From 1993 to 2020, the Wimpfheimer-Guggenheim Fund for International Exchange in Nutrition, Dietetics and Management offered an annual essay competition to promote the exchange of dietetics information throughout the world. The following list includes the topic and winning essay(s) for each year.
Several of the essays cover more than one topic. Each country has the possibility of adapting the ideas outlined in the projects to its needs.
References
Essays
2020
Topic: Wimpfheimer-Guggenheim Essay Collection Reflections
Winner:
- Rita Kashi Batheja, MS, RDN, CDN, FAND, AFMCP
The Wimpfheimer-Guggenheim Essay Collection: Reflection on the Growth of International Awareness by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics 1993-2019
2019
Topic: Describe global nutrition and dietetics progress and advancement through collaboration between two or more countries over the last decade.
Winner:
- Laurie Sauerwein, MS, MScPH, RDN
An Exemplary Nutrition Program Scalable in Low and Middle Income Countries
Runner Up:
- Peggy C. Papathakis, PhD, RD
The past and future of dietetics education in Malawi: a model of collaboration for other countries building dietetics practitioners
2018
Topic: Describe how to improve the nutritional health of the world’s communities and solve global dietetics and nutrition problems by:
- Maximizing collaboration
- Minimizing duplication
- Emphasizing marketing and outreach
- Collecting information from available international resources
Winner:
- Rupal S. Shah, MSc, CDE
Healthy India Campaign
Runners Up:
- Andrea P. Guzmán, LN
Nutrition and Agriculture: Organizations collaborating together to fight malnutrition in rural Guatemala - Pradtana Tapanee, MSc
International Culture Classroom: Study abroad in Thailand - Ahmed C. Saddam, MS
Strategies for the Control of Malnutrition in Iraq
2017
Topic: Describe a ground breaking education program or model aimed at solving malnutrition. Essay submissions describing non-traditional educational methods are encouraged. The project described should be adaptable to a variety of settings.
Winner:
- Joanna Cummings, MS, RD, LD, and Diane Stadler, PhD, RD, LD
The Children of Sticky Rice: Building Clinical Dietetics Capacity to Address Malnutrition in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic
2016
Topic: Describe new approaches, including the application of technology, to feed the hungry by maximizing underutilized food resources or through a fresh produce program reducing food wastage. The project described should be adaptable to a variety of settings.
Winner:
- Chris Vogliano, MS, RD
Cultivating Climate-smart Agriculture Interventions to Increase Nutrition Security in Rural Africa
2015
Topic: Describe innovative global inter-professional teamwork by communicating effective roles and values of a dietitian/nutritionist as a member of the inter-professional healthcare team worldwide.
Winners:
- Erin Bergquist, MPH, RD, CNSC, LD
Establishing an International Community Nutrition Partnership - Jennifer Brewer, RDN
Dig In! Improving Nutrition in Developing Countries Through Home and Community Gardens
2014
Topic: Describe innovative ways or an example of how to communicate the latest research or practice procedures in the field of nutrition, dietetics, and/or food service management. Examples could include: social media messaging (email, blogs, chat-rooms, Facebook pages, etc), distance learning programs as well as approaches that do not require the use of electronic devices.
Winners:
- Prajakta Khare-Ranade MSc, RD, LD
International Diabetes Education Program: A simplified Distance Education Program Focused at Training Diabetes Educators in Rural India - Beatriz Dykes, PhD, RDN, LD, FADA, FAND
Beyond Borders: A Vision on Dietetics Education, Credentials, and Practice
2013
Topic: Describe an original approach for the dissemination of nutrition, dietetic, and/or management information to an underserved area in the world community. Examples could include: social media messaging (email, blogs, chat-rooms, Facebook pages, etc), distance learning programs as well as approaches that do not require the use of electronic devises.
Winners
- Kristine Rose Caiafa, RD
Experience as Education: Participatory Research as a Means for Transferring Nutrition Knowledge To Youth and Community in Freetown, Sierra Leone - Dixie Havlak, RD
Mobile Health Education Kits in Rural Nicaragua - Terezie Tolar Mosby, EdD, RDN, IBCLC
Development and Testing of Educational Tool for Low Literacy caregivers of Children with Cancer Teaching About Food Safety
2012
Topic: Describe a food and nutrition system improvement coordinated with an allied partner to work toward raising the nutritional standards of a community. Examples could include (but are not limited to): foodservice, teaching or public instructions. The project described should be easily adaptable to a variety of situations.
Winners:
- Nireshnee Reddy, BS
The Health Promoting Schools Essay Writing Project on “How Do I Use Nutrition to Make My School a Health Promoting School” – collaboration between government and private sector targeting communities faced with poor socioeconomic conditions. - Kudakwashe Chimanya, MPH, MS, RD
Improving Nutrition Status in Zimbabwe: A Call to Action
2011
Topic: Describe the application of innovative technologies (example solar or telehealth tools), policies or interventions to raise the nutritional health of a community. The project described should be easily adaptable to a variety of situations. The author must be a professional dietitian or nutritionist and must be involved in the actual project.
Winner:
- Peggy Lynn Gregson, MPH, RD, LD
The Implication of Pilot Solar Technology Projects in El Salvador - Terezie Tolar Mosby, MS, RD, LDN
Training Program for International Dietitians, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee
2010
Topic: Describe a plan to create a regional nutrition or dietetic association preferably in a developing country or countries or describing an effective mass feeding program for special groups such as the elderly, malnourished or disaster victims in a developing country. The project described should be easily adaptable to a variety of situations.
Winner:
- Penny E. McConnell, MS, RD, SNS
Global Child Nutrition Forum (GCNF) Country Planning Process for Sustainable School Feeding Programs - Diane D. Stadler, PhD, RD
Growth Assessment and Nutritional Intervention among High-Risk Children in Rural Honduras: Partnerships among OHSU, Medical Teams International, and PREDISAN
Download all winning essays from 2000-2009
2009
Topic: Describe an existing regional collaboration or partnership between at least two countries preferably from developing nations. The project must raise the nutritional health such as practices, education or awareness of the population served. The author, a professional dietitian or nutritionist, must be involved in the actual project. The collaboration described in the project should be easily adaptable to a variety of situations.
Winners:
- Patricia Thompson MS, RDN, SNS
Developing and Sustaining School Breakfast Programs in Jamaica
2008
Topic: Describe a new methodology and or technology used to transmit nutrition education or to alleviate food insecurity through sustainable agriculture.
Winners:
- Rosanna Agble
The Ghana Experience: Given the Opportunity, Communities can Improve on their Lives
2007
Topic: Describe ADA as the link to global nutrition. Winners:
- Not Awarded
2006
Topic: Describe innovative ideas to improve the nutritional health of the population, or a segment of the population such as the elderly, preferably in a developing country through an income generating project or projects.
Winners:
- Prisca N. Nemapare, PhD, CNS
Helping Restore Livelihoods and Build Self Confidence through Sustainable Strengthening of Resource Base of Caregivers in Their Struggle to Improve the Well-Being of Orphans in Zimbabwe - Barbara L. Jendrysik, MS
Incorporating Nutrition Education, An Affordable, Nutritious and Convenient Weaning Food And Income Generation Into an Infant Feeding Project in New Delhi, India
2005
Topic: Describe a resourceful educational food, nutrition or dietetic exchange program or study tour with an institution or organization of a foreign country.
Winners:
- Carolyn M. Bednar, PhD, RD, LD
Mexican/American Exchange for Cross-Cultural Nutrition Education - Sunny Ham, PhD, MS
An International Partnership Between the Yellow Window Association in Korea and the Mongolian University in Mongolia: From the Initiation to the Expansion of School Foodservice Programs in Mongolia
2004
Topic: Describe a new and innovative approach to solving nutritional problems in a developing country through creating policies, outcomes research or original fund raising activities.
Winners:
- Varsha, PhD, RD
Partnerships in Action: Medical-Nutrition Synergism for Clinical Nutrition/Dietetic Practice and Nutrition Education in the Indian Subcontinent
2003
Topic: Describe an innovative international team approach to solve a nutritional problem in neighboring countries. The essay must describe the applicant’s professional involvement in a program across national borders, preferably in a developing country.
Winners:
- Mary Cocke Read, RD, LDN
What are the Typical Dietary Patterns in Aleppo, Syria? A Collaboration
2002
Topic: Describe an international partnership to advance the nutritional well-being of a specific population. The essay must describe the applicant’s professional involvement in a program to raise the nutritional standard of a particular population group such as the elderly, children or those living with HIV or AIDS.
Winners:
- Christine Lindell Detweiler, MPH, RD
Baby Weighings and Village Folklore Groups: Mobilizing communities to improve the nutritional health of infants and young children in rural Benin, West Africa
2001
Topic: Describe a program to eliminate food waste in a city or cities, which would then benefit the hungry directly.
Winners:
- John Krakowski, MA, RD, CDN
Food Rescue: A Safe Place at the Table
2000
Topic: Describe an existing resourceful consumer education program done in collaboration with an organization, institution or the media to benefit a large segment of the population in a developing country.
Winners:
- Stacia M. Nordin, RD
Improving Nutrition Through Permaculture in Malawi
Download all winning essays from 1993-1999
1999
Topic: Describe an innovative interdisciplinary team approach, in cooperation with health, social or management professionals to solve nutritional problems in a developing country.
Winners:
- Jennifer Shaw, MPH, RD
Chronic Disease: The New Face of Poverty in Chile - Teresa M. Kemmer, MS, RD, Major, USA
Field Surveys to Assess the Nutritional Status of Burmese Refugees in Thailand: Basis for Recommendations for Humanitarian Programs
1998
Topic: Describe an innovative private industry project that enhances the nutritional well-being of a developing country.
Winners:
- Sal J. Attanasio, RD, LD
FoodLinks: Promoting More Equitable, Sustainable Trade Between North and South (For the purposes of this paper, the term “North” refers to highly-developed/industrialized countries; the term “South” refers to less-developed/industrialized countries)
1997
Topic: Describe a new (preferably established within the past two years) or proposed project by a professional nutritionist or dietitian in cooperation with one or more international, national or local government agencies that works to alleviate hunger or enhance the nutritional well-being of a developing country.
Winners:
- Bernadette Lucas, MS, RD
Amesbury for Africa and Esabalu Self Help Group: Sister Villages Ending Hunger Through Local Partnerships
1996
Topic: Describe a specific, well-organized, innovative, international distance teaching program for nutrition or dietetics professionals, preferably with a developing country.
Winners:
- Ninfa Saturnino Springer, PhD, RD, FADA
Clinical Computer-Assisted Simulation Exercise (CCASE) as a Strategy for Distance Learning in the Philippines
1995
Topic: Describe a specific nutrition project that benefits the world community through global linkage of dietitians in the same practice area.
Winners:
- William D. Evers, PhD, RD
Linking the World’s Nutrition Educators Via Cyberspace - Amanda Frye, MS, RD
Nutri-Net: Proposed use of a geographic information system (GIS) to link dietitians
1994
Topic: Describe the benefits and potential input of a nutrition program (proposed or existing) through an international alliance with the American Dietetic Association or the International Committee of Dietetic Associations.
Winners:
- Judith A. Beto, PhD, RD
Beneficial Nutrition Program Through International Alliance (Nutrition Foundation of India) with ADA or ICDA
1993
Topic: Propose or describe an existing program to combat world hunger in developing countries.
Winners:
- Barbara N. Benson, MS, RD
Fish Farming Project in Tanzania: Women’s Involvement as Key to Alleviating Hunger
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