Dietetics Workforce Demand Study Task Force supplement: an introduction.

U NDERSTANDING THE FUTURE of the dietetics profession and the role of dietetics practitioners during the next decade demands an in-depth understanding of the factors in the environment driving the profession. To effectivelymeet these challenges, dietetics practitioners will be required to use available data to understand futureneedsandtomakechanges. To achieve these goals, the Dietetics Workforce Demand Study Task Force (Figure 1), appointed by the Commission on Dietetic Registration, has completed a comprehensive reviewand future projections based on Task Forcemembers’ best understanding of the profession in 2011. In themore than 30 years since the first, and only, dietetics workforce demand study was conducted and published, the profession has grown steadily and consistently in each decade, withdieteticpractitioners continuing toexpand the roles within various sectors of dietetics practice and variety of practice settings (Figure 2). In the 21st century, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics will need to continue to rapidly identify future trends for the practice development, education, and credentialing needs of dietetics practitioners and the clients they serve. Understanding theworkforceallows theAcademytobetter align its strategy and resources to adequately support the dietetics practitioner and develop new practitioners to achieve the profession’s goals and position the profession tomeet futuredemands.Manyhave visions of the future that include the recognition, rewards, and respect for the profession thatdieteticspractitioners so richlydeserve. To reach this vision, the Academy is challenged by the need to confront three