Suzanne Walker, a Keiser University Lakeland campus graduate and Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) scholar is thankful for Keiser University’s small class sizes and professors with industry experience who helped prepare her for her role as a Registered Dietitian at South Florida Baptist Hospital (SFBH).

A long-time LPGA member, Walker is grateful for Keiser’s role as the LPGA’s Global Education Provider which includes scholarship eligibility for LPGA members. “To accomplish my educational goal, it was necessary to take a hiatus from my full-time golf industry position, so the scholarship during the final 12-months of the program was instrumental in earning my degree,” said Walker, who was excited to join SFBH right after graduation. “The coordinated supervised practice internship component of the accelerated program was instrumental in being hired quickly, as the intense medical nutrition therapy, counseling, community-based programming, and food science hands-on classes prepared me for a variety of roles.”

Walker plans to one day marry her expertise in nutrition with her love of golf. “Although my golf industry profession is on hold for the moment, I fully expect to blend the two fields, as there is a multitude of options for professionals, including virtual opportunities in telehealth and counseling,” smiled Walker who has 21-years under her belt as a golf instructor. “I would love to be considered a ‘go-to’ coach and dietitian for golfers of all levels who wish to improve their health along with their games,” she smiled.

Keiser University’s Bachelor of Science degree in Dietetics and Nutrition combines clinical evaluation, community concerns, and foodservice management into a profession long valued for its service to individuals and the community at large and focused on proper nutrition and the prevention of chronic diseases. The Coordinated Program in Dietetics is unique since the didactic instruction is integrated with the supervised practice.  Following graduation, students are eligible to take the Registered Dietitian/Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RD/RDN) examination.  Upon successful completion of this exam, the RD/RDN is eligible for licensure in Florida or any other state that licenses dietitians/nutritionists.

Keiser University is a private, not-for-profit university, serving nearly 20,000 students and employing 2,900 faculty and staff members. Co-founded in 1977 by Chancellor Arthur Keiser, Ph.D., and Evelyn Keiser, the university currently offers more than 100 degrees at 21 Florida campuses, as well as online and at two international sites. Keiser University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges as a level VI institution to award certificates and degrees at the associate, baccalaureate, masters, specialist, and doctoral levels. For additional information regarding Keiser University, visit http://www.keiseruniversity.edu.