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KACAD
Sandra Keith, MPH, RDN, LD founded K&A Nutrition in 1996. Working as a consulting RDN, she discovered client needs that were not being met. This led to her developing a medical equipment company (K&A DME) and pharmacy (Quality First) to better serve the needs of her clients. K&A DME and Quality First Pharmacy continue to grow and be successful companies today. Ryan Keith trained as a chemical engineer and attorney and is currently serving as Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel. Sandy and Ryan are entrepreneurs building and adding new companies while being at the innovative forefront of Tulsa business.
Today, K&A Nutrition employs over 15 RDNs who provide nutritional services across the life span including group homes, Head Start, hospitals, assisted living facilities, skilled nursing and long-term care facilities , senior nutrition, and hospice. The consulting firm provides dietitian coverage for short-term and fill-in contracts. K & A Nutrition RDNs were the first preceptors for KADDI (Keith and Associates Distance Dietetic Internship)!
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Patti Landers relocated to Tulsa and began working as a consulting dietitian for K&A Nutrition after her tenure as an internship director with the University of Oklahoma. She has also previously served as a site visitor for the Accreditation Council for Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND). She became an intrapreneur developing the internship program. K&A Nutrition was excited about the opportunity and became the sponsor for the program. In March 2017, KADDI received accreditation and accepted 37 interns for the inaugural class. KADDI has since flourished and now enrolling up to 97 interns annually.
Keith & Associates, Inc. and the University of Central Arkansas are expanding to offer a FEM (future education model) program to provide opportunities for students graduating from DPD (didactic program in dietetics) or other non-DPD bachelor programs. The FEM will allow students to simultaneously obtain a Master of Science degree from the University of Central Arkansas and a dietetic internship verification statement from the Keith & Associates program.
HISTORY & LEADERSHIP
Patti Landers, PhD, RDN, LD, FAND
Patti Landers, PhD, RD, LD, FAND is the Program Director. Dr. Landers is very experienced and was awarded Professor Emeritus status from the Department of Nutritional Sciences at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. In 17 years at OUHSC, she served as director of the dietetic internship program as well as the didactic and coordinated programs.
Sara Hallgren-Tillery, MA, RDN, LD
Sara Hallgren-Tillery, MA, RD, LD is the Associate Director. She has spent the last 15 years working as lead clinical dietitian at an academic medical center hospital in Tulsa, OK. During that time she provided nutrition to diverse groups, organizations and individuals. She has specialized training in neonatal nutrition and child and adolescent weight management. In addition to excellent patient care, she has used her positive attitude and energy to teach nutrition to medical residents, nurses, ancillary staff, and interns.
Crystal Dake, Program Assistant
Crystal has worked for Keith & Associates, Inc. for over 5 years. Starting as Sandy Keith’s assistant, managing schedules for over 15 other dietitians across Oklahoma, and handling the office work for over 120 DDSD clients for K&A dietitians. When the internship was created, she became the program assistant. She executes affiliation agreements and handles intern records and onboarding procedures, playing a vital role in the KAIDEP program.
Sandra Keith, MPH, RDN, LD
Sandra Keith graduated from Baylor University’s dietetic internship and received her master's in public health from the University of Oklahoma. She is the president of Keith & Associates, Inc. which she founded in 1968 to provide consulting services to facilities across Oklahoma. Sandy is also contracted with the State of Oklahoma to provide nutritional services to consumers of the Department of Developmentally Disabled (DDSD) under Oklahoma’s Medicaid Program. Sandy stays active in the Oklahoma Dietetic Association and continues to find ways to give back to the profession.
