Dr. Sunitha Zechariah, PhD, RD, LD, CNSC, FAND National Director
Dr. Sunitha Zechariah is the National Director for the Morrison Healthcare Dietetic Internship. In her role, she oversees the management of the Morrison Healthcare Dietetic Internship and also serves as the clinical nutrition teaching faculty. In addition, she serves as the Morrison Healthcare NFPE and Clinical Skills trainer and is the Co-Chair of the RDN DEI Network for Compass Group USA. Previously, Dr. Zechariah worked as the Division Director of Clinical Support and Regional Clinical Nutrition Manager for Morrison Healthcare.
Dr. Zechariah’s previous experiences comprise of varied dietetic-related positions in several countries, including India, Australia, and Singapore. She completed her PhD in Applied Health Sciences at the Augusta University, Augusta, GA. Her research interests include malnutrition, tool development specific to nutrition-focused physical exams, and interprofessional practice among dietitians. She has a B.S. and M.S. degrees in Nutrition and Dietetics from India. She also has an M.S. (Honors) degree in Nutrition Research from Australia and completed the coordinated program in dietetics at the University of Alabama.
Dr. Zechariah has received numerous awards, including the Outstanding Educator Award for South Central Region from the Nutrition and Dietetic Educators and Preceptors (NDEP) of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, the Distinguished Researcher award from the Georgia Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, and the Outstanding Dietitian of the Year for 2018 in the state of Georgia. She lives in Augusta, GA, with her husband and two children. She spends her free time playing tennis, pickle ball and other activities with her two children.
Tina Bode MS, RD, LD, CNSC Internship Coordinator
Tina Bode is the internship coordinator for the Morrison Healthcare Dietetic Internship. She supports Dr. Sunitha with various tasks, including mentorship, program development, social media content creation, and program evaluation.
Tina is a US Navy Veteran with over ten years of experience in various settings, including food service management, clinical nutrition for adults and children, community nutrition, breastfeeding and lactation, nutrition marketing, and clinical nutrition management.
Tina honed her organizational and communication skills while serving as an air traffic controller during her military service. She managed inbound and outbound air traffic to ensure the safety of the flight crew. She was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Medal, and the Air Warfare Specialist for serving with a P3 squadron.
Born and raised in Southern California, Tina earned her bachelor's degree in food and nutrition from San Diego State University, her master's degree in human nutrition with an emphasis in clinical nutrition from the University of Alabama, and is enrolled at the University of Texas Medical Branch studying for her Doctorate in Clinical Nutrition.
Tina and her husband reside in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where they enjoy outdoor activities like hiking, snowboarding, riding their motorcycles, and gardening. She is also a certified 245-hour yoga teacher specializing in Vinyasa and Yin yoga.
Lauren Rocha RD, LD, CNSC Internship Coordinator
Lauren Rocha is the internship coordinator for the Morrison Healthcare Dietetic Internship. She is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) and a Board-Certified Nutrition Support Clinician with over twelve years of experience in the healthcare industry.
Lauren understands the vital role the internship plays in preparing students for their future careers and finds it highly rewarding to help students develop new skills and grow into confident nutrition professionals.
She earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Georgia and completed her internship at the University of Maryland. She is currently pursuing her MBA at the University of North Carolina Charlotte. In 2014, Lauren joined Morrison Healthcare and has worked with leading healthcare systems, including Northwell Health, Tenet Healthcare, and the University of Miami Hospital and Clinics. With extensive experience in clinical nutrition management, she has also precepted dozens of dietetics students over the past decade.
Lauren resides in Charlotte, North Carolina, with her husband, two daughters, and their pup. They enjoy long bike rides, short hikes, and baking homemade jalapeño cheddar sourdough bread as a family.
Lauren Rocha RD, LD, CNSC Internship Coordinator
Katy Flowers is the internship coordinator for the Morrison Healthcare Dietetic Internship at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC). She is a Registered Dietitian with over 7 years of experience in clinical practice at the Medical University of South Carolina. She has a wide array of clinical experience, most recently specializing in trauma and oncology.
Katy is a certified nutrition support clinician with a love for nutrition support. She is dedicated to lifelong learning and has a passion for teaching and mentoring. She completed her bachelor’s degree at Samford University and followed with a master’s in dietetics from the University of Rhode Island in hopes of leading dietetic interns in the future.
Katy is new to the dietetic internship leadership team but has been involved with the program since being a dietetic intern at MUSC in 2017. In her role as our site coordinator at MUSC, Katy is excited to get to engage with interns and preceptors on both personal and professional levels.
Outside of work, Katy can often be found rowing on the Ashley River with the Charleston City Rowing Club, cycling around Charleston with her family, or enjoying a beach walk on Sullivan’s Island with her pups!
