MASUMI S. YOSHIMOTO
Dancer To Dietitian
PROJECTS
UNDERGRADUATE HONORS THESIS
"Circadian Dysregulation on Adipose Tissue Inflammation", completed May 2020 under the Bray Lab
Completed an honors thesis under the supervision of Dr. Molly Bray in a chronobiology lab studying the effects of shift work, diet, and exercise on physiological processes in mice. I initially focused on adipose tissue inflammation, looking at the markers IL-6, adiponectin, leptin, and TNF-alpha in VAT, SAT, and BAT tissues from mice on a shift work protocol. However, COVID-19 cut our three year's worth of work short and we weren't able to complete our PCR analysis of our RNA samples that we had so painstakingly extracted from thousands of tissue samples. So, I switched my project to a literature review of shift work on adipose tissue metabolism. If this wasn't the part of my life where I learned what resilience, patience, flexibility, and the importance of taking care of mental health, I am truly scared for the real deal.
EATING DISORDER PROTOCOL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
Developing an ED protocol for Dell Seton Medical Center
Initiated an outline for an eating disorder protocol to be used at Dell Seton Medical Center which included evidence based guidelines on nutrition care, feeding regimens, and outcome measures that could be taken to determine success of the protocol. Even after completing my rotation at Dell Seton, I continued to pass on useful information to my preceptor that would help support the implementation of an eating disorder protocol, because I truly believe that having a protocol like this would be very beneficial in the care for patients who have eating disorders. Through this project, I learned the amount of effort and research that goes into creating such a protocol and a glimpse of the hoops the dietitians must jump through to get enough backing from other professions to, in a sense, pass the legislation.
INTERPROFESSIONAL PRACTICE AND EDUCATION
Project between dietetics and pharmacy students to facilitate interprofessional collaboration.
Between the dietetics students and pharmacy students, we created a guideline on food-drug interactions of currently used diabetes medications. This served a chance for dietetics students to see the role of the pharmacists and pharmacy students to see the role of the dietitian in caring for a diabetic patient. It was honestly very insightful to get the pharmacy students' perspectives of what they look at in a patient to determine their recommendations and what they monitor compared to what we do.
A TASTE OF AUSTIN: THROUGH THE LENS OF SUSTAINABILITY
CPD class fundraising project: A cookbook highlighting Austin chefs' sustainability efforts. Fundraised money to donate to Feeding Texas.
As a class, we created a cookbook to fundraise for Feeding Texas and give back to our community. I lead the design team in writing, editing, and formatting the interviews and pages to create a beautiful and cohesive book. Completing this project as a team was probably the most proud of us I have been this whole year (apart from the fact that we are an amazing group of RD2BEs) and taught me so much about working within a large group with many many moving parts.
REDUCING BIASES IN DIETETICS
CEU project that identified areas of discrimination in healthcare and provided methods to recognize and challenge them.
As a class, we created a CEU for healthcare professionals to take highlighting current issues in racial, socioeconomic, and weight discrimination in the field. I loved getting to work on this project, because I truly believe in providing inclusive care to help patients feel welcomed and at home while being cared for. The last thing a patient should feel in a session is judgement.
INTUITIVE EATING WORKSHOP
Developed and executed with Anna Marie Oglesbee, RD at Discovery Counseling Austin.
In July 2019, Anna Marie and I created the Intuitive Eating Workshop catered toward individuals who were looking to start healing their relationships with food, body, and movement by presenting the principles of Intuitive Eating in an easily understandable and applicable manner. We presented the workshop as a two-part series to a group of 8-9Â adult participants. This was around the time that I was first exposed to Intuitive Eating and I have been a strong believer in it ever since. It's so cool to look back and see how far I have come!
PRESENTATION EXPERIENCE
PATIENT CARE REPORTS
Presented patient case studies and the reasoning behind the care that I provided these patients under the supervision of preceptors. Cases included a renal patient on an enteral feeding regimen, a patient with COVID-19 on an enteral feeding regimen, and a patient who had a bezoar that caused a small bowel obstruction.
NUTRITION EDUCATION AT ERC
Lead a nutrition education group with the adolescent and adult groups. With the adolescent group, we played nutrition bingo to help normalize talking about food and bring curiosity into thinking about food. With the adult group, we did Nutrition 101 on the macronutrient groups and functions, plus added food and nutrition myth busting.
BRAIN HEALTH AND NUTRITION
CPD project through Baylor Scott and White wellness team to present information on brain health to Baylor Scott and White employees keeping in mind a diverse audience and inclusive language, foods, and images.
DIETARY GUIDELINES 2020
Presentation for CTFB to ensure their programming is utilizing updated nutrition information and guidelines. Particularly highlighted the differences between the 2015 and 2020 guidelines so it would be easy for staff members to understand and implement the changes.
NUTRITION FOR DANCERS
Education for Elite dancers at Alisa's Dance Academy on sports nutrition, nutrition timing, and meal/snack ideas for class days and performance days.
NUTRITION FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS
Education for TAMU's TCCA University workshops on basic nutrition and the myths behind the Freshman 15.
DIABETES EDUCATIONS
Education on Type 1 Diabetes and nutrition for campers at Texas Lion's Camp (pictured above).
GRAPHIC DESIGN PROJECTS
Here are some of the work and projects I have been a part of. All have been created by me, but may have been used as a part of projects that others have collaborated on.
Poster created during rotation with Child Nutrition Services at Leander ISD. This was part of a project to update the nutrition education posters that will be utilized in athlete locker rooms to be more eye catching and informative.
Poster created during rotation with Child Nutrition Services at Leander ISD. This was part of a project to update the nutrition education posters that will be utilized in athlete locker rooms to be more eye catching and informative.
Poster created during rotation with Child Nutrition Services at Leander ISD. This was part of a project to update the nutrition education posters that will be utilized in athlete locker rooms to be more eye catching and informative.
Flyer created during rotation with Child Nutrition Services at Leander ISD. This was part of a project to create new marketing posters and events to help bring excitement around eating at the school cafeteria.
Flyer created during rotation with Child Nutrition Services at Leander ISD. This was part of a project to create new marketing posters and events to help bring excitement around eating at the school cafeteria.
Flyer created during rotation with Child Nutrition Services at Leander ISD. This was part of a project to create new marketing posters and events to help bring excitement around eating at the school cafeteria.
Instagram image created to go along with "The Perfect Diet Doesn't Exist" blog post written while interning with Discovery Counseling Austin.
Instagram graphic created to promote the Intuitive Eating Workshop while interning with Discovery Counseling Austin.
Handout created around the principle of Intuitive Eating, 'Reject the Diet Mentality' for the Intuitive Eating Workshop.
Handout created around the principle of Intuitive Eating, 'Reject the Diet Mentality' for the Intuitive Eating Workshop.
Handout to evaluate participant satisfaction created for the Intuitive Eating Workshop.
Homework assignment created to guide participants through challenging food rules, respecting bodies, and food freedom for the Intuitive Eating Workshop.