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Becoming a functional nutritionist is an exciting and rewarding career. Many people look into nutrition as a career path after a passion for health, wellness, and intentional diet choices, but there is so much to learn about how food, exercise, and other elements of our lives impact the health of our bodies. At Portland Community College, you can pursue a year-long preparation program in Functional Nutrition with a cohort of like-minded students who are also studying through live, online classes. This course is approved by the National Association of Nutrition Professionals as preparation for the Holistic Nutrition Credentialing Board certification exam. 

More and more people are realizing that nutrition is a key factor in good health, and this is creating a demand for professionals who can provide guidance in how to use it to its fullest. This goes far beyond the idea of using food to control weight. Nutrition has been linked to conditions like heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, digestive concerns, and more. It makes sense that while bad nutrition can increase risks, good nutrition can decrease them and may even help people heal from certain conditions.

Whether you've been in the field for a while or are just starting your healthcare career in nutrition, the Functional Nutrition Program at the PCC Institute for Health Professionals will provide many benefits to your career development. The program will not only provide you with a solid foundation to develop your professional nutrition career, but it will also prepare you for the Holistic Nutrition Credentialing Board or HNCB certification exam.

Sarah Molbert, MScN, is an adjunct faculty member at Portland Community College. She is originally from the southern part of Louisiana and moved to Portland four years ago to pursue a Master of Science in Nutrition and a Master of Science in Global Health from the National University of Natural Medicine.

Meet Your Instructor: Beth Lennon, Functional Nutrition   

Beth has a Master’s of Science in Nutrition from NUNM in Portland and has worked for the past 5 years as a Health Coach and Nutritionist. With broad experience in healthcare communications, clinical nutrition, classroom and patient education, she currently works full time as a Health Coach and Nutrition Specialist for a digital healthcare startup called Hinge Health.

Zrinka Glavas, MEd, MSc, attained her Master of Education at the University of Zagreb, Croatia. Her passion for evidence-based nutrition and traditional medicine led her to complete a Master of Science in Nutrition at the National University of Natural Medicine (NUNM) in Portland, Oregon. Zrinka’s love of education and functional nutrition is joined in teaching the effects medical nutrition therapy has on health outcomes.

Julie Marks, MScN, is an adjunct faculty member at Portland Community College, teaching in the Functional Nutrition program. She is also the Nutritionist and Coordinator for the Food as Medicine Institute, where she teaches hands-on cooking and nutrition classes. 

Nutrition is a key factor in good health, and this is creating a demand for professionals who can provide guidance in how to use it to its fullest. This goes far beyond the idea of using food to control weight. Nutrition has been linked to conditions like heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, digestive concerns, and more.

Thinking about taking the Functional Nutrition program? Learn more about instructor Wes Harwood, below! 

The PCC Institute for Health Professionals offers several orientations in the next month to help you determine the program that may be best for you and your interests. Two examples include entry-level certificate programs help you acquire valuable training for jobs that come with good hourly rates - and many of these potential jobs offer great healthcare and savings benefits, too. Don't hesitate to contact us for more information.