Empowering the Dietetics Workforce: Credentialing, Capacity, and Career Growth in a Changing Landscape

As the dietetics profession evolves to meet the needs of a dynamic healthcare landscape, staying informed about credentialing operations, workforce trends, and professional development is essential. This session offers a comprehensive overview of the latest updates in credentialing for Registered Dietitians (RDs) and Dietetic Technicians, Registered (DTRs), including key achievements. Participants will explore the importance of evaluating current workforce capacity and demand data to better understand the opportunities and challenges facing the profession both now and in the future. Additionally, the session will highlight key updates to the Professional Development Portfolio (PDP) recertification process, empowering practitioners to strategically plan their learning activities and career growth. Whether you're a seasoned professional or emerging leader, this session will equip you with the knowledge and tools to thrive in today’s dietetics workforce.

Suggested Performance Indicators:

Learning Objectives:
1. Describe the current credentialing updates for RDs and DTRs, including key milestones and achievements, such as the launch of the new Board Certified Specialist in Digestive Health (CSDH) credential.
2. Provide updates on the critical Workforce Capacity and Demand Project and outline its future implications on planning.

3. Update on Professional Development Portfolio changes that impact practitioner recertification processes.

Speaker:

Sharon M. McCauley, MS, MBA, RD, LDN, FADA, FAND, is a registered dietitian and the Executive Director of the Commission on Dietetic Registration directing the office on dietetic credentialing, certification and recertification programs serving as its chief staff officer. She effectively integrates strategic sourcing initiatives, resource management, and organizational effectiveness. During her work on value-based care, Sharon coordinated tying payments for care delivery to quality of care by leading the Malnutrition Care Score electronic clinical quality measure and its digital measure programming, implementation, application, and dissemination. Sharon directs the provider continuing education programs for learners and providers through the CDR CPEU provider program and the essential practice competencies focusing on practitioner competence and advancing practice for 116,500+ credentialed dietetics practitioners. She is currently leading the Workforce Capacity and Demand Project to investigate and predict changes in the capacity and demand for entry-level RD, DTR, and specialty and advanced certifications across practice sectors of various career points - exploration, early career, mid-career, late-career, and retirement. Sharon provides consultation and education services to RDs and DTRs on practice issues and assists RD providers in service delivery including acute care, post-acute and long–term care, transitions of care, primary care, public health, and community-based population health. She establishes and improves onboarding performance metrics, and processes design teams to cultivate relationships, as well as aids with the strategic planning for business development activities for CDR. Sharon communicates and monitors stewardship opportunities to support scholarships, awards, and grants to promote diversity and education and specialty advancement of dietetics students and credentialed practitioners.