Dorothy Palen Szast, RDN, CDCES

Diabetes Education Coordinator

New York City Metropolitan Area

About

2019 AADE NJ Educator of the Year

Experience

  • Diabetes Education and Prevention Coordinator at Clara Maass Medical Center
    Apr 2017 - Present · 9 yrs 4 mos

    Ensure American Association of Diabetes Educators (AADE) program accreditation requirements are met and maintained Provide Diabetes Self-Management Education/Training (DSME/T) to program participants and ensure documentation meets AADE standards Develop and maintain continuous quality improvement (CQI) projects to evaluate program effectiveness Conduct annual advisory meeting and monthly CQI meetings Develop and implement community outreach education programs Coordinate, market and implement the national CDC Diabetes Prevention Program Oversee daily operations of lifestyle change program Support multiple lifestyle coaches as well as lead cohort Ensure program meets CDC performance outcomes

  • Clinical/Outpatient Dietitian at Sodexo
    Sep 2013 - Apr 2018 · 4 yrs 8 mos

    - Outpatient medical nutrition therapy including adult and pediatric weight management, gestational diabetes, diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney disease, congestive heart failure, oncology and obstetrics - Primary instructor of Diabetes Self Management Education (DSME) outpatient program - Inpatient medical nutrition therapy with primary coverage of medical intensive care unit, in addition to surgical intensive care unit, geriatric, cardiac, oncology, diabetes, renal and bariatric - Collect and assess quarterly performance improvement criteria - Assisted with transition of offsite Sodexo accounts with implementation of new policies and procedures - Serve as preceptor for dietetic internship students

  • Chief Clinical Dietitian at Meadowlands Hospital and Medical Center
    Jul 2012 - Sep 2013 · 1 yr 3 mos

    - Collaborated as part of multidisciplinary healthcare team and attended daily patient rounds on all units - Inpatient education on disease-specific medical nutrition therapy - Oversaw the food and nutrition department and managed enteral nutrition inventory

  • Dietetic Intern at University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey
    Aug 2011 - May 2012 · 10 mos

    Completed over 1200 hours of supervised practice in medicine, surgery, intensive care unit/critical care, community education and food access, food service systems and management, diabetes, renal, ambulatory care, rehabilitation, oral health, pediatrics, obstetrics, geriatrics, community health promotion and specialty practice. Staff relief completed at Valley Hospital in Ridgewood, NJ.