Susan Channer Ettinger, PhD, RD, DABN
Dr. Ettinger's dual interests in nutrition research and curriculum development are reflected in her career path. Early in her career, she developed a vision of the non-physician medical nutrition professional and designed her own training to achieve that goal. While pursuing the Master of Education in Nutrition at Teachers College, Columbia University, she designed a doctoral curriculum, subsequently implemented at the Institute of Human Nutrition, Columbia University, including basic medical science courses at the College of Physicians and Surgeons. Postdoctoral training in aging and immunology in the Division of Geriatrics at Cornell University Medical Center provided further knowledge and skill in molecular and cell biology. At the same time, she designed, taught and administered the Clinical Nutrition program at New York Institute of Technology thereby gaining extensive skill in curriculum development. Her new graduate curriculum concentrated heavily on nutrition science integrated at the molecular level with elements of pathophysiology and clinical medicine. Formative evaluation of the curriculum led to experiments with new formats such as faculty-based laboratory experiences and problem-based learning. As Chair of the Clinical Nutrition Department, Dr. Ettinger expanded the program to meet the changing needs of the students and the profession. She provide students with clinical credentials, she wrote Institutional Self Studies for the American Dietetic Association (ADA) and New York State Department of Education. To enhance nutrition knowledge of medical students in the New York College of Osteopathic Medicine, she developed a dual degree Doctor of Osteopathy/Master of Science in Nutrition (DO/MS) curriculum. In 1999, Dr. Ettinger received R-25E funding from the National Cancer Institute to develop and implement an "Innovative Curriculum for Medical [Cancer] Nutrition Training" to train dietitians in medical nutrition. Program evaluation revealed that the non-physician medical nutrition specialist model requires doctoral-level nutrition preparation to integrate interdisciplinary knowledge and skills with expertise in clinical research. She is currently developing a curriculum for a postdoctoral model of this training paradigm. As Research Associate in the Department of Medicine at St. Luke's Hospital Center, Dr. Ettinger is also collaborating with the Division of Gastroenterology and the Obesity Research Center to develop research protocols at the interface of obesity, cancer and aging, with special emphasis on the metabolism of folate and bioactive components of whole foods. Click here for full CV. CONTACT INFORMATION: 417 West 120 Street |