During my community rotation, one of our primary responsibilities was providing nutrition counseling and conducting assessments for patients. Many of these patients were referred by their physicians, which created a valuable and informative learning experience. I worked closely with individuals managing diabetes, renal dysfunction reviewed their medications, and gained deeper knowledge about both weight-loss medications and those used for diabetes control.

I also had the opportunity to work with bariatric surgery patients and learned about the approval process for surgery. For example, candidates are required to maintain lifestyle and dietary changes for approximately six months prior to the procedure.

In addition, I encountered several unique and meaningful cases. One patient struggled with food texture issues and anxiety, and required a high-protein diet due to being underweight. Others needed guidance on preparing simple, budget-friendly meals, particularly elderly patients living alone who sought practical nutrition strategies that supported independence