12 I Spring 2018 www.anjc.info Once upon a time, athletic competition began at the starting line; today, it begins at the dinner table. To be sure, as the stories of the training regimens of elite athletes – names like Serena Williams, Tom Brady, LeBron James – become more and more familiar to us all, it’s clear nutrition is increasingly noted as a cornerstone of athletic perfor- mance. The approach taken by sports, healthcare, and nutrition professionals to improve an athlete’s diet can be essential to his or her athletic performance and recovery, and provide an all-important competitive advantage. Yet, diet remains a difficult aspect of the athlete’s training regimen to evaluate and optimize without specialized training. With few options for graduate-level training in the field of sports nutrition and an increasing demand for specialized knowledge, there is a need to offer additional advanced training to future sports nutrition professionals. A Growing Field According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (www.bls.gov), employment in the field of dietetics and nutrition is expected to increase at a rate of 15 percent over the 2016-2026 decade – thanks in part to an increased awareness of health and wellness, and a growing prominence of athletic culture. This rapidly growing specialty within the healthcare field has captured the attention of those looking to expand their expertise to include optimizing human performance – whether through giving elite athletes the edge they seek or enabling everyday athletes to go further and improve their personal best. Food and diet profoundly impact not only one’s general health, but also the body as a source of performance. Sports nutrition professionals work with athletes to recognize the importance of real food, designing customized nutrition programs that reflect their real goals. From hitting peak achievement to supporting advanced healing, different individuals’ objectives have vastly different – often evolving – energy needs. This is where a sports nutritionist makes an impact, one that can mean the difference between first place and fifth place, or a much-ab- breviated recovery period and quicker return to competition after injury. A Flexible, Graduate-Level Degree To meet the demand for this growing field, New York Chiropractic College (which is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education) has created a Master of Science degree program in Sports Nutrition. This new degree is designed to be a completely online, graduate-level academic program without any residency requirements – one of only a few fully online master’s programs in this discipline. The 36-credit graduate program, which will launch in January 2019, is designed for a part-time course of study, with students taking two or three courses per trimester for two years. The online delivery format provides a flexible learning environment to help facilitate the learning and time commitment of working professionals and healthcare providers. Preparing Students for Lasting Careers Graduates can immediately begin their careers in the field of clinical nutrition, working in a wide range of environments such as clinical practice, consulting, and working with athletic teams. Other career opportunities include teaching, working for the government or not-for-profit agencies, or working in a related industry setting. As well, earning an MS in Sports Nutrition will enhance the professional paths of coaches, athletic trainers, exercise physiologists, and various healthcare professionals. The program will launch in January 2019, and applications are now being accepted. Learn more at nycc.edu. New York Chiropractic College in Seneca Falls, N.Y., is recognized as a leading institution for the education and training of outstanding natural healthcare professionals and academicians. The College’s graduate programs in areas such as chiropractic, acupuncture and oriental medicine, and health sciences and education are rooted in a commitment to academic excellence, quality patient care, and professional leadership—a commit- ment to Pursue Perfect Form. Learn more at: www.nycc.edu New York Chiropractic College Offers Master’s Degree in Sports Nutrition New Online Degree Reflects Growing Awareness of Nutrition’s Role in Athletic Success NUTRITION COUNCIL Legislative Update Legal Ease LEGAL Chiro Assist TECHNIQUE Council NUTRITION Council REHABILITATION Council Legal Q&A S C H O L ARSHIP WI N N E R S