care to their patients so that I can attend to the patients who need my expertise to handle their more complicated nutritional issues. 

A four-year DPD graduate who has no or little clinical experience is not as qualified deliver nutritional care.  The DTRs that I have worked with receive 450 hours of supervised practical experience.  I have experienced this to be more valuable than a four-year graduate who has no clinical experience.  Therefore, the two additional years of academic work is not as valuable as the hands-on learning that occurs in a DTR program.  DTRs learn motivational counseling skills, assessment skills, and how to exercise sound clinical judgment.  I don’t see the four-year graduates acquiring these skills without some type of on-the-job training.

Please reconsider your position on this matter and continue the DTR credential. Thank you

Suzie Q, RD

Clinical Nutrition Manager

XyZ Hospital

XYZ City, MN  

Member of AND

Sign your name and include if you are a member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics

DTRs working in the field

I am writing to strongly suggest you reconsider the elimination of the DTR credential.  As a DTR, I was trained to be a nutrition professional and I work closely with RDs to ensure that appropriate nutritional care is given to my patients.  My supervised practical experience, during my program, allowed me to have the hands-on training that helps me to be a valuable asset to my organization. As I read the Visioning Report, a four-grad from a DPD program will be taking the place of DTRs in the future.  I am concerned because this person will not have the supervised practical experience and hands-on-learning that I acquired during my academic training. 

As an entry level nutrition professional, I am more valuable than someone with  two additional years of academic course work and no supervised practical experience.  I learned motivational counseling skills, assessment skills, and how to exercise sound clinical judgment. 

In conclusion, I request you reconsider your recommendation on this matter and continue the DTR credential.

Thank you

Suzie Q, DTR or DT

Position Title

Organization

XYZ City, MN  

Member of AND

Sign your name and include if you are a member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics

Please reconsider your recommendation to discontinue the DTR credential.

Name title ,etc