Rural Health Dietitian

Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) is seeking a full-time Rural Health Dietitian to support community health initiatives through education, prevention, and direct care services. This position focuses on improving health outcomes across rural populations through evidence-based nutrition services. Key Responsibilities: Deliver and support diabetes prevention and self-management education programs Offer nutrition consultation and support to students at SWOSU and established school-based telehealth sites. Collaborate with healthcare providers, faculty, campus food services and community partners to expand awareness and education Provide consultations for diabetes and cardiovascular health education Provide direct care services through accredited, established programs Grant-Funded Role and Impact: This position is partially grant-funded (70%) through the Oklahoma State Department of Health Cardiovascular Disease and Oklahoma State Department of Health Diabetes Grants, which are dedicated to improving the quality of life for Oklahomans affected by cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and prediabetes. The Rural Health Dietitian will play a key role in advancing this mission by delivering accessible, evidence-based interventions and education, particularly in underserved and rural communities. GRANT POSITIONS are conditional upon continuation of grant funding for the project. In addition, SWOSU policy requires that all employees, whose positions are funded with grant or contract monies, must have their annual leave funded within the grant. SWOSU employees transferring into a grant funded position with SWOSU will be allowed to carry unused accrued sick leave into the grant funded position. Key objectives of this grant-supported role include: Advancing collaborative care initiatives by working across healthcare providers, public health entities, schools, and community organizations to improve coordination of care and patient outcomes Addressing patient supports that affect health (e.g., food access, transportation, health literacy, and socioeconomic barriers) that impact diabetes prevention and cardiovascular disease management Supporting the expansion of accredited Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (DSMES) sites and strengthening local diabetes support programs across Oklahoma Assisting with and promoting a DSMES marketing and outreach campaign to increase awareness, referrals, and program utilization Increasing screening efforts and enrollment in the National Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) across Oklahoma Expanding the role and integration of Community Health Workers (CHWs) in diabetes and cardiovascular disease prevention and care, including workforce development and engagement in addressing social drivers of diabetes HRSA Maternal Produce Prescription Program – 30% Thirty percent of this position supports the SWOSU Rural Health Center’s Maternal Food is Medicine Initiative, an integrated maternal health program designed to improve maternal nutrition, reduce food insecurity, and strengthen maternal and infant health outcomes among pregnant and postpartum women in rural western Oklahoma. Key activities include: Providing individualized nutrition assessment, education, and counseling for pregnant and postpartum participants Supporting risk-informed Produce Prescription Benefits that improve access to fresh fruits, vegetables, and other nutritious foods Providing education related to healthy pregnancy nutrition, postpartum recovery, breastfeeding support, infant nutrition, healthy meal preparation, and food budgeting Collaborating with healthcare providers, county health departments, WIC programs, community organizations, retailers, and other regional partners Supporting efforts to improve fruit and vegetable intake, household food security, and maternal and infant health outcomes Through these complementary initiatives, the Rural Health Dietitian will help expand access to nutrition services, strengthen prevention and chronic disease management, address food insecurity and other factors affecting health, and support healthier individuals and families throughout rural Oklahoma.