Miriam (Mim) Seidel, MS, RD, LDN
Hometown: Pittsburgh, PA
Joined Chatham: 2010
ACADEMIC AREAS OF INTEREST
Food Access/Food Security, Regional Food Systems, Chronic disease prevention, Wellness
PERSONAL AREAS OF INTEREST
Cross country skiing, gardening, running
BIOGRAPHY
Mim Seidel is a registered dietitian with a Master’s degree in Nutrition. Her areas of expertise include public health nutrition and principles; food access and food security issues and programs; translational research and program planning and development. Professionally, Mim has focused on public health in underserved communities. Among other positions, she was the Manager of the Chronic Disease Prevention Program at the Allegheny County Health Department in Pittsburgh where she assessed disease rates and implemented programs to address needs. She also worked for the WIC program in three states and with UPMC on a diabetes prevention research grant. Most recently, Mim completed a research intervention to increase utilization of WIC farmers' markets checks. Mim’s interest in and commitment to access to food and food system issues is shown in her past and present volunteer experiences. She currently is chair of the Pittsburgh Food Policy Council Steering Committee. She has been a member of the Onondaga County (Syracuse) Food System Council; Mayor’s Food Policy Commission (Pittsburgh); SW PA Food System Council; Just Harvest board and Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank board. As a board member of the Food Bank, and chair of its Food and Nutrition Committee she was instrumental in moving the Food Bank to look at quality as well as quantity of food by contributing to and promoting the development and use of the now widely used Choose Healthy Options Program (CHOP).
EDUCATION
- MS in Nutrition, Boston University, BS in Nutrition Penn State University
ORGANIZATIONS
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
- Seidel M, Brink L, Hamilton M, Leslie Gordon, L: Increasing WIC Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program Redemption Rates: Results and Policy Recommendation. Progress in Community Health Partnerships: Research, Education, and Action. Accepted for publication March 10, 2017.
- Seidel M, Laquatra I, Woods M, Sharrard J: Applying a Nutrient Rich Foods Index Algorithm to Address Nutrient Content of Food Bank Food. J Academy Nutr and Dietet: 115(5): 695-670, 2015.
- Seidel MC; Powell RO, Zgibor JC, Siminerio LM, Piatt GA: Translating the Diabetes Prevention Program into an Urban Underserved Community. Diabetes Care 31: 684 -689, 2008
CERTIFICATIONS
- Commission on Dietetic Registration: Nutrition; Licensed Dietitian/Nutritionist
ACHIEVEMENTS
- Serve as Chair of the Steering Committee, Pittsburgh Food Policy Council
- Served as chair of the Food and Nutrition Committee of the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, 2004 - 2015
SELECTED PRESENTATIONS
- Seidel M, Clark J, Palmer A, Applefield S: Food Policy Councils and Academia: Reciprocal Relationships in Action. Round Table Discussion at AFHVS and ASFS Annual Meeting June 2018.
- Seidel M, Hamilton M, Gordon L, Carioti C, Brink L: Multi-level Intervention Increases WIC FMNP Redemption Rate in Pittsburgh, PA. Society for Nutrition and Education and Behavior Annual Meeting. Poster Session. July 2017.
- Seidel M, Hamilton M, Gordon L: Multi-level Intervention Increases WIC FMNP Redemption Rate in Pittsburgh, PA. Oral presentation, Association for the Study of Food and Society Annual Meeting, June 2016.
- Laquatra I, Seidel M, Woods M, Sharrard J: Improving the Nutritional Profile of Foods Available to Food Bank Participants. Poster session at the Food and Nutrition Conference and Exhibition, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Annual Meeting, October 2014.
- Seidel, M: SUMMER: SUpport, Move More, Eat Right – a diabetes prevention and community garden feasibility study. Association for the Study of Food and Society Annual Meeting, June 2014.
- Seidel, M: Process and Creativity in Sustainable Consumption: Developing and Engaging Regional Food Guides. Association for the Study of Food and Society Annual Meeting, June 2013.
- Seidel, M: Urban Gardens and Diabetes Prevention: A Natural Partner. Association for the Study of Food and Society Annual Meeting, 2012.