Slideshow: DN student rotation in Nome

by Jordana Newman | September 6, 2022

Dietetics and Nutrition (DN) students Gabrielle Arnes and Ellen McEwen traveled to Nome for their 2-week rotation in August and documented their days while in the rural city located 540 miles off the road system on Alaska's western coast.

In the Master of Science (DN) program's pre-professional track, students are required to complete an 80-hour rotation in a focus area to broaden their knowledge and skills as future registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs). Students are encouraged to complete a rotation in rural Alaska to better understand the background of clients who come into urban healthcare facilities in Alaska.

“Seeing students' excitement about better understanding their clients' lived experiences confirms to me that these rotations are an invaluable part of their education,” says DN professor Carrie King.

The specialty rotations are completed prior to the students' main rotations in ambulatory and acute care settings. In previous academic years, DN students have used AHEC Scholar funding and training to facilitate their rotations in rural Alaska.

Arnes shares her experience through photos she captured of what it was like to be in Nome and her daily schedule while there. Some things she noted were the following:

“Nome only gets gas one time a year. The price for gas this year is $7.00. One gas station is a cent cheaper!”
“GCI and AT&T are the only cell services available in Nome.”
“Nome’s hospital is responsible for 15 villages and the city of Nome.”
“Nome is not a village, it’s a city.”
“5 villages still do not have running water or sewage. These villages are Shishmaref, Diomede, Wales, Teller, and Stebbins.”

To find out more about Arnes’ experiences in Nome, check out the slideshow below.

Ellen and my first day at the hospital! It’s very common to wear rain boots and change your shoes at work!
Ellen and my experience with the mud. Thankful for the bikes on our off/ dry days!
Ellen and my experience with the mud. Thankful for the bikes on our off/ dry days!
Ellen and my experience with the mud. Thankful for the bikes on our off/ dry days!
Food prices were much higher. Everything was at least $5 more.
Food prices were much higher. Everything was at least $5 more.
Ellen and I went blueberry picking behind the hospital! It’s a popular place to pick and close by! We found out that biking in a swamp is more challenging than we anticipated!
Ellen and I decided to go to the museum and we got a mini tour! Highly recommend! We were informed that Togo AND Fritz were the lead dog to bring vaccines to Nome for diphtheria. Togo is a new Disney money to address the truth about Balto, and yet, they forgot Fritz! Here is Fritz's actual body 100 years later!
The team took us to Salmon lake to blueberry pick! 4 hours passed very quickly! Tracy picks 9 gallons a year for her family!
Here is the ATV sign!
Ellen and I had to get dressed up to see our COVID patient to watch Kylie (RD) discuss anemia.
Here is our Carb Counting trifold!
Ellen and I on our flight home. What are the odds that we picked one seat away from each other!