Heather Rasmussen

• ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR, DEPARTMENT OF NUTRITION AND HEALTH SCIENCES
• DIRECTOR, DIETETIC INTERNSHIP

Dr. Rasmussen's experience as both a researcher and registered dietitian nutritionist has centered on how dietary intake impacts the gastrointestinal tract, including gut microbiota and intestinal permeability. Not only is dietary intake central to the health of the gastrointestinal tract, but also to the health of the entire individual; through dietary modulation of gut microbiota, microbial metabolites, and intestinal permeability, identification of additional ways to improve overall health can occur. Specifically, she is interested in how supplements such as prebiotics can modify both gastrointestinal symptoms and markers of intestinal health in humans.

As Dietetic Internship Director, she coordinates all aspects of the dietetic internship, including working with preceptors and ensuring students the training and experiences needed to become registered dietitian nutritionists.

She believes that a thorough understanding of the mechanisms behind our dietary recommendations is important for every student to understand and is passionate about understanding and disseminating these mechanisms to future nutrition professionals. She is also committed to providing students with a nurturing environment in which to learn, both in the classroom and research setting, and strive to make every student experience positive and successful.