Summary

The Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery is seeking a qualified Senior Registered Dietitian for the Division of Trauma, Bariatric, and Acute Care Surgery. The Senior Registered Dietitian supports the Bariatric Surgery Program by providing comprehensive, safe, and effective medical nutrition therapy across the continuum of bariatric care. The role assesses nutritional status, develops and evaluates individualized nutrition interventions, and provides detailed education and care plans for patients and families in outpatient and, if applicable, inpatient settings. This position serves as a subject-matter resource to the multidisciplinary bariatric team and contributes to patient education, program quality, and continuity of care.

This position is located at our McNair Campus.

Job Duties

• Conducts comprehensive nutrition assessments and reassessments for bariatric surgery patients, including evaluation of dietary intake, weight history, health status, readiness for behavior change, and other factors relevant to nutrition care. 
• Develops, implements, monitors, and revises individualized, evidence-informed nutrition care plans aligned with the patient’s clinical needs, bariatric treatment plan, nutrition prescription, and long-term health goals. 
• Provides preoperative and postoperative nutrition counseling and education to patients and families, using approaches responsive to varied learning needs and cultural, religious, and individual considerations. 
• Teaches individual and group education sessions and contribute to bariatric informational classes, support groups, and other patient engagement activities. 
• Coordinates or supports bariatric support-group programming and moderate approved private online patient-support forums in accordance with program and organizational guidelines. 
• Collaborates with surgeons, advanced practice providers, nursing staff, behavioral health professionals, clinic staff, and other members of the care team to promote continuity of care and optimal patient outcomes. 
• Maintains timely, accurate, and complete documentation of nutrition assessment, intervention, education, and follow-up in the electronic medical record in accordance with departmental standards and applicable requirements. 
• Accurately documents and applies the appropriate visit codes to patient encounters in the electronic medical record to support encounter completion, scheduling, program operations, and any future billing workflows, as applicable. 
• Monitors patient progress, identifies nutrition-related risks or barriers, and communicates significant concerns or changes to the appropriate members of the clinical team. 
• Develops, reviews, and update patient education materials, forms, workflows, protocols, and other bariatric nutrition resources to support consistent, high-quality care. 
• Participates in the development and review of nutrition-related policies, procedures, goals, quality initiatives, and process improvements for the Bariatric Surgery Program. 
• Supports the Bariatric Surgery Program's MBSAQIP accreditation through participation in quality improvement efforts, patient education initiatives, multidisciplinary care processes, and adherence to applicable accreditation standards. 
• Promotes awareness of bariatric nutrition services through appropriate patient, provider, and community education activities. 
• Provides nutrition education to medical providers, staff, learners, and community audiences as requested and appropriate. 
• Serves as an expert resource on bariatric nutrition matters and share current practices, techniques, and professional expertise with the multidisciplinary team. 
• Demonstrates leadership through staff education, mentorship, professional development, accountability, and support of shared program goals. 
• Holds virtual pre-op classes once per month on a Saturday.
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned to support the effective operation of the Bariatric Surgery Program. 

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Nutrition or related field.
• Five years of relevant experience. 
• Registered Dietitian by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) of the American Dietetic Association.
• Licensed Dietitian by the Texas Department of Licensing & Regulation (TDLR).

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Nutrition, Dietetics, or a related field. 
• Experience providing medical nutrition therapy to bariatric surgery, weight-management, or other complex ambulatory patient populations. 
• Experience developing and delivering individual and group patient education. 
• Experience working within a multidisciplinary surgical or medical program. 
• Knowledge of bariatric nutrition standards, preoperative and postoperative dietary progression, supplementation, and long-term nutrition follow-up. 
• Bilingual in English/Spanish.