A Recap of CAND’s 100 Years of Rich History

This year may be one of the most exciting years to be a member of the Chicago Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics as 2016 marks the 100-year anniversary of the organization! Here is a recap of just some of its accomplishments over the last 100 years.

The Chicago Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (CAND) is the oldest dietetics association in the world. (We’re one year older than the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, which met for the first time the following year in Cleveland, Ohio!) The first CAND meeting was held on October 27, 1916. Seventeen dietitians from eight institutions met to discuss better work standards for local dietitians. They originally called the group, “The Hospital Dietitians of Chicago”. Maude Perry was elected as the first president that year.

In 1919, the name of the group was changed to Chicago Dietetic Association and membership was opened to women in the profession outside of the hospital setting. In the early 1920s, the board published quarterly bulletins that reviewed new nutrition-related research, predating the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics which was first published in 1925. The organization played an important role in the petition to create a national exam for the credentialing of dietitians in the 1960s and 1970s.

During the 1980s and 1990s, the Chicago Dietetic Association collaborated with members of the South Suburban Dietetic Association to create the Manual of Clinical Dietetics. Members practicing in various clinical specialties provided guidelines for their areas of expertise. The Manual of Clinical Dietetics served as a valuable resource for clinical practice for dietitians in the Chicago area for many years.

In 2013, the name was changed to Chicago Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Our organization continues to support local dietitians and advocate for the Registered Dietitian as the nutrition expert. Among many member benefits, CAND holds 4 dinner meetings annually to provide members the opportunity to earn continuing education credits through engaging presentations as well as time to network with other RDs in the area.

Here’s to another 100 years! Celebrate with us at the 100 Year Anniversary Gala on October 27^th at the Chicago History Museum.

***Thanks to Marie Ross for providing much of this history of CAND!***

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