About

SAMANTHA SCHLEIGER MS, RDN, CD, CLT
Integrative Registered Dietitian Nutritionist | Functional Medicine Practitioner
Certified LEAP therapist | Mindful + Intuitive Eating Practitioner
Certified Dietitian [WI] | Insured

EXPERIENCE

Manage internal operations of integrative chiropractic office and procedures regarding practice member care.

Consultant Registered Dietitian Nutritionist – Long Term Care/Rehab
Wisconsin & Illinois Senior Housing - Holton Manor | Elkhorn, WI | 2/2017-present

Responsible participating in menu planning following guidelines for facility license.
Responsible for performing initial and follow-up assessments on appropriate patients/residents and demonstrating working knowledge of illness, injuries, and disease-states when providing medical nutrition therapy.
Responsible for documenting results of patient care within established policies, procedures, and scope of practice, while maintaining consistency and accuracy in data collection and documentation.

Responsible for developing the plan of care based on patients’/residents’ psychosocial, cultural, ethnic, and religious/spiritual needs.

Integrative Registered Dietitian Nutritionist – Spinal Cord Injury/Disorder (Adaptive Sport Performance Dietitian)
Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center | Milwaukee, WI | 10/2019-present

Served as adaptive sport performance dietitian for the VA's National Adaptive Sports Clinic.

Integrative Registered Dietitian Nutritionist – Spinal Cord Injury/Disorder (Clinical Dietitian - Inpatient/Outpatient/Rehab)
Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center | Milwaukee, WI | 8/2016-10/2019

Responsible for planning, developing and directing all nutritional care activities for assigned inpatients.
Provided outpatient counseling sessions on an individual basis.
Collaboratively worked with the interdisciplinary team to ensure patient’s nutrition-related needs are met via whole, nutrient-dense diet or when alternative form of nutrition managed is deemed necessary.
Provided medical nutrition therapy and education for Veterans who have sustained a spinal cord injury participating in the SCI Inpatient Rehab Program.
Supported the facility’s mission and coordinated care with other health care providers and Veterans and their families.
Successfully created and implemented an interdisciplinary program (with an OTR/L) hands-on approach to learning the power of nutrition through cooking and gardening in Veterans with SCI (SCI FRESH Cooking Program [bi-monthly] and SCI Gardening Program [bi-monthly]).
Created educational lecture for SCI/D Residents and Fellows regarding the unique nutrition needs of Veterans with SCI/D (i.e. wound healing nutrition needs, anemia/iron supplementation, alternative means of nutrition, nutrition-focused physical exam, NDD1/NDD2/NDD3 Dysphagia Diet, etc.). Additionally, presented to SCI/D Fellows on general wellness and self-care during their fellowship.
Working to implement the use of Indirect Calorimetry (MedGem) into SCI/D clinical care including writing a SCI/D Division Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) and NFS Procedure.
Served as the chair/facilitator for the ‘Weight Measurement PDSA’ project workgroup; gathered preliminary data to identify needs, organized task group, and wrote/tracked progress of the PDSA project.
Successfully implemented the use of the SCI/D ECU devices for Room Service Menu viewing to increase Veteran independence and ease when placing a food order through Room Service.
Applied to the VHA Innovators Network Spark-Seed-Spread Innovation Investment Program; selected to advance to Phase 2 of Program; pitched innovation idea to Milwaukee VAMC top management.
Conducted NFS Inpatient oral nutrition supplement (ONS) monitor for FY18 Quarter 1; created documented with data and findings; presented outcomes to Clinical Practice Meeting (NFS Management and RD/DTR staff)
Revised the national SCI/D Nutrition Annual Evaluation tool (Annual Exam laboratory values); uploaded to National NFS Sharepoint Patient Education Handouts page.
Selected to present on the Clinical Nutrition Subcommittee national call (April 2019) on SCI/D FRESH and Garden Programs.
Collaborated with National SCI/D Instructional Systems Specialist (Erik Wallen) and Health System Specialist (Meaghan Park) to upload our SCI FRESH/Garden Program curriculum to the SCI Whole Health SharePoint page (“Resources for Implementing Whole Health in SCI/D”)
Participated in a 2017 PDSA project where our team implemented the SCI/D Outpatient Medical Rehab Program
Participated in the Clement J. Zablocki VA Mentorship Program (2017)
Conducted Nutrition and Food Service Patient Satisfaction surveys on the SCI/D ward
Helped to coordinate and implement the 2017 National Nutrition Month in-person cooking demonstration with Chef Justin Carlisle; served as the RD moderator/educator during event
Served as preceptor to Mount Mary Dietetic Internship students
Coordinated an outing with the SCI/D Recreation Therapy Department to take Veterans to a local farmers market to learn more about fresh produce, sustainability, resources, etc. (2018)
Coordinated an outing with Occupational Therapy to take Veterans on a local grocery store tour to educate them on helpful, nutritious ways to grocery shop, how to read food labels, how to effectively purchase food in bulk, etc.
Served as staff RD during SCI/D Wound Rounds with medical team
Served as RD representative during 2018 National Nutrition Month event
Committees/Workgroups: Nutrition Subcommittee (2016-2018); SCI/D Healthy Work Environment (2018-present); SCI/D Complementary and Alternative Medicine (2018-present); Employee Wellness Committee - SCI/D Department Leader (2018-present); SCI/D National RD Committee (2019-present); VA National Functional Nutrition Workgroup (2019-present)

Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (Clinical Dietitian - Inpatient/Outpatient)
Aurora Medical Center | Kenosha, WI | 10/2015-3/2016

Developed and implemented a plan of care for patients based on assessment of nutritional needs in correlation with interdisciplinary health care plans. Utilized a nutrition-focused physical exam (NFPE), clinical and laboratory data to complete assessment.
Reviewed patient’s diet order, determined clinical appropriateness and collaborated with MD concerning patient care.
Documented results of nutritional assessment, MNT recommended and initiated, plan of care, results of diet consultation, recommendations for discharge planning, and nutrition orders in medical record (EPIC) in a timely manner.
Provided nutrition education through individual and group teaching to patients/families, staff and the community.

Maintained accurate record-keeping of daily clinical activities, including information for scheduling and billing.

E D U C A T I O N

Dietetic Internship | Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital | Hines, IL 60141 | 8/2014-6/2015
Focus: Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT); Research: Evaluation of outcomes of the Cooking Healthy Everyday Foods (CHEF) Program; Clinical Practice: Pediatrics, Hematology/Oncology, Spinal Cord Injury, Geriatrics, Surgery, Renal, Parenteral/Enteral Nutrition, Ambulatory Care, Wellness, Food Service Systems Management, Clinical Nutrition Management, Home-based Primary Care, Mental Health, Geriatrics/Hospice

Additional Graduate-level Courses | University of Illinois-Chicago | 9/2014-6/2015
College of Applied Health Sciences | Chicago, IL 60612

Research on Clinical Nutrition Problems

Advanced Clinical Nutrition III

Human Performance Program

L I C E N S U R E & C E R T I F I C A T I O N S

In progress: American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) – Certified Exercise Physiologist (CEP)
In progress: Integrative and Functional Nutrition Certified Practitioner (IFNCP)
Mindful & Intuitive Eating Practitioner (MIEP) | 5/2019
Certified LEAP Therapist (CLT) | 3/2019
Registered Dietitian | Registration Number: 86026697 | 5/31/2021
Certified Dietitian | License Number: 2887-29 | 10/31/2020
Basic Life Support (BLS) | American Heart Association | 9/2020
ServSafe | National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation | License Number: 9465139 | 2019
TRX Suspension Training | 2011
CrossFit Level 1 | 2010

P R O F E S S I O N A L O R G A N I Z A T I O N S

Integrative and Functional Nutrition Academy (IFNA) | 2019-present
Academy of Spinal Cord Injury Professionals (ASCIP) | 2018-2019
Dietitians in Integrative and Functional Medicine (DIFM) DPG | 2017-present
Nutrition Entrepreneurs (NE) DPG | 2016-present
Sports, Cardiovascular and Wellness Nutrition (SCAN) DPG | 2012-present
Wisconsin Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics (WAND) | 2011-present
Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND) | 2011-present

R E S E A R C H , P U B L I C A T I O N S & S P E A K I N G E N G A G E M E N T S

Clinical Nutrition Subcommittee (CNS) National Call | “A Hands-on Approach to Healthy Habits in SCI/D” (FRESH Cooking Class and Gardening Program) | 4/2019

Wisconsin Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (WAND) Conference | Innovation in Nutrition Presentation | “A Hands-on Approach to Healthy Habits in SCI/D” | 3/2019
Expert Panel Member: “Engaging Patients and Providers in Identifying and Addressing Modifiable Risk Factors to Prevent Community-Acquired Ulcers in Veterans with SCI” Delphi Study| Edward Hines Jr. VA | 2018-2022
Research Study - Vitamin D Status in the SCI/D Population (a retrospective chart review) | Clement J. Zablocki VAMC SCI/D Center | 2018-present
2018 Academy of Spinal Cord Injury Professionals (ASCIP) Conference | Speaker | A Hands-on Approach to Healthy Habits in SCI | 9/2018
Presenter: 2018 VISN 12 Hub & Spoke Conference | Integrative and Functional Approaches to Providing Nutrition Care in SCI
Research Study | Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital | An evaluation of self-efficacy and clinical outcomes of the Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital and Joliet CBOC C.H.E.F. Program | 6/2015
Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics – Student Scoop | Make Yours an Unforgettable Internship Experience (3/2015)
Thesis | Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center | Impact of a Healthy Teaching Kitchen course versus standard nutrition education on knowledge, behavior and confidence in people with SCI/D | 5/2014
Dunn County Newspaper | Menomonie, WI | De-flaming your diet | 11/2013

Button, N., Dickinson, C., Krueger, S., & Meschke, A. (2010). The effects of Gatorade’s G-Series on 300-meter shuttle run times of collegiate and semi-professional athletes. The Journal of Undergraduate Kinesiology Research, 6(1), 39-45.

H O N O R S & A W A R D S

Dietitians in Integrative and Functional Medicine (DIFM): Diversity Stipend Award | 2019
Department of Veterans Affairs: ‘Exceptional’ rating for 2018 performance evaluation | 2018
Department of Veterans Affairs: Award for VISN 12 2018 SCI/D Hub and Spoke Conference presentation | 2018
Department of Veterans Affairs: ‘Exceptional’ rating for 2017 performance evaluation | 2017
Department of Veterans Affairs: Award for creating/implementing SCI Annual Exam lunch bag program (partnership with WI-PVA) | 2017
Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation Scholarship | 2014
Wisconsin Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Outstanding Dietetics Student (DPD) Award | 2014
Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Outstanding Dietetics Student Award | 2014
Wisconsin Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Bernice Mateicka Health Care Food Service Scholarship | 2014
Phi Upsilon Omicron-Tau Chapter Professional Project, Region I Winners | 2013
University of Wisconsin-Stout University Foundation Scholarship | 2013
Wisconsin Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Jo Saunders Scholarship | 2013
Aurora Health Care Elizabeth A. Miller Scholarship | 2012
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Arlyn W. Gravunder Kinesiology & Athletic Scholarship | 2010
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Women’s Soccer Team Captain/Team Award | 2008-2009/2008, 2009
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Student Leadership Award Nomination | 2008

O T H E R E X P E R I E N C E

Health Coach (Temporary position)
Group Health Cooperative | Altoona, WI 54720 | 5/2012-11/2012

Planned and implemented health promotion initiatives to members (biometrics, HRAs, health coaching, follow-up, etc.).

Personal Trainer
FitELITE LLC. | Eau Claire, WI 54701 | 6/2010-10/2012

Worked within a team environment to coordinate activities for promotional events and business opportunities.
Created and implemented cardiovascular, resistance training and nutrition programs on an individual and group basis.
CrossFit Level 1 Certified
TRX Certified

A D D I T I O N A L T R A I N I N G & P R O F E S S I O N A L D E V E L O P M E N T

University of Arizona Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine (AWCIM) - Environmental Health | 5/2020
University of Arizona Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine (AWCIM) - Foundations in Integrative Health | 9/2019
Department of Veterans Affairs: Whole Health Training - Eating for Whole Health | 1/2019
Department of Veterans Affairs: Eating for Whole Health: Introduction to Functional Nutrition | 2018
Institute of Functional Medicine: Integrative and Functional Medicine Online Course | 8/2018
Institute of Functional Medicine: Clinical Solutions for Addressing the Underlying Causes of Disease | 8/2018
Institute of Functional Medicine: Nutrition Oriented Physical Exam – N Sight | 12/2018
Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics: Certificate of Training in Integrative and Functional Nutrition | 9/2018
Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics: Certificate of Training in Adult Weight Management | 9/2016
Book: The Psychobiotic Revolution | 12/2018

Regularly read the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and AND Position Papers

SAMANTHA SCHLEIGER MS, RDN, CD, CLT
Integrative Registered Dietitian Nutritionist | Functional Medicine Practitioner
Certified LEAP therapist | Mindful + Intuitive Eating Practitioner
Certified Dietitian [WI] | Insured

EXPERIENCE

E D U C A T I O N

L I C E N S U R E & C E R T I F I C A T I O N S

P R O F E S S I O N A L O R G A N I Z A T I O N S

R E S E A R C H , P U B L I C A T I O N S & S P E A K I N G E N G A G E M E N T S

H O N O R S & A W A R D S

O T H E R E X P E R I E N C E

A D D I T I O N A L T R A I N I N G & P R O F E S S I O N A L D E V E L O P M E N T

LOCATION

CLINIC HOURS

SUBSCRIBE

​SAMANTHA SCHLEIGER MS, RDN, CD, CLTIntegrative Registered Dietitian Nutritionist | Functional Medicine Practitioner​Certified LEAP therapist | Mindful + Intuitive Eating PractitionerCertified Dietitian [WI] | Insured

EXPERIENCE

E D U C A T I O N

L I C E N S U R E & C E R T I F I C A T I O N S

P R O F E S S I O N A L O R G A N I Z A T I O N S

R E S E A R C H , P U B L I C A T I O N S & S P E A K I N G E N G A G E M E N T S

H O N O R S & A W A R D S

O T H E R E X P E R I E N C E

A D D I T I O N A L T R A I N I N G & P R O F E S S I O N A L D E V E L O P M E N T

LOCATION

CLINIC HOURS

SUBSCRIBE

SAMANTHA SCHLEIGER MS, RDN, CD, CLT
Integrative Registered Dietitian Nutritionist | Functional Medicine Practitioner
Certified LEAP therapist | Mindful + Intuitive Eating Practitioner
Certified Dietitian [WI] | Insured