2026 ALDA Annual Meeting - Sessions
March 19 - 20, 2026!
Agenda below (linked PDF here).
Location:
UAB National Alumni Society House
1301 10th Avenue South
Birmingham, AL 35294-4555
The agenda will be announced soon!
Location:
UAB National Alumni Society
1301 10th Avenue South
Birmingham, AL 35294-4555
Conference activities will take place near the UAB Alumni House, so hotels in the UAB/Five Points South and Downtown Birmingham areas will offer the most convenient comute.
Recommended options include:
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Hilton Birmingham at UAB
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Courtyard by Marriott
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Birmingham Downtown at UAB
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Residence Inn by Marriott Birmingham Downtown at UAB
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Homewood Suites by Hilton Birmingham Downtown Near UAB
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Home2 Suites by Hilton Birmingham Downtown
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Hilton Garden Inn Downtown Birmingham
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The Redmont Hotel (Curio Collection by Hilton)
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Aloft Birmingham Soho Square (Homewood)
We encourage attendees to book early, as March is a busy season in Birmingham.
Parking:
- ALDA has reserved parking at UAB Zone F-3: https://www.uab.edu/campusmap/?zone-f3
Speaker Slides and Information
Using Farm-Based Nutrition Education to Restore Health and Sustainability – Janie C. Clay, DrPH, MSPH, RD
Description: Attendees will learn how to integrate local agriculture into nutrition education programs, engage communities through food system initiatives, and build effective partnerships between healthcare providers and farmers. The session will highlight the vital role of dietitians in bridging the gap between health and agriculture—positioning them as key connectors who can collaborate with both providers and farmers to improve food access, support chronic disease prevention, and promote sustainable, community-based nutrition solutions.
Learning Objectives:
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Describe how integrating nutrition education into farm-based programs can reduce chronic disease rates and improve food access in rural communities.
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List at least three strategies from panelists that successfully combine sustainable farming practices with nutrition education to enhance community health.
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Describe at least three common obstacles to establishing these initiatives in rural areas and outline actionable strategies to address each challenge.
Olive Oil and the Mediterranean Diet: A Taste of Adventure - Michael W. Greene, PhD
Description: This presentation explores the Mediterranean dietary pattern with a particular focus on extra virgin olive oil as its principal culinary fat and a key driver of health benefits. Drawing from epidemiological evidence, clinical research, and experiential learning, the session will describe the core components of the Mediterranean diet, emphasizing its role in healthy aging, longevity, and chronic disease risk reduction. Attendees will examine the nutritional composition of extra virgin olive oil, including its fatty acid profile and bioactive phytochemicals. The presentation also introduces practical tools for assessing Mediterranean diet adherence and provides guidance on distinguishing olive oil types and selecting high-quality extra virgin olive oils. Through images and examples from Mediterranean food cultures and long-standing study abroad programs, the session highlights not only the science but also the sensory, cultural, and convivial aspects that support sustainable, health-promoting dietary patterns.
Learning Objectives:
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Explain components of a Mediterranean diet pattern.
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Identify and appraise the nutritional components of extra virgin olive oil.
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Assess the health benefits of the Mediterranean diet and extra virgin olive oil.
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Assess the organoleptic attributes of extra virgin olive oil.
From Cafeteria to Competition: Translating School Nutrition Principles into Sports Nutrition Practice - Sharon Sanders, MS, RDN, LD
Description:
Dietitians working across school, community, and sports nutrition settings share a common foundation: supporting growth, health, and performance through consistent, evidence-based nutrition. This session explores how core school nutrition principles such as energy adequacy, nutrient density, consistency, accessibility, and balance, form the groundwork for effective sports nutrition practice.
Designed for a dietitian audience, the presentation will demonstrate how strategies routinely applied in K–12 and adolescent nutrition settings naturally translate into athletic fueling and recovery environments. Emphasis will be placed on how dairy supports growth, bone health, protein quality, hydration, and recovery across the student-to-athlete continuum using a food-first, systems-aware approach.
Through real-world examples from both school nutrition operations and sports nutrition practice, attendees will gain practical insight into aligning nutrition messaging, program design, and decision-making across settings. The session encourages dietitians to think beyond silos, reinforcing that performance outcomes are built upon the same foundational principles established in school and community nutrition programs.
Learning Objectives:
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Explain how core school nutrition principles, energy adequacy, nutrient density, consistency, and accessibility, form the foundation for effective sports nutrition practice.
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Translate nutrition principles across practice areas by identifying practical strategies dietitians can use to support growth, development, and performance in adolescent populations.
From Classroom to Credential: Understanding the Changing Landscape of Dietetics Education - Elizabeth Davis, PhD, RDN, NBC-HWC, Keith Pearson, PhD, RDN, Megan Kaal, MS, MBA, RDN, and Amy Cameron, MS, RDN
Description:
Learning Objectives:
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Explain the anticipated components of the draft 2027 ACEND Standards and their relevance to academic programs.
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Differentiate among ACEND-accredited program types and the distinct roles of ACEND and CDR in the education-to-credentialing pathway.
Karen L. Wright Memorial Lecture: Does Weight Matter? How Weight Stigma Impacts the Treatment of Eating Disorders - Aaron Flores, RDN
Description: The presentation will examine the critical intersection of weight stigma and eating disorders, particularly among men. This session will delve into the profound impact that societal and internalized weight bias can have on mental and physical health. This talk will also explore how the medical field has framed weight as a moral issue and how current guidelines perpetuate stigma. We will explore how our implicit biases as healthcare providers—pediatricians, nurses, school health employees, therapists, and dietitians—can inadvertently contribute to these issues. We aim to equip you with the tools to foster a more inclusive and supportive environment for all populations, including men, and to promote healthier relationships with food and body image.
Learning Objectives:
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Participants will reflect on their own implicit biases related to weight and explore tools to create a more inclusive, weight-neutral approach in their professional practice
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Participants will learn evidence-based strategies to discuss body size and health with their clients in a way that fosters body diversity, reduces stigma, and promotes healthy relationships with food and self-image.
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Participants will be able to define weight stigma and identify how it manifests in healthcare settings, and its impact on the mental and physical health.
At the Crossroads: Diabetes, Disordered Eating, and Stigma in Nutrition Care - Samaria Garrett, MS, RDN
Description: Diabetes management and disordered eating are rarely discussed together, yet they intersect in ways that significantly impact patient outcomes. Nutrition professionals often encounter patients caught in cycles of restriction, binge eating and weight cycling patterns that not only harm psychological well being but also worsen insulin resistance, cardiovascular risk and diabetes progression. At the same time, weight stigma and bias in health care reinforce these patterns, especially among people of color who already face disproportionate burdens of type 2 diabetes. This session examines the physiological and psychosocial toll of stigma, explores how conventional weight centered approaches can inadvertently contribute to metabolic dysfunction, and highlights strategies to shift care toward compassion, flexibility and equity. Participants will leave with tools to integrate medical nutrition therapy with a weight inclusive lens, improving both metabolic and psychological outcomes.
Learning Objectives:
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Explain the connections between diabetes management, disordered eating patterns, and nutrition stigma.
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Identify how systemic bias and weight centered care create barriers for people living with diabetes, especially in marginalized communities.
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Apply counseling strategies that reduce stigma, support culturally relevant & flexible eating, and promote whole person health.
Policies and Practices to Positively Impact Food Access in Alabama Communities - Alicia Powers, PhD and Jimmy Wright
Description:
Learning Objectives:
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By the end of this presentation, participants will be able to: Understand food access as a systems issue by explaining how policies, financing, and infrastructure across the food supply chain—from producers to retailers—shape food availability in Alabama communities.
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Identify key policy, financing, and economic development tools that support food enterprise development in underserved areas and improve affordability for consumers.
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Apply a comprehensive food access framework to assess opportunities for improving food access through coordinated business development, supply chain investment, and consumer-focused policy strategies.
Fueling Whole Person Care: The Expanding Role of Registered Dietitian Nutritionists in Lifestyle Medicine - Rebecca K. Kelly, PhD, MAE, RDN, FAND
Description:
Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs) play a pivotal role in advancing the practice of lifestyle medicine—bridging science, behavior change, and compassionate care. This session explores how RDNs can expand their professional scope by integrating the six pillars of lifestyle medicine—whole-food, plant-predominant nutrition; physical activity; restorative sleep; stress management; positive social connection; and avoidance of risky substances—into both patient care and personal practice.
Drawing from Lifestyle Medicine for the Primary Care Provider: A Practical Guide to Enabling Whole Person Care (Stout, Reichert, & Kelly, eds., CRC Press, 2025), Dr. Rebecca Kelly highlights practical pathways for RDNs to build knowledge, confidence, and credibility in this rapidly growing field. Participants will discover how applying Lifestyle Medicine principles within their own lives enhances authenticity, empathy, and resilience—ultimately strengthening the RDN’s influence as a change agent in clinical, community, and organizational settings.
Learning Objectives:
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Describe how the six pillars of lifestyle medicine align with and expand the professional practice of the RDN;
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Identify practical opportunities to gain competency and apply evidence-based lifestyle medicine skills in various care settings; and
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Demonstrate and apply strategies for incorporating personal well-being practices that enhance authenticity, resilience, and effectiveness in their roles as RDN leaders and educators.
Thank you to our 2026 Sponsors!
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