Past Spring Assembly

Spring Assembly 2026

2026 Spring Assembly - By the Numbers! We were thrilled with the turnout and programming at IAND Spring Assembly 2026, a huge thank you to all those who participated as an attendee, vendor, volunteer, and/or speaker! IAND hosted over 100 attendees with representation from 8 Illinois based universities. Over 20 vendors participated in the exhibit hall, with 9 poster presentations available for attendees to enjoy. We offered 12 CPEUs for those attending the 2 day event and donated nearly $400 to the Academy Foundation! We cannot wait to celebrate and learn together again next spring!

Click here to check out more photos from the event.

Program Agenda

Click here to download full program agenda.

Presentations

Click here for detailed information for each speaker session.

Supporter

Thank you to the Pediatric DPG for supporting our meeting through their PNPG on the Road campaign!

Spring Assembly 2025

Program Agenda

8:00 - 8:30 am Registration Opens | Breakfast | Networking | Vendors

8:30 - 8:35 am Welcome

Speaker: Madhu Jain, MS, RD, LDN (Illinois Academy CPI Chair)

8:35 - 9:30 am Academy In Action

Speaker: Livleen Gill, MBA, RDN, LDN, FAND - Academy President

9:30 - 10:30 am Fertility Nutrition: The Dietitian's Role in Reproductive Health & Infertility

Speaker: Rachelle Mallik, MA, RDN, LDN

10:30 - 10:40 am Break | Vendor Displays | Networking

10:40 - 11:40 am Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder: More than Picky Eating
Speakers: Emily Presbrey MS, RD, LDN & Lisa Carroll MS, RD, LDN

11:40 - 12:10 pm Lobbyist Presentation - Dietitian Licensure Compact

Speakers: Andrew Kretschmar / David Ormsby

12:10 - 12:30 pm Lunch | Vendor Displays | Networking

12:30 - 12:50 pm State of the State | Awards

Speaker: Jennifer Zuercher, PhD, RD, LDN (Illinois Academy President)

12:50 - 1:50 pm Abnormal Sodium Level and the Dietitian's Intervention

Speaker: Nancy Rodriguez, DCN, RDN, LDN

1:50 - 2:50 pm Approaches to Dietary Cultural Inclusivity in Healthcare Settings

Speaker: Minakshi Raj, PhD, MPH

2:50 - 3:00 pm Break | Vendor Displays | Networking

3:00 - 4:00 pm Picture This! Food Photography Basics to Elevate Your Business

Speaker: Sara Haas, RDN

4:00 - 4:15 pm Wrap Up | Evaluations

Event Supporters & Vendors

Spring Assembly 2024

Program Agenda

8:00 - 9:00 am Registration Opens | Breakfast | Networking | Vendors

9:00 - 9:15 am Welcome

Speakers: Charlyn Fargo Ware, MS, RDN, LDN (Illinois Academy President)
Kathy Levin, RDN, CDCES, DipCLM (Illinois Academy CPI Chair)

9:15 - 10:15 am Science to Simple: Making Nutrition Science Accessible
Speaker: Susan Kundrat, MS, RDN, LDN

10:15 - 10:30 am Vendor Introduction | Break

10:30 - 11:30 am Your Academy in Action
Speaker: Lauri Wright, PhD, RDN, LD, FAND (Academy President)

11:30 - 11:45 am Vendor Introduction | Break

11:45 - 12:00 pm State of the State

Speaker: Charlyn Fargo Ware, MS, RDN, LDN (Illinois Academy President)

12:00 - 12:10 pm Vendor Introduction

12:00 - 1:00 pm Lunch | Networking | Vendors

12:45 - 1:00 pm Award Announcements

1:00 - 1:20 pm Illinois Legislative Update
Speaker: Andrew Kretschmar

1:20 - 1:30 pm Vendors Introductions

1:30 - 2:30 pm Improving Health Equity Through Quality: the GMCS
Speakers: Anne Coltman, MSHA, MS, RDN, FAND, FACHE
Tamaire (Tammy) Ojeda Avila, MHSA, RDN, LD

2:30 - 2:45 pm Break | Build Your Own Snack Bar

2:45 - 3:45 pm A Taste of Culinary Medicine
Speakers: Jan Dowell, MS, MHS, CCMS, RD
Charlyn Fargo Ware, MS, RDN, LDN
Kathy Levin, RDN, CDCES, DipCLM

3:45 - 4:00 pm Wrap Up | Evaluations | Vendor Drawing

Download speaker lineup