I didn’t always know I wanted to be a dietitian, in fact, I didn’t realize my passion for nutrition until I spent seven years working in an industry that I didn’t enjoy. I selected my undergraduate major through the very scientific process of “Eeny, meeny, miny, moe”. Advertising won and after graduation I began a career at an ad agency. Working in the agency world taught me how to multi-task, be more flexible, and communicate with a myriad of personalities. But, no matter how much I learned or what success came from my efforts, I never truly felt like I was making a difference. When I went home at the end of the day, I felt unfulfilled and I longed to be part of something more meaningful.
When I wasn’t working at the agency, I was reading about nutrition: overall health, diet and disease prevention. The China Study, written by Campbell & Campbell, was one of the books that really inspired me. In the book, the authors detail an extensive study, exposing a direct correlation between nutrition and the prevalence of terminal illnesses like cancer, type II diabetes, obesity, and heart disease. The science behind it all fascinated me, so I immersed myself in as many publications as I could find. All of my reading motivated me to change my own diet, and I began to understand the power of food.
In 2011, I decided to put my developing passion to the test by taking a graduate course on nutrition and diet at Boston University. The course was an excellent introduction to nutrition; it focused on the relationship between diet and health, as well as discussed the biochemistry of macro and micronutrients and the scientific processes and enzymes, hormones and organs involved in digesting and absorbing food. We also studied diet in different cultures throughout the world and the health related pros and cons associated with them. In addition, the course detailed dietary recommendations and guidelines in the U.S., as well as the changing nutritional needs a person goes through during their life. I loved the course and wished I could go beyond this broad introduction and continue to learn more right away. The experience convinced me that I was finally on the right path.
Even though I felt I had discovered my passion, I was hesitant to leave a successful advertising career without being 100% certain. I reached out to local Atlanta dietitians to see if I could shadow them. Shadowing gave me an invaluable insight into the world of nutrition: each person has unique nutritional needs that must be met. I learned the importance of staying positive, communicating effectively and encouraging patients to make the right dietary choices. While I was shadowing, I observed a patient’s enthusiasm after her RD coached and motivated her to reassess her eating habits and focus on making the easiest changes first. They worked together and agreed on focusing on eating at least two fresh fruits per day until their next meeting. This “small steps” approach inspired the patient and did not overwhelm her. My dreams and goals are to create the same level of excitement for my future patients.
I continued my research in the field and was able to shadow another dietitian that specialized in diabetes management, cardiovascular disease, hypertension and high cholesterol. This experience was especially exciting for me because this is the type of work I would like to do in the future. Most of the patients I observed had been diagnosed with type II diabetes. Their doctors had referred them to the dietitian. They showed up frightened, but with a surprisingly positive attitude towards the changes they were about to make. It seemed like they would do anything not to have to go on insulin. The patients I observed were overweight and many were on medication for high cholesterol and hypertension. The dietitian discussed the need for them to make a commitment to a lifestyle change. She was very understanding and explained that there will always be challenges like weddings and birthdays, but they needed to make nutrition a consistent part of their life. I learned how important education was for these patients. They needed to know the types of foods they should eat to avoid blood sugar spikes and make their insulin work better for them. The patients all seemed motivated to make a change, which was inspiring. It was rewarding to observe a patient that had lost weight just one month after their initial consultation and was on her way to a healthier life.
Shadowing, in addition to my rotations I have completed during the Coordinated Program (CP) have been rewarding for me because once I complete my studies, my goal is to assist and educate the community with regard to the life-altering effects of diet. I want to teach people proper nutrition that will alleviate, prevent or potentially reverse health problems, allowing them to go on to live healthy and happy lives. It’s exciting to learn something one semester, share that knowledge with those that I care about, and watch as they make small adjustments based upon our conversations, which change the course of their health and their lives for the better.
I am eager to apply the wealth of knowledge that I have gained while in the CP, combined with the latest science-based evidence, to my future practice. I believe everyone, regardless of their background, culture or net worth has the ability to achieve the right level of nutrition, improve their health and add years to their lives. While my personal philosophy is that we should avoid processed foods and eat as many whole foods as possible, my community rotations and Graduate Assistant position with After School All-Stars has allowed me to realize that this may not be a possibility for many families. My role is to educate these families in order to identify situationally appropriate changes that they can make in order to become healthier, while still living within their means.
In this way I will be able to help any person, any family or any community – and ultimately live my passion.
When I wasn’t working at the agency, I was reading about nutrition: overall health, diet and disease prevention. The China Study, written by Campbell & Campbell, was one of the books that really inspired me. In the book, the authors detail an extensive study, exposing a direct correlation between nutrition and the prevalence of terminal illnesses like cancer, type II diabetes, obesity, and heart disease. The science behind it all fascinated me, so I immersed myself in as many publications as I could find. All of my reading motivated me to change my own diet, and I began to understand the power of food.
In 2011, I decided to put my developing passion to the test by taking a graduate course on nutrition and diet at Boston University. The course was an excellent introduction to nutrition; it focused on the relationship between diet and health, as well as discussed the biochemistry of macro and micronutrients and the scientific processes and enzymes, hormones and organs involved in digesting and absorbing food. We also studied diet in different cultures throughout the world and the health related pros and cons associated with them. In addition, the course detailed dietary recommendations and guidelines in the U.S., as well as the changing nutritional needs a person goes through during their life. I loved the course and wished I could go beyond this broad introduction and continue to learn more right away. The experience convinced me that I was finally on the right path.
Even though I felt I had discovered my passion, I was hesitant to leave a successful advertising career without being 100% certain. I reached out to local Atlanta dietitians to see if I could shadow them. Shadowing gave me an invaluable insight into the world of nutrition: each person has unique nutritional needs that must be met. I learned the importance of staying positive, communicating effectively and encouraging patients to make the right dietary choices. While I was shadowing, I observed a patient’s enthusiasm after her RD coached and motivated her to reassess her eating habits and focus on making the easiest changes first. They worked together and agreed on focusing on eating at least two fresh fruits per day until their next meeting. This “small steps” approach inspired the patient and did not overwhelm her. My dreams and goals are to create the same level of excitement for my future patients.
I continued my research in the field and was able to shadow another dietitian that specialized in diabetes management, cardiovascular disease, hypertension and high cholesterol. This experience was especially exciting for me because this is the type of work I would like to do in the future. Most of the patients I observed had been diagnosed with type II diabetes. Their doctors had referred them to the dietitian. They showed up frightened, but with a surprisingly positive attitude towards the changes they were about to make. It seemed like they would do anything not to have to go on insulin. The patients I observed were overweight and many were on medication for high cholesterol and hypertension. The dietitian discussed the need for them to make a commitment to a lifestyle change. She was very understanding and explained that there will always be challenges like weddings and birthdays, but they needed to make nutrition a consistent part of their life. I learned how important education was for these patients. They needed to know the types of foods they should eat to avoid blood sugar spikes and make their insulin work better for them. The patients all seemed motivated to make a change, which was inspiring. It was rewarding to observe a patient that had lost weight just one month after their initial consultation and was on her way to a healthier life.
Shadowing, in addition to my rotations I have completed during the Coordinated Program (CP) have been rewarding for me because once I complete my studies, my goal is to assist and educate the community with regard to the life-altering effects of diet. I want to teach people proper nutrition that will alleviate, prevent or potentially reverse health problems, allowing them to go on to live healthy and happy lives. It’s exciting to learn something one semester, share that knowledge with those that I care about, and watch as they make small adjustments based upon our conversations, which change the course of their health and their lives for the better.
I am eager to apply the wealth of knowledge that I have gained while in the CP, combined with the latest science-based evidence, to my future practice. I believe everyone, regardless of their background, culture or net worth has the ability to achieve the right level of nutrition, improve their health and add years to their lives. While my personal philosophy is that we should avoid processed foods and eat as many whole foods as possible, my community rotations and Graduate Assistant position with After School All-Stars has allowed me to realize that this may not be a possibility for many families. My role is to educate these families in order to identify situationally appropriate changes that they can make in order to become healthier, while still living within their means.
In this way I will be able to help any person, any family or any community – and ultimately live my passion.