We at Brenner FIT® believe it is important to spend time focusing on continuing education opportunities for current and future medical providers to spread the message of safe, effective and kind obesity care for children and their families.
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Professional Education
Brenner FIT strives to reach children and adults in the community to improve health.
Brenner FIT Academy: For Professionals
Brenner FIT has created a 6-part virtual series to train providers in our approach to caring for children with weight and associated health concerns. Providers who attend the course learn how to support families to make positive health changes in a safe, family-centered way. After course completion, attendees receive access to Brenner FIT educational handouts and continued support and connections with Brenner FIT teammates.
Medical Student and Resident Education
The Doctor is in… The Kitchen
First year Wake Forest University School of Medicine students participate in this 5-class series that teaches practical, applied nutrition, better preparing future physicians to counsel their patients on beneficial nutrition habits. Dr. Skelton has been leading this series since 2017, and it is a student favorite, with many calling it the “highlight of their first year of medical school!” About 40 students participate every year, coming to the 2-hour sessions in the evening, where they benefit from practical didactic lectures on nutrition, hands-on cooking lessons and enjoying a meal with their classmates. Read more in the Winston-Salem Journal.
Dr. Joey Skelton, Director of Brenner FIT
Didactic sessions
A 2-hour teaching session is provided to all 3rd year medical students at the beginning of their pediatric rotation. During this interactive session, students are introduced to the medical aspects of pediatric obesity and the Brenner FIT approach to obesity care around nutrition and activity.
Each year Brenner FIT organizes an Academic Half Day for all pediatric residents as an immersive, interactive discussion of various aspects of pediatric obesity.
Topics covered include:
- Medical co-morbidities of pediatric obesity and their evaluation
- Satter’s Division of Responsibility in feeding model
- Making activity enjoyable through play
- Family functioning and obesity treatment
- Hands-on cooking classes
Clinical rotations
Clinical rotations (for 2 weeks or 4 weeks) are available for senior medical students and pediatric or family medicine residents (Atrium Health ID required). The rotations can be tailored to the learner’s specific interests, including a variety of clinical experiences. Medical visits, dietitian and counselor visits, physical therapy and activity sessions are all included in the rotation. Self-study resources are provided to each learner. Helping with and observing classes in the Brenner FIT teaching kitchen or virtually can also be incorporated into the schedule.
In addition, shorter observational experiences, such as shadowing for one or just a few days, can be arranged on a limited individual basis for medical or other health professional trainees (Atrium Health ID required).
Internships and Volunteer Opportunities
Internship Opportunities
Brenner FIT offers unpaid internships throughout the year with a minimum commitment of 240 hours. We have well-rounded internship opportunities in the fields of MSW, health promotion, exercise science, nutrition/dietetics and other related fields of study. Brenner FIT is committed to recruiting students from diverse racial, ethnic or socioeconomic backgrounds and welcoming students with any gender identity, sexual orientation or country of origin.
Application Deadlines
- Fall: May 1
- Spring: October 1
- Summer: February 1
Fill out a form if you are interested in being an intern with Brenner FIT and attach your resume. In addition, based on your research about Brenner FIT, please create an educational flyer around our messaging: Cook. Eat. Play. Repeat. We accept Microsoft Word, Publisher and PDF formats. Please send the required forms (application, flyer and resume) to brennerfit@wakehealth.edu
