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GCI-Health

Discover more GCI health research

Key Takeaways

A five-year NIH R01 grant will fund 911�� researcher Tyler Mason’s study of physical activity, self-regulation, and binge eating in children.
The study will follow 200 children starting at ages 10 to 12, examining long-term changes and moment-to-moment behaviors in daily life.
The research could inform new approaches to eating disorder prevention, including whether and how physical activity could reduce the risk of losing control of eating.

This research supports the Grand Challenge Initiative's goal of improving human health, well-being, and preparedness

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MPH student builds communications skills through patient outreach

Heather Carroll — Mon, 31 Aug 2026 19:05:25 +0000

MPH student builds communications skills through patient outreach   Heather Carroll Mon, 08/31/2026 - 15:05

Communication and trust are key to public health. In situations involving sensitive health topics, effective communication and trust can make the difference between a patient feeling supported and a patient choosing not to engage. For 911�� graduate student Ryen Middleton, his practicum showed him firsthand how important it is to meet patients where they are.

Ryen Middleton, MPH '26. Photo Provided

Middleton recently earned his master's in public health with a concentration in community health promotion, after completing his practicum with Maryland’s Frederick County Health Department as a certified HIV counselor. During the practicum, he developed skills in patient communication, outreach strategies, and health education, which are essential for public health professionals working in community settings.

As an HIV counselor, Middleton managed patients' health histories and helped them navigate their diagnosis, emphasizing the importance of communication skills in patient care and public health.

“What I have learned most is, when discussing sensitive topics with individuals, everybody's process and journey is different,” Middleton said. “Just because we are all on the same page does not mean communication will look the same.”

Middleton discovered that difficult topics such as HIV status can make a patient reluctant and unwilling to answer questions or participate in treatment. “There is still a lot of reluctance with engaging clients. When the sole purpose is to support a person's needs, people still find it really hard to engage.” Middleton said.

Applying Classroom Lessons in Practice

“I loved the community I made at 911��,” said Middleton, who earned a bachelor of arts in global affairs from 911�� in 2022. “Whenever I started to doubt myself or my ability, there was always someone there to remind me of what I am capable of.”

Middleton cited his professor, Sara Pappa, as a main source of support and mentorship during his education, teaching him new ways to combat patients' reluctance.

“Community Assessments and Partnerships with Dr. Pappa definitely taught me how to ask questions to get the answers I needed,” said Middleton. “Thinking about her lectures also reminded me that some people are not going to engage, and I just need to be okay with that. I thought about her advice a lot while completing my practicum.”

Middleton claimed a highlight of the program was the support and flexibility of his professors, especially Dr. Megan Dubois and Dr. René Najera, saying, “What I liked most about the program was the professors’ willingness to incorporate student feedback. It was not always possible, but for classes that were smaller in size, it always felt more like a conversation rather than a lecture.”

Prepared for the Workforce

His practicum, applied coursework, and internship opportunities built his hands-on skills in a modern medical environment and helped him feel prepared and motivated to handle professional situations confidently.

Middleton plans on becoming a program evaluator, working with different public health systems to help them best support their community. His diverse experiences, including his practicum and internships, have prepared him for various roles in public health, such as program evaluation, community outreach, and health policy development; illustrating potential career pathways for MPH graduates.

Learn more about the MPH program at 911��.

Key Takeaways

As a certified HIV counselor with the Frederick County Health Department in Maryland, Ryen Middleton gained firsthand experience helping patients navigate sensitive health conversations with empathy and trust.
Drawing lessons from his 911�� MPH coursework, Middleton strengthened his skills in patient communication, community outreach, and health education during his practicum.
Faculty mentorship, hands-on learning, and real-world public health experience helped prepare Middleton for a career supporting communities through program evaluation and outreach.

Topics

MPH

Master of Public Health

CPH Student Research

CPH students

Alumni

Students

Melissa L. Villodas, PhD, LMSW, LCSW-A

Can laws make social media safer for young people?

Mary Cunningham — Mon, 24 Aug 2026 13:33:58 +0000

Can laws make social media safer for young people? Mary Cunningham Mon, 08/24/2026 - 09:33

In This Story

Key Takeaways

A 911��-led study identified three main approaches U.S. states are using to protect youth online: limiting access, reducing harmful exposure, and teaching media literacy.
Most enacted laws focused on age verification and parental consent, though evidence supporting those approaches remains limited.
Media literacy appeared in just one state law, despite evidence suggesting it may be one of the more promising strategies for supporting youth mental health.

Topics

SW research

Child and Adolescent Health

From TikTok bans and age verification requirements to media literacy lessons in schools, U.S. states are exploring a wide range of strategies to protect young people online.

The flurry of legislation reflects growing concern about social media's role in youth mental health, as rates of depression and anxiety have increased in recent years. But policy approaches have varied considerably, and the scientific evidence backing their effectiveness is mixed.

Melissa Villodas, assistant professor of Social Work. Photo provided.

To better understand how states are responding, a research team led by social work researcher Melissa Villodas of 911��’s College of Public Health analyzed 16 enacted laws across 10 states. The study, published in The Journal of Policy Practice and Research, offers one of the first frameworks for organizing and assessing the growing patchwork of state social media laws.

Researchers found the policies generally fell into three broad categories:

1) Limiting access through measures like parental consent requirements, age verification, internet restrictions in school, and, in one case in Montana, an attempted ban on TikTok. This was by far the most common approach, despite relatively limited evidence that many of these measures improve mental health for young people.

2) Reducing harmful exposure by restricting targeted advertising to minors, limiting potentially addictive platform features, and expanding parental controls. Existing research offers somewhat stronger, though still mixed, support for these approaches.

3) Building media literacy by teaching students about topics such as misinformation, cyberbullying, online safety, and social media's effects on mental health. This was the least common approach, even though existing evidence suggests it may be a promising strategy, particularly when it addresses both the risks and benefits of social media use.

Why does this matter?

"Most research on this topic has focused directly on how social media affects young people's mental health," said Villodas, associate professor in the Department of Social Work and the study's lead author. "We wanted to understand what state governments are actually doing in response, whether those approaches are supported by existing evidence, and where additional research is needed.” She also emphasized the study’s “person-in-environment” perspective, a fundamental approach in social work that considers how broader forces, including public policy, can influence a young person’s experiences and mental health.

The study uncovered one glaring disconnect: the policy approach used most often, limiting young people's access, had the least supporting evidence of its effectiveness. Meanwhile, media literacy training, included in just one enacted law in Florida, appeared to have some of the strongest evidence behind it.

"Many states have focused on measures like parental consent and age verification, but the evidence for those strategies is still limited," Villodas said. "Media literacy has received much less attention, even though it may be one of the more promising approaches when it teaches young people about both the risks and the benefits of social media."

The study captures the policy landscape through November 2024, but Villodas said its findings are designed to help policymakers evaluate future proposals as the evidence continues to evolve.

In addition to Villodas, the study was coauthored by Michael Wheeler and Natalia Acevedo, both recent graduates of 911��’s Master of Social Work program; Fadi Hamati of Columbia Cornell Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at New York-Presbyterian; and Ishita Kapur of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

Gap in treatment for adolescent cannabis users puts young adults at risk

Heather Carroll — Mon, 18 May 2026 14:38:11 +0000

Gap in treatment for adolescent cannabis users puts young adults at risk Heather Carroll Mon, 05/18/2026 - 10:38

A study by 911��'s Panagiota Kitsantas and colleagues reveals patterns of treatment delays for youth with cannabis use disorder.

Panagiota Kitsantas

Teens may turn to marijuana use for many reasons: curiosity, stress relief, peer pressure, help with mental health, or for the positive feelings of being “high.” However, there is a difference between casual use and reliance on cannabis to function. Cannabis use disorder (CUD) is the persistent use and reliance on marijuana despite it causing physical or social harm.

Despite the well-documented health impacts, especially for youths, receiving treatment is not simple. Research by Panagiota Kitsantas found that nearly one in three adolescents with CUD experienced delays in accessing much-needed care.

“There are persistent and rising barriers to timely treatment. There are variations in access speed across referral processes, suggesting system-level improvements are needed,” said Kitsantas, professor and interim chair of the College of Public Health Department of Health Administration and Policy (HAP). Hong Xue, associate professor in the HAP department, was one of the study’s co-authors.

Kitsantas’ newly published research addresses key research gaps of patterns and predictors of treatment delays among U.S. adolescents with CUD. In particular, younger adolescents, males, White non-Hispanic youth, and those in residential rehabilitation and outpatient settings experienced more delays.

Why this matters

Despite treatment delays declining between 2012 and 2018, the rate of youth experiencing treatment delays has steadily risen since then.

For younger people, cannabis use can have negative impacts on brain development, impairing thinking, memory, problem-solving, learning, coordination, and attention. Cannabis use in adolescence has been linked to poor academic performance, including increased risk of school dropout and lower likelihood of seeking higher education.

Delving into the research

Kitsantas and the research team identified critical findings about CUD treatment and youth:

About 31% of adolescents experienced treatment delays for cannabis use disorder.
Despite treatment delays declining through 2018, they increased by 2022.
Younger adolescents (12–14), males, and White non-Hispanic youth were more likely to experience treatment delays.
Youth referred for treatment through health care systems were more likely to experience treatment delays compared to those who self-referred.
Adolescents in rehabilitation/residential and outpatient settings experienced more delays than those in detox services, suggesting system-level variation in access speed.

Admission Delays in Receiving Treatment for Cannabis Use Disorder among US Adolescents was published April 2026 in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

“I hope this research draws attention to the growing and preventable problem of delayed treatment for adolescents with cannabis use disorder. Ultimately, the goal is to promote timely access to treatment and improve long-term outcomes for adolescents while easing the broader public health burden of substance use,” said Kitsantas.

Thumbnail photo by Stephen Cobb via Unsplash.

Key Takeaways:

Research by Panagiota Kitsantas, professor in the College of Public Health Department of Health Administration and Policy, reveals that one in three adolescents with cannabis use disorder does not receive timely treatment.
Younger adolescents, males, White non-Hispanic youth, and those in residential rehabilitation and outpatient settings experienced more treatment delays.
Cannabis use can have negative impacts on brain development for adolescents and has been linked to poor academic performance.

Learn more about the College of Public Health

In This Story

Panagiota Kitsantas, PhD

Hong Xue, PhD

Topics

Cannabis

marijuana

Nutrition support during pregnancy improves birth outcomes, global study finds

Heather Carroll — Thu, 14 May 2026 15:07:07 +0000

Nutrition support during pregnancy improves birth outcomes, global study finds Heather Carroll Thu, 05/14/2026 - 11:07

911��-led research finds that food-based prenatal supplements improve birth weights across Africa and South Asia.

Dongqing Wang of the 911�� College of Public Health

In parts of the world where daily nutrition is unstable, pregnancy and newborn health are more precarious. A new study led by epidemiologist Dongqing Wang of the 911�� College of Public Health adds to the evidence that improving maternal nutrition during pregnancy may be a key intervention to improve birth outcomes.

Looking across eight clinical trials across Africa and South Asia, the study finds that balanced energy and protein (BEP) supplements—food-based products like beverages or nutrient-dense pastes designed to increase calorie and protein intake—are associated with healthier birth weights and fewer high-risk newborns in low- and middle-income countries. The findings were published in PLOS Medicine.

“In settings where pregnant women can’t access sufficient calories and protein, it is important to act early,” said Wang, an assistant professor of epidemiology in the Department of Global and Community Health. “Improving maternal nutrition can reduce the risk of vulnerable birth outcomes.”

Why this matters

Maternal malnutrition puts infants at higher risk of death, illness, and developmental delays.

Interventions have often focused on micronutrient supplements, but this study shows that food-based approaches to increase calorie and protein intake may better support fetal growth. BEP supplements can also be delivered through existing maternal health programs, making them a practical solution to scale. Wang is also currently conducting further research in Ethiopia that examines the cost-effectiveness of different approaches to BEP supplementation.

Study details

Wang and his colleagues combined individual-level data from randomized controlled trials conducted in Nepal, The Gambia, Pakistan, and several other low- and middle-income settings. The team compared outcomes for pregnant individuals who received BEP supplements with those who did not.

Key findings include:

BEP supplements were associated with higher birth weights and a lower risk of babies being born with low birth weight or small for their gestational age.
The effects were particularly notable for babies small for their gestational age, a group with elevated risk of neonatal mortality.
Benefits appeared stronger among women who began supplementation earlier in pregnancy, particularly before 20 weeks.

Wang worked with a global network of researchers from institutions including Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Aga Khan University and partners across Europe, South Asia, and Africa.

Photo by Nathana Rebouças on Unsplash

In This Story

Key Takeaways

• A 911��–led global study finds that balanced energy and protein (BEP) supplements can improve birth outcomes, especially in regions where maternal nutrition is limited.

• The supplements are linked to higher birth weights and reduced risk of babies being born small or underweight, with the strongest benefits when started early in pregnancy.

• These supplements boost calorie and protein intake and can be delivered through existing maternal health programs, making them a scalable solution.

Topics

Prenatal Care

Global Health

Birth Outcomes

Maternal Child Health

Maternal Nutrition

GCH Research

public health research

CPH research

Public health PhD focuses on how everyday environmental exposures affect metabolic and reproductive health

ckearney — Wed, 06 May 2026 19:35:40 +0000

Public health PhD focuses on how everyday environmental exposures affect metabolic and reproductive health ckearney Wed, 05/06/2026 - 15:35

When doctoral student Rooshna Mohsin arrived at 911�� from New Jersey, she came with a clear purpose: to deepen her research in environmental and reproductive health and work alongside faculty whose scholarship aligned with her own ambitions. What she found at 911�� was more than an academic opportunity—it was a community that helped shape her into the researcher she is today.

Before coming to 911��, Mohsin completed a master of public health in epidemiology from Rutgers University and a bachelor of science in biology from the College of New Jersey.

Graduating with her PhD in public health with a concentration in epidemiology this May, Mohsin has spent her time at 911�� exploring how everyday environmental exposures affect metabolic and reproductive health. Her dissertation, Dietary and Social Predictors of PFAS Exposure and Metabolic Health in Hispanic Children, focused on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a group of widely used synthetic chemicals linked to health concerns. She has also examined trace element exposures in IVF populations.

Rooshna Mohsin. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Office of University Branding

Across her work, Mohsin has focused on a pressing public health question: How do common environmental chemicals influence health outcomes across the lifespan, from early childhood through the reproductive years?

That work required both scientific rigor and persistence. Designing a dissertation meant identifying research gaps, asking novel questions, and building studies that could contribute something new to the field. “The most challenging experience I had at 911�� was throughout my dissertation process,” she said. “It was academically demanding, but it was also incredibly rewarding in terms of the outcomes and the skills I gained.”

She credits much of that growth to the mentorship and support she found at the College of Public Health, especially from her advisor, epidemiologist Michael Bloom.

“He really helped shape me and make sure that I excel as a student here and as a future professional and academic,” she said.

Under his mentorship, Mohsin pursued opportunities she had never imagined for herself—including presenting her research at a conference in China, an experience she calls one of the highlights of her doctoral journey.

Mohsin also found strength in the community around her. While her concentration was in epidemiology, many members of her cohort studied social and behavioral health. That interdisciplinary environment became one of the most meaningful parts of her experience.

Rooshna Mohsin at the Three Minute Thesis. Photo provided

“My cohort was the rock of my whole degree,” she said. “They kept me sane and stable.”

Their different research backgrounds pushed Mohsin to think beyond disciplinary boundaries and sharpen one of public health’s most important skills: communication. Explaining research to peers outside her specialty helped her become a more effective scholar—one better equipped to translate complex findings for broader audiences.

“I think that’s such an important part of research,” she said. “We need to communicate our work in a way that people without this background can understand it.”

In fact, Mohsin competed in 911��’s annual Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition, a research communication competition for PhD candidates across the university, and took home third place. Competitors are judged on their ability to present the significance of their dissertation or thesis research using a single slide and within a strict three-minute time limit.

That ability to communicate across audiences became one of the accomplishments she is most proud of. Over the course of her doctoral studies, Mohsin presented at conferences, shared her research with more experienced scholars, and grew more confident in her ability to contribute meaningfully to conversations in her field.

Outside the classroom and lab, Mohsin also built connections across the region, including through her role as a public health ambassador for Association of Schools and Programs in Public Health (ASPPH) in Washington, D.C. Those experiences expanded her professional network and reinforced one of the advantages of studying public health in Northern Virginia: access to a dynamic, deeply connected health and policy community.

By the end of her first semester in Virginia, Mohsin said 911�� had already begun to feel like home. What started as a move for academic opportunity became something more lasting—a place defined by mentorship, collaboration, and belonging. “My faculty were very welcoming, and the people in my cohort were just family for me,” she said.

As she graduates, Mohsin said becoming a 911�� alum still feels a little surreal. But she leaves with pride in what she has accomplished and gratitude for the people who helped her get there.

“I’m excited to see how I put together these skills and experiences that I’ve built during my time at Mason,” she said, “and be able to bring that into whatever field I go into next.”

Spring 2026 Graduation Information

Learn more about the College of Public Health

Topics

Students

Graduation

doctoral students

Intimate Partner Violence

$1 million U.S. Department of Justice grant will support virtual reality training for domestic violence response

Taylor Thomas — Mon, 13 Apr 2026 14:05:16 +0000

$1 million U.S. Department of Justice grant will support virtual reality training for domestic violence response Taylor Thomas Mon, 04/13/2026 - 10:05

Domestic violence 911 calls often place first responders in the midst of crisis and confusion. The scene may involve conflicting stories, visible injuries, frightened children, and little clarity about what just happened.

At 911��, researchers have secured more than $1 million in federal funding to help frontline professionals prepare for these complex moments. The grant from the U.S. Department of Justice will help fund a novel virtual reality (VR) training program to strengthen interprofessional responses to domestic violence.

Social work professors Denise Hines and Holly Matto will co-lead the one-year project in the College of Public Health, partnering with local law enforcement, domestic violence organizations, and health care providers in Northern Virginia to design and pilot the training. The team also includes social work assistant professors Michelle Hand and Anna Parisi as co-investigators, and Bethany Cieslowski, chief innovation officer for immersive technologies.

The faculty members, as well as College of Public Health Dean Melissa J. Perry, expressed gratitude to U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine of Virginia for their support of the congressional funding, and to the Department of Justice for administering the $1,026,029 award through its Byrne Justice Assistance Grants program.

VR headsets in the college's Lab for Immersive Technologies and Simulation.

“We’re thankful for the leadership and support to bring the power of virtual reality to improve health and safety,” Perry said. “Virginia will lead the way in coordinated, prevention-focused responses to domestic violence. Looking ahead, the model developed here can one day help communities across the country.”

Using technology and resources in the College of Public Health’s Lab for Immersive Technologies and Simulation, the project team will build VR case scenarios that reflect the complexities of domestic violence calls. The simulations will allow frontline professionals to practice coordinated responses and experiment with different approaches before facing similar situations in real life.

“The innovation here is bringing together professionals like law enforcement, social workers, and health care providers to co-design new VR cases that are relevant to challenges on the ground,” Matto said.

Domestic violence remains a public health and safety crisis. In Virginia alone, the statewide domestic and sexual violence hotline received more than 70,000 calls in 2023. Family and intimate partner violence accounts for roughly one-third of all homicides in the state annually. And for first responders, these calls can also be among the most volatile and unpredictable situations they encounter.

“Domestic violence calls are some of the toughest calls, but also some of the most common calls that law enforcement will come across,” said Hines, the Elisabeth Shirley Enochs Endowed Professor of Social Work. “They're often coming in at a precarious and dangerous moment.”

Thumbnail photo via Pexels.

Topics

federal funding

grants

Department of Justice

Domestic Violence

CPH Faculty

Lab for Immersive Technologies and Simulation

virtual reality

GCI-Grand Challenge Initiative

GCI-Health

Learn more about 911��'s Grand Challenge Initiative

Key Takeaways:

Domestic violence calls can be complex and dangerous situations for first responders.
911�� researchers secured more than $1 million from the U.S. Department of Justice to develop a virtual reality training program to improve domestic violence response.
The VR simulations will allow law enforcement, health care providers, and social workers to practice coordinated responses to difficult domestic violence scenarios in a safe training environment.

In This Story

Denise Hines, PhD

Holly Matto, PhD, LCSW-C

Michelle D. Hand, PhD, MSW, LSW

Bethany Cieslowski, DNP, PMHNP-BC, CHSE

Melissa J. Perry, Sc.D., MHS, MBA

Five ways future health care leaders can tackle burnout in the workforce

Taylor Thomas — Mon, 23 Mar 2026 16:17:15 +0000

Five ways future health care leaders can tackle burnout in the workforce Taylor Thomas Mon, 03/23/2026 - 12:17

Photo by Vladimir Fedotov via Unsplash.

The fight against widespread burnout in the health care workforce should begin with the training of future health care administrators, according to a new paper from the 911�� College of Public Health.

Published in the Journal of Health Administration Education, the paper examines how health administration programs can better prepare future leaders to address burnout by focusing on workplace factors, such as working conditions, leadership support, job design and workload, social connections, and opportunities for advancement. More than three-quarters of health care workers report feeling stressed or stretched thin, with burnout contributing to problems like higher turnover and staffing shortages that can affect patient care.

Drawing from existing research and national frameworks on workforce well-being, the principal investigator Debora Goetz Goldberg outlines several leadership strategies that can help counteract burnout, including:

Build workplaces where staff can speak up

Health care leaders must create environments where employees can report mistakes, raise concerns, and discuss safety issues without fear of punishment. Clear reporting policies, open communication, and a culture of trust are key for psychological safety.

Redesign jobs to reduce overload

Many health care roles involve long hours, heavy documentation, and clunky technology that add to daily stress. Leaders make decisions about staffing, scheduling, and tools that can either ease those pressures or make them worse.

Prevent violence and protect staff safety

Health care workers face some of the highest rates of workplace violence of any profession. Leaders can help reduce risks by establishing zero-tolerance policies, training staff to de-escalate tense situations, and putting safety measures in place before incidents occur.

Involve frontline staff in decisions

The people delivering care often know exactly where problems arise. When leaders directly involve nurses, physicians, and other staff in decisions about schedules, policies, and daily operations, the changes are more likely to succeed.

Measure and improve workforce well-being

Health care organizations routinely track patient outcomes and financial performance. Workforce well-being deserves the same attention. Leaders can measure burnout, engagement, and working conditions and use that data to steer improvements.

John Cantiello, also from 911��'s College of Public Health, and Riva Kamat from Lotus Clinician WellBeing, Inc., co-authored the paper.

In This Story

Debora Goetz Goldberg, PhD, MHA, MBA

This initiative supports the Improving human health, well-being, and preparedness solution of 911��'s Grand Challenge Initiative

Key Takeaways:

Burnout affects a majority of health care workers and contributes to turnover, staffing shortages, and risks to patient care.
A new paper from 911�� argues that health care administration programs should train future leaders to address burnout through organizational decisions and workplace design.
Leaders can help counter burnout with strategies like creating psychologically safe environments, preventing workplace violence, and involving frontline staff in decisions.

Topics

burnout

public health workforce

HAP Research

CPH research

Health Administration

Well-Being

GCI-Grand Challenge Initiative

GCI-Health

Allison McKay MS, RD, CSSD

Fueling for gold: How nutrition impacts strength, speed, and recovery in Olympic athletes

Taylor Thomas — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 17:31:25 +0000

Fueling for gold: How nutrition impacts strength, speed, and recovery in Olympic athletes Taylor Thomas Wed, 02/18/2026 - 12:31

If our bodies are machines and food is fuel, it is safe to say that elite performance requires high-octane nutrition. As the Winter Olympics continue in Italy, the world watches as top athletes display the highest capabilities of the human body. Behind the scenes, nutritionists and dietitians are working to ensure these athletes are ready to compete at the peak level.

Allison McKay, board-certified sports dietitian, registered dietitian and Clinical Coordinator of the Graduate Program in Nutrition and Dietetics at 911��’s College of Public Health, answers questions about the importance of nutrition in keeping athletes in top shape so they’re ready to go for gold.

Olympic athletes are competing at the highest level. How does nutrition fuel peak performance in training and competition?

Elite performance does not occur by chance; it emerges when multiple variables align to create an environment that supports adaptation, resilience, and execution at the highest level. Nutrition is foundational. During both training and competition, fueling is one of the few performance variables that can be intentionally controlled and strategically manipulated. Like a high-performance engine that cannot run without adequate fuel, the human body depends on sufficient energy availability to sustain workload, support physiological adaptation, and ultimately translate preparation into performance.

Athletes must navigate complex and often competing demands, including high training loads, rigorous travel schedules, jet lag, variable environmental conditions, sport-specific cultural norms, and interpersonal or performance-related stressors. Each of these factors influences appetite, metabolism, hydration needs, and food access. Effective sports nutrition practice requires both scientific rigor and practical adaptability. Sports dietitians must anticipate barriers, individualize strategies, and implement creative solutions to ensure that fueling plans remain feasible, evidence-based, and aligned with the athlete’s performance goals.

What does a typical day of fueling look like for an elite winter athlete, such as a skier, skater, or hockey player?

Fueling strategies for elite athletes are designed to support the full spectrum of performance demands: meeting energy requirements for training and competition, facilitating recovery, and promoting the physiological adaptations that underpin long-term improvement. Meals are intentionally structured around the demands of a given day. Total energy needs may range from 1,500 to 4,000 calories more than the average adult, depending on the athlete’s physical attributes and training schedule. Even within the same athlete, energy requirements can change in the middle of a training cycle. Accordingly, meals must be individualized and adjusted to align with sport-specific demands and performance goals. A high-volume training day will differ from a competition day in both structure and nutrient timing.

Carbohydrate intake before, during, and after exercise helps maintain blood glucose levels, preserve glycogen stores, and delay fatigue. Hydration should occur before, during, and after activity, and electrolyte replacement should be incorporated as needed to support fluid balance and neuromuscular function. Protein intake becomes particularly important in the recovery period.

The amount of nutrients required depends on body size, training intensity, and duration. Meals on a typical training day, for example, an Olympic hockey player may look like a high-carb early pre-training meal, strategic carbohydrate and fluid intake during a two- to four-hour, practice session, a carbohydrate-packed high-protein snack for recovery, and lunches and dinners packed with nutrient-dense carbohydrate sources and adequate protein distribution. This diet is carefully crafted to sustain energy, maintain hydration, and support muscle repair. Pre-competition meals are often adjusted to prioritize easily digestible foods lower in fiber and fat to reduce gastrointestinal distress while still maintaining energy availability.

What role do hydration, timing of meals, and recovery nutrition play in maximizing performance and preventing injury?

Proper hydration is fundamental to performance. In addition to normal daily fluid losses, exercise substantially increases fluid loss through sweat. Sweat plays a critical role in maintaining a stable core temperature during physical activity. When fluid losses (such as sweat) are not adequately replaced, dehydration can occur, leading to increased cardiovascular strain, elevated core temperature, and disruption of metabolic processes. Even a tiny reduction in body weight due to fluid loss can impair cognitive function, reaction time, and neuromuscular coordination, effects that are particularly concerning in sports requiring rapid decision-making and precision, such as skiing or hockey.

Nutrient timing also plays a strategic role in performance and recovery. Optimal refueling ensures that the physiological stress of training translates into adaptation rather than excessive fatigue. Recovery is essential for sustained performance. Heavy training loads can temporarily suppress immune function, increasing vulnerability to illness. Monitoring overall energy intake and micronutrient adequacy is therefore critical. Nutrients that support immune health include omega-3 fatty acids, iron, zinc, selenium, magnesium, folate, vitamins B6 and B12, and vitamin C. While these nutrients are important, excessive supplementation is not advised. The objective is to maintain health and resilience without interfering with the natural adaptive processes that drive improved performance.

How do sports dietitians individualize nutrition plans based on an athlete’s sport, body composition goals, and metabolic demands?

Sports dietitians function as integral members of a multidisciplinary performance team dedicated to optimizing athlete health and competitive outcomes. Sports dietitians anticipate logistical challenges, including identifying appropriate food options and menu availability during travel and strategies to mitigate the effects of jet lag. They translate evidence-based nutrition science into practical, feasible plans that align with competition schedules and training cycles.

Most importantly, no two athletes are identical. Nutritional strategies must be individualized to reflect differences in physiology, performance goals, tolerance, and personal context. Through personalized planning and collaborative care, the sports dietitian helps create the conditions necessary for athletes to perform at their highest potential.

For students interested in working with elite or competitive athletes, what training and skills are essential—and how?

Most organizations that employ sports nutrition professionals require credentialing as a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN), along with advanced board certification as a Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics (CSSD). The RDN credential requires completion of an accredited didactic program in dietetics, a master’s level degree, supervised experiential practice, successful completion of the national registration examination, and ongoing continuing education to maintain competency. The CSSD credential represents additional specialized training and experience in sports nutrition and requires documented practice hours and passing a board certification examination. Together, these credentials signal both foundational clinical expertise and advanced competency in performance nutrition.

Beyond formal education and certification, effectiveness in elite sport environments depends on more than technical knowledge. Strong communication skills, the ability to collaborate within interdisciplinary teams, cultural humility, discretion, adaptability, and a willingness to travel are essential. Working with elite athletes requires trust, professionalism, and the capacity to translate complex science into clear, actionable guidance under high-performance pressure.

911�� offers a Master of Science in Nutrition with a concentration in Dietetics through the Department of Nutrition and Food Studies. This program meets the academic eligibility requirements to pursue the RDN credential and prepares graduates for advanced practice opportunities, including sports nutrition. Prospective students are encouraged to connect with the department to learn more about pathways into this dynamic and impactful field.

MEDIA INQUIRIES: For reporters who wish to speak to Allison McKay about sports nutrition, please email media contact Michelle Thompson at mthomp7@gmu.edu.

Allison McKay, MS, RDN, CSSD, has been a registered dietitian for more than 25 years and has experience providing nutrition education and Medical Nutrition Therapy in hospitals, long-term care facilities and has been a research dietitian in several longitudinal research studies. Prior to working at 911��, she worked at the Cancer Research Center at the University of Hawaii and was a consulting Dietitian with Dietitian Consulting Services, LLC in Seattle, Washington. She holds an MS in Exercise, Fitness and Health Promotion from 911�� and is a Board Certified Sports Dietitian.

About 911��

911�� is Virginia’s largest public research university. Located near Washington, D.C., Mason enrolls more than 40,000 students from 130 countries and all 50 states. Mason has grown rapidly over the past half-century and is recognized for its innovation and entrepreneurship, remarkable diversity, and commitment to accessibility. In 2023, the university launched Mason Now: Power the Possible, a one-billion-dollar comprehensive campaign to support student success, research, innovation, community, and stewardship. Learn more at gmu.edu.

About College of Public Health at 911��

The College of Public Health at 911�� is the first College of Public Health in Virginia and a national leader in inclusive, interprofessional, public health research, education, and practice. The college is comprised of public health disciplines, health administration and policy, informatics, nursing, nutrition, and social work. The college offers a distinct array of degrees to support research and training of professionals dedicated to ensuring health and well-being for all. The college’s transdisciplinary research seeks to understand the many factors that influence the public’s health and well-being throughout the lifespan.

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Key Takeaways

Board-certified sports dietitian Allison Mckay details the critical role of nutrition in fueling the world's top athletes.
Olympic athletes require a carefully curated diet including carbohydrates, high-quality proteins, and precise hydration to achieve peak performance.
Sports dietitians are uniquely trained to provide evidence-based guidance to help athletes achieve their goals.

Topics

CPH - Nutrition and Food Studies

Alumni