Abstract: In games of strategy, master players are those who can assess the current layout of the board while envisioning alternative future moves and countermoves based on what other players do. Master players know how many moves it takes to reach checkmate or to build a hotel on Boardwalk. Sneed and Gregoire (p 860) applied this type of “down-board” or long-range thinking to the dietetics profession and suggest 8 areas of future focus to ensure the profession's success. A key to down-board planning is gathering the appropriate evidence to make future decisions. Here are a few ways to tap the rich resources in the Journal to help you become a down-board thinker and a strategic master in the dietetics profession. ■ Keep abreast of ongoing research Today's research study may be tomorrow's practice innovation so down-board thinkers take careful note of recurring research topics and preliminary results, especially when they relate to their practice area. The article on carbohydrate counting in diabetes practice (p 897) says renewed interest in this diabetes management method is the result of its use in the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (DCCT). Savvy down-board thinkers anticipated this practice trend when the Journal first published DCCT results several years ago and began to gather more information. What other research results may predict future directions for practice? ■ Identify interdisciplinary partners Kensinger et al (p 863) found that women who are weight cyclers and binge eaters have more psychological symptoms. In the accompanying Practice Points (p 868), Byron shows how dietetics professionals can forge partnerships with mental health professionals to treat clients whose disordered eating is symptomatic of psychological problems. As our focus turns to interdisciplinary teams, it pays to look at the nondietetics disciplines represented by researchers. Are they public health physicians? nurses? health care executives? Who do you propose as potential partners? ■ Adopt new practice guidelines Treatment flow charts like those Gillespie et al developed for the different levels of carbohydrate counting (p 900, 901, 903) help dietitians make sound decisions about how to treat clients. In Perspectives in Practice articles like this, dietetics professionals share tried-and-true innovations from their own practice. What practice tips would be adaptable to your setting? Which of your practice tips could you share with others? ■ Learn about professional trends Keeping abreast of Association activities and trends is another way to track the future direction of the dietetics profession. President Coulston, for instance, highlights the need for dietetics professionals to respond to our nation's growing diversity (pp 862 and 915). The FYI covers the Association's media efforts to promote the profession (p 859). What skill areas do you need to develop for professional enhancement? ■ Develop responses to consumer concerns Concerns about nutrition issues are a fixture in the news, and consumers look to dietetics professionals for authoritative responses. Journal articles provide the facts you need to give consumers science-based, rational answers. Insights into food safety issues, for instance, are found on page 885. What other consumer concerns can be addressed with Journal research? ■ Analyze outcomes evidence Outcomes research is vital to down-board thinking. A far-sighted practitioner will use outcomes research to prove the need for medical nutrition therapy, for example, by presenting hospital administrators with dollar-based evidence that medical nutrition therapy lowers serum cholesterol levels and saves medication costs (p 889). How can you use similar studies to effect changes in hospital, management, or reimbursement policies? BOARD OF EDITORS Judith V. Anderson, DrPH, RD, Michigan Department of Public Health, Lansing Judith M. Ashley, PhD, RD, University of Nevada, Reno Stacey J. Bell, DSc, RD, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass Lori Borrud, DrPH, RD, US Department of Agriculture, Riverdale, Md Pamela L. Y. H. Ching, SeD, RD, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Ga Bertrum C. Connell, PhD, RD, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, Calif Sonja L. Connor, MS, RD, The Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland John P. Foreyt, PhD, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Tex Michele Morath Gottschlich, PhD, RD, Shriners Burns Institute, Cincinnati, Ohio Mary B. Gregoire, PhD, RD, FADA, Rush-Presbyterian-St Luke's Medical Center, Chicago, Ill Jean H. Hankin, DrPH, RD, University of Hawaii, Honolulu Janet R. Hunt, PhD, RD, US Department of Agriculture, Grand Forks, ND Rachel K. Johnson, PhD, MPH, RD, University of Vermont, Burlington Janice L. Kidd, PhD, MBA, RD, Kidd & Company, Knoxville, Tenn Nancy F. Krebs, MD, RD, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Denver Karen S. Kubena, PhD, RD, Texas A&M University, College Station Richard D. Mattes, PhD, MPH, RD, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Ind Beverly J. McCabe, PhD, RD, The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock Cheryl L. Rock, PhD, RD, FADA, University of California, San Diego Linda G. Snetselaar, PhD, RD, University of Iowa, Iowa City Patricia L. Splett, PhD, RD, Cost-effectiveness Consultant, St Paul, Minn Lesley Fels Tinker, PhD, RD, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, Wash Linda V. Van Horn, PhD, RD, Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, Ill Virginia L. Wilkening, MS, RD, US Food and Drug Administration, Washington, DC Anita K. Wilson, PhD, University of Wisconsin-Stout, Menomonie Judith Wylie-Rosett, EdD, RD, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY