UTM graduate students in dietetics will present research March 3 in Watkins Auditorium at the nutrition symposium, “Nutrition Pathway to Better Health in Selected Conditions.”

The symposium will also feature Lori Littleton, assistant professor of family and consumer sciences and two guest speakers.

Littleton will start the event at 8 a.m. with her lecture, “A Comparison of Old and New Guidelines for Better Health.” Littleton said that new food guide pyramids were put into effect in 2005. She will be making a comparison of the old and new.

Gay Walker, of Scotts Hill, a graduate student will present “A Comparison of the Knowledge Level of Renal and Non-Renal Registered Dieticians in Nutrition Assessment and Therapy for Patients with Kidney Disease,” her graduate thesis.

Irasema Roldan, of Springdale Ark., will present “Developing Nutrition Education Materials for the Hispanic Population.” Roldan is a graduate student and a dietetic intern. She will be speaking on how to communicate with the growing Hispanic population about their nutrition. She also will address the different Hispanic populations and their specific eating patterns.

Keri Spann, of Dickson, will present “Nutrition and Aging.” Spann also is a dietetic intern and graduate student. She will examine how people should adapt their diets according to new health concerns as they grow older.

Carol Harrah Siple, of Harrah and Associates Consulting of Nashville, will give the keynote address, “What Do You Do for a Pain in the Butt? An Interdisciplinary Approach to Wound Healing.” This lecture will address bedsores and how to heal them.

Sharon Blackwell, of Jackson-Madison County General Hospital, will present “Electrolytes, Labs: What Does It All Mean?” She will discuss problems dealing with people who receive nutrition by feeding tubes. She will also address the significance of certain lab values, such as calcium levels and blood counts.

The symposium is also a chance for dietetic preceptors, mentors to dietetic students, to receive 6 continuing education units.

The UT Martin Department of Family and Consumer Sciences is the program provider. Littleton is the program coordinator and also is the director of the Dietetic Internship Program.

“Our department does this every year. We have different topics every year,” said Littleton. “Our goal is for health professionals and health students from this area to UT Martin to learn about specific health concerns from our graduate students and guest speakers.”

Registration fee is $25. This fee includes refreshments at breaks and lunch. To register, contact ECCE at 1-800-482-5199 or 731-881-7082.