GOALS & OBJECTIVES
The goal of the intensive course in pediatric nutrition is to train health care professionals from around the country in the nutritional management of normal and ill infants and children using the most current, evidence-based information and recommendations. The objectives are that each trainee should be able to: 1) Identify the major benefits of breast feeding and be aware of successful strategies in dealing with common problems encountered by women who are breast feeding. 2) Be cognizant of the composition of breast milk, how composition changes in the course of lactation and in what way the maternal diet affects milk composition. 3) Be aware of the possible effects on the fetus of drugs used by pregnant women and be knowledgeable about which drugs are excreted in breast milk and which are not. 4) State the major differences in composition between milk- and soy-based formulas; and specify the major features and uses of formulas for ill infants. 5) List the most important nutritional problems encountered in preterm infants before and after hospital discharge and state essential features of counseling and care of such infants. 6) State the major paths likely to underlie behavioral abnormalities that are the most common causes of failure to thrive in young infants and children in the U.S., outline strategies for correction. 7) State the major reasons why iron deficiency continues to be the leading nutritional deficiency of infants and small children in the U.S.; specify approaches for prevention. 8) Specify what led to recent changes in fluoride supplementation in infants, state the relevance to infant feeding. Evaluations from previous course participants indicate that these objectives are being achieved.

METHODOLOGY
Each year in May, the week-long intensive course in pediatric nutrition is offered to health care professionals. Plenary sessions are offered throughout the day and each presentation is followed by a question and answer session. On the first three evenings of the course, sessions are presented simultaneously and trainee may choose the topic of greatest interest. Trainees receive a syllabus of lecture materials.

COORDINATION
We have discussed the course with Dr. Jeffrey Lobas, Director of the Iowa Child Health Specialty Clinics, and Jane Borst, R.N., Chief, Iowa Family Service Bureau. They are very supportive of our efforts and aid us in informing the Title V health care professionals in the 32 agencies who deliver these special services to children. Judy Solberg, M.P.H., R.D. is supportive of the course and assists us in contacting WIC health care professionals. Announcements about the course are mailed to each of the 10 MCH Regional contacts, to selected MCH officials and agencies, to the Iowa Department of Public Health, to pediatric dietitians and selected physicians throughout the U.S. and to state WIC agencies.

EVALUATION
Throughout the week, each trainee completes an evaluation form. The comments are studied by faculty and by the Planning Committee and modifications in the course often results from these evaluations. Comments from past trainees confirm the need for this course.

ANNOTATION
The Intensive Course in Pediatric Nutrition is a one week continuing education and development course for health care professionals that provides the most current, evidence-based information and recommendations for the nutritional management of normal and ill infants and children. Plenary sessions are offered each day and each presentation is followed by a question and answer session. Trainees receive a syllabus of lecture materials. Trainees evaluate whether course objectives are met.

KEYWORDS
Breast feeding, child nutrition, continuing education, dietitians, failure to thrive, health professionals, infant nutrition, infants, nutrition, pediatricians, public health education.