What RDs Do: Joanne Gordon, RDN, LDN, CLT

JOANNE GORDON

CLINICAL & CONSULTING DIETITIAN,

HEALTH COACH

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Joanne wears a variety of related hats in her career and has started to take more of a holistic approach to wellness in her practice. Nutrition and dietitians are only a piece of the puzzle and coaches can offer support in other areas. Whether she's working with her colleagues or a client/patient, Joanne is working with others to achieve goals.

Why did you become a RD? 

I have always had a passion for nutrition and health and was always interested in the relationship between food, the functions of the body and disease. A fun afternoon for me is perusing the local health food stores and farmers markets!

What area of dietetics do you work in? 

I work in clinical as a per-diem dietitian. I work as a consultant dietitian with an integrative medical practice and I have a health coach/private practice business.

How would you explain what you do? 

As a clinical dietitian, I provide medical nutrition therapy (MNT) for patients at a local hospital. I review patient charts and assess patients' nutritional needs, develop and implement nutrition intervention and evaluate and document according to their nutrition risk. Diet education is also provided to the patients.

In the medical practice, I work one on one with patients and provide appropriate medical nutrition therapy based on their diagnosis/s. I work closely with the doctor to provide adequate and appropriate care for the patients. I personalize all care plans based on patient’s nutritional needs.

In my coaching/private practice, I also provide nutrition therapy based on their health history and diagnosis. I also work with the client to help them achieve lifestyle and health goals. I take a whole-body or “holistic”, approach to wellness. We discuss shopping, pantry and meal planning based on their needs. I am a certified LEAP therapist who specializes in food sensitivities. If a client comes to me with potential sensitivities, I offer this service.

What are your ‘typical’ daily/weekly tasks? 

I spend time gaining an understanding of the patient’s current status and health/nutrition history. I review patient medical history, labs, etc. I sit in at meetings or “rounds” to discuss patient’s progress and intervention, provide medical nutrition therapy, monitor patient’s progress, review and discuss meal plans, problem solve, document, educate, design handouts and implement nutritional programs.

What has been your career path? 

I have been working more toward the holistic path over the years. I’ve taken programs to improve my knowledge and credentials. I expect to offer more health coaching services to help people “holistically” improve their lives with the consideration of total wellness; sleep, stress, food, fitness, etc. I believe that nutrition is the foundation to wellness, but if the other pieces are neglected, the body cannot be at its optimal state of health.

What advanced education or special training do you have? 

A certified LEAP Therapist and Holistic Health Coach. I am currently enrolled in the ACE health coaching certificate too.

In an ideal world, what does the industry look like 5 years from now? 

More coaching and nutrition being offered at all medical practices. More coverage for nutrition services. It will be recognized as a necessary component of health care.

What misinformation about RDs would you like to clear up? 

We don’t work in the kitchen and are not responsible for food service issues. We are well educated and do more than put people on diets.

What would you like people to know about RDs? 

That we are the nutrition professionals and there is a very big difference between an RD and nutritionist.

What are challenges you encounter as a RD? 

Respect for our knowledge and expertise. Lower paid salaries.

What do people think that you do for a living? 

Monitor food trays at the hospital. Review patient meal plans.

What are you passionate about in dietetics? 

Food's relationship to our health.

What makes RDs unique/different from other nutrition/wellness professionals?

We are qualified by having a 4 year degree or higher and have taken a national exam which we have to maintain through continuing education.

What is your favorite meal? 

I truly “practice what I preach” and eat very healthy, but one of my favorite meals is Pad Thai with shrimp. I am also pretty easy to please and enjoy a simple salad with grilled veggies topped with grilled chicken with a balsamic vinaigrette. My favorite snack is homemade popcorn that I pop on the stove.

What tip(s) would you give to our readers?

Don’t believe everything you read on the internet or the advice a friend gave you. Seek out the professional in food and nutrition. Eat a lot of vegetables (they really are good for you) and stay hydrated with purified water. People underestimate the importance of hydration!

More about Joanne:

Website: Your Personal Nutritionist
Twitter: @JoanneGordonRD
Pinterest: Joanne Gordon, RDN, CLT
Faebook: Joanne Gordon, Your Personal Nutritionist

Thanks Joanne! Find out more about What RDsDo.

If you're a dietitian that would like to be featured, email me for the details!

What RDs Do: Christina Moreno, MS, RD, LD

CHRISTINA MORENO

EATING DISORDER DIETITIAN

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Christina reached out after seeing the interview series on Linkedin. Like other interviewees, she also works in a challenging/rewarding areas of dietetics - eating disorders. This is definitely a specialized area and her background makes her a great fit. I can relate to what she finds fun in her career and am always happy when my forward thinking question makes a dietitian dig deep and really think.

Why did you become a RD? 

Growing up as a classically trained dancer, I quickly caught on to what foods helped me perform at my best and kept me fuelled through long rehearsals! Secondly, as I spent most of my days in form fitting clothes and in front of a mirror, talks of food and body image were all the rage. My desire to help others, interest in science, and love of food steered me into the field of dietetics after transferring out of my early university studies in theatre and dance.

What area of dietetics do you work in? 

Broadly speaking, I am an eating disorder dietitian. But of course this overlaps with performance nutrition, weight management, medical nutrition therapy, etc.

How would you explain what you do? 

I often like to describe myself as a “nutrition counselor/therapist” or as I tell my dietetic interns, a dietitian + a wannabe therapist. (Shout out to the actual therapists who I could not do my job without!) I strive to help my clients navigate the ups and downs of their eating disorders and find a sustainable and individualized nutrition plan that will allow them to achieve optimal health and stability. This typically includes a lot of experimenting, challenging food rules or disordered thoughts, and ditching the scale.

What are your ‘typical’ daily/weekly tasks? 

Every day for me is different in terms of schedule and number of clients, but is relatively stable from week to week. Most days I see 5 or more individual clients, lead 1 supported meal group, have 1-2 meetings, and spend time charting, menu planning, and collaborating with my coworkers/outside health care providers. I also lead biweekly nutrition education groups and co-lead a binge eating disorder support group. I also get to schedule fun stuff in between like grocery store tours, food exposures, and consulting/educating dance teams on the importance of nutrition!

What has been your career path? 

I received my B.S. in Dietetics from The University of Texas at Austin (Hook ‘Em) in 2010. I then took a gap year between graduation and starting my dietetic internship (also at UT). During that time, I worked as a Dietetic Technician at a local hospital and interned at the Fitness Institute of Texas. Upon becoming an RD, I went straight into the field of eating disorders, working at both the PHP (partial hospitalization program) and IOP (intensive outpatient program) levels of care at McCallum Place Eating Disorder Treatment Center. I have been in the field ever since and currently work at the IOP level with Ascend Consultation in Health Care.

What advanced education or special training do you have? 

I recently completed my M.S. in Applied Nutrition with a concentration in Sport/Fitness Nutrition through Northeastern University and plan to pursue the CSSD (board certified specialist in sports dietetics) credential next! I am also privileged to be leading osteogenic loading sessions and help people rebuild bone mass with cutting edge technology.

In an ideal world, what does the industry look like 5 years from now? 

Wow! That’s difficult to say as our field is always evolving. I hope that RD’s are more frequently consulted to help educate the public and prevent disease versus manage an existing condition. This means being regarded as the “go-to” nutrition professionals, being covered by insurance companies, and being included as part of a comprehensive treatment team early on. I would also hope that there is a larger presence of dietitians that are comfortable and competent in treating eating disorders as the cases continue to rise and are seen at younger ages. Food-wise, I hope we are able to increase healthful food availability to those with limited food access due to location, financial restrictions, etc.

What do people think that you do for a living? 

I’m pretty sure most people who are not familiar with our profession think I, A) work in a cafeteria B) tell people what to eat and what to avoid (food police, anyone?). It gets old, but I suppose it’s a great opportunity to educate people about how amazing and versatile RD’s are!

What are you passionate about in dietetics? 

I am most passionate about helping people feel their best with healthful, fun, and balanced food and physical activity choices. I find special interest in working with athletes and performance artists.

More about Christina:

Instagram: @ChristinaFigRD
Twitter: CMoDancingRD
Pinterest: CMoDancingRD
LinkedIn: Christina Moreno, MS, RD, LDN
Email: christinafig.rd@gmail.com

Thanks Christina! Find out more about What RDsDo.

If you're a dietitian that would like to be featured, email me for the details!

What RDs Do: Carrie Dennett, MPH, RDN, CD

CARRIE DENNETT

NUTRITION BY CARRIE
FREELANCE NUTRITION WRITING

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In this world of information overload, Carrie has a unique path that led her from copywriting to dietetics and we're fortunate to have her expertise shared in numerous publications. Like other entrepreneurs in this series, you'll see the interesting variety of tasks that keep Carrie busy and passionate about her career. She has great advice for all of us and is working in an area of great importance - our relationship with food, not just our knowledge (since knowing doesn't necessarily translate to doing).

Why did you become a RD? 

I was working as a health and wellness copywriter, and became very interested in the role of nutrition and lifestyle in disease prevention. I realized that many people needed more than just information in order to change their eating and activity habits, so I decided to become a dietitian so that I could counsel people one-on-one to help them overcome barriers to change.

What area of dietetics do you work in? 

I wear several hats (the life of a nutrition entrepreneur!), but I have two main jobs. One is providing outpatient nutrition counseling to weight management patients. The other is as a freelance nutrition writer, writing regularly for The Seattle Times, The Washington Post, Today’s Dietitian and Environmental Nutrition. I also do some phone-based nutrition coaching, run online programs, do public speaking and take on editing projects for other dietitians.

How would you explain what you do? 

I help my weight management patients heal their relationships with food, get off the diet roller coaster, cultivate intuitive and mindful eating skills and improve their self-care. I also do a lot of debunking of nutrition myths, both with my patients and with my readers.

What are your ‘typical’ daily/weekly tasks? 

In my clinical job, it’s nutrition counseling sessions, planning grocery tours and other group events, and keeping up with research related to my specialty. For my freelance writing, it’s research, writing, editing, interviewing, recipe testing, food photography, pitching editors, keeping up with social media, and brainstorming ideas for new articles.

What has been your career path? 

My undergraduate degree is in journalism, and I worked as a newspaper reporter for about 10 years before transitioning to health and wellness copywriting, and then to graduate school at the University of Washington to become a dietitian. I became the nutrition columnist for The Seattle Times while I was still in grad school, and my first job after graduating was working in oncology nutrition.

What advanced education or special training do you have? 

I have my Masters of Public Health in Nutritional Sciences from the University of Washington. I’ve taken workshops in motivational interviewing and in FODMAPs and IBS. I’m also working on becoming a Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor.

In an ideal world, what does the industry look like 5 years from now? 

Dietitians would have the respect they deserve as the true nutrition experts, given the education and training they receive. The public would know that all dietitians are nutritionists, but not all nutritionists are dietitians—and they would know why that matters!

What misinformation about RDs would you like to clear up? 

That we all work in hospitals. I like to tell people that if they are ever in the hospital and needing enteral or total parenteral nutrition, they will be damn glad that there are highly skilled dietitians working in hospitals, but that dietetics is a very diverse profession, and we are everywhere, including on the cutting edge of nutrition.

What are you passionate about in dietetics? 

I love working with patients and helping them form a healthier relationship with food. I also love writing about nutrition for both the general public and for other dietitians. I feel that my clinical practice informs my writing, and my writing informs my clinical practice. I learn so much every day, from my patients and from researching my articles, that some days I feel like I’ve never left grad school—in the best possible way.

What is your favourite meal? 

The pasta Bolognese I make once a year during the holidays. But I also love a really good salad with dark leafy greens, some sort of protein, whole grains or pulses, some avocado or nuts, and my homemade vinaigrette. Yum!

What tip(s) would you give to our readers? 

There is no single perfect way of eating for everyone. What works for your co-worker or best friend may not be right for you. If you want to eat better, you can’t go wrong with increasing whole and minimally processed foods, reducing highly processed foods, limiting distractions while you eat and practicing tuning in to your body’s hunger and fullness signals.

More about Carrie:

Website/Blog: Nutrition By Carrie
Twitter: @CarrieDennett
Facebook: Nutrition By Carrie
Instagram: @carriedennett
Pinterest: Carrie Dennett, MPH, RDN, CD

Thanks Carrie! Find out more about What RDsDo.

If you're a dietitian that would like to be featured, email me for the details!

What RDs Do: Julie Wallace, RDN, LD

JULIE WALLACE

PEDIATRIC NUTRITION:

HEART & LIVER FAILURE/TRANSPLANT
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I can tell and I know (because she told me) that Julie loves what she does, and we need people like Julie as I think her job would be extremely challenging, although rewarding. We also have excellent timing as it's Julie's birthday tomorrow, so be sure to wish her well! 

Why did you become a RD? 

Nutrition has always been of interest to me. When I was a small child, I enjoyed learning how to grow food with my father and was already cooking advanced recipes in my teens. In high school, I took a class called “Science of Nutrition” taught by our Biology teacher and fell in love with the concepts that allowed me to teach my friends how to read nutrition labels when we would go to the local grocery store (in a small town there can be little to do).

What area of dietetics do you work in? 

I work in Pediatric Nutrition: Heart and Liver Failure/Transplant.

How would you explain what you do? 

When my patients, age 0 months – 21 years, are in heart failure, I provide nutrition assessment and interventions to help them maintain a healthy weight and get adequate nutrients, sometimes this is in preparation for a future heart transplant. In some situations, especially with children who have NALFD (Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease), I actually help them to safely lose weight, particularly excess fat, in hopes of avoiding the need for a liver transplant or to ensure they are a better candidate if they do need a transplant. I also perform nutrition assessments in those who are being evaluated for a transplant and provide nutrition-related education for post-transplant needs. After transplant, I work with the patients and their caregivers to ensure adequate food safety due to immunosuppression, monitor labs, assist in avoiding nutrient-medication interactions, and help prepare the children for independence as they grow into adults.

I also have a private practice providing nutritional counseling to those seeking general well-being, weight management, vegetarian/vegan/plant-based diets, as well as a number of medical nutrition therapies such as diabetes, heart conditions, or kidney failure. I provide counseling in person, over the phone, over skype, or online. I will hopefully be accepting new clients again in January. Over time, I plan to implement more blog posts, newsletters, webinars, Facebook groups, and other resources for my clients who will have lifetime membership access to such resources. I am a Strong4Life Certified Nutritionist/Dietitian in the state of Georgia with a background of working with all age groups from infants to seniors. 

What are your ‘typical’ daily/weekly tasks? 

In a typical week, I participate in 3 outpatient clinics as part of a multidisciplinary team. Time not spent in those clinics is spent in team conferences or rounds to keep up to date on our patients for continuity of care, charting, participating in CEU (Continuing Education Unit) activities or conferences, and meeting with patients who are in cath lab for routine or annual biopsies (which check for rejection).

What has been your career path? 

After high school, I spent time working in a corporate finance office before returning to college for my BS in Dietetics. My first years as a RDN were spent working full-time hours, although I was PRN, in a 600 bed adult inpatient hospital. This opportunity allowed me to see patients on every unit, including heart failure and ICU, preparing me to work with such a special population.

What advanced education or special training do you have? 

Currently I have my BS in Dietetics. I am also preparing to sit for the CSP (Board Certification as a Specialist in Pediatric Nutrition) exam in the near future. Each year, I attend transplant nutrition focused CEUs and conferences (such as NATCO).

In an ideal world, what does the industry look like 5 years from now? 

I believe telemedicine will become more established allowing dietitians to sit in front of a computer screen, using programs like Skype, to follow up with patients with nutrition counseling between their physical clinic visits. Food diaries will be easier to obtain using apps. More dietitians will reach out using social media such as Facebook Groups to motivate their clients. Everything will be more technology focused and dietitians will be more accessible.

What misinformation about RDs would you like to clear up? 

We are not ‘owned’ by big food industries. RDs, in general, care about people first, want people to get in good, wholesome nutrition in ways that work best for the individual they are talking to which may or may not include brand name foods, but we recognize the place that certain types of foods or formulas have. We do our best to keep up to date with trends, the most recent science, and behavioral practices to help others make the most nutritious decisions. We are not walking text books but if we care about our patients and are passionate about our field, we’ll research your questions if we don’t already know the answer and base it on evidence-based science.

What are challenges you encounter as a RD? 

Dispelling common misinformation driven by the media, food companies, people calling themselves ‘nutritionists’, and sometimes even other health professionals. Many times when I first meet a new patient, they are not aware of my background that includes a pre-med degree and assume we will only talk about topics such as recipes or calories.

What do people think that you do for a living? 

In general, people probably think I’m like the food police telling people what they can or cannot eat. Others believe I probably write out meal plans telling people what exactly they can or cannot eat every single day which I do not.

What are you passionate about in dietetics? 

Helping others. It’s really simple but that’s all it comes down to; helping others to help themselves by educating them and providing them with tools, helping others stay healthy when very sick, and helping others live the healthiest life they can. I am very lucky that I get to work with children. Children are the best patients! The little ones are usually smiling through their hard times and give you hugs and kisses. It’s pretty amazing to be part of something in which we take children who are critically ill and give them a second chance at life. I can’t imagine doing anything else with my life.

What makes RDs unique/different from other nutrition/wellness professionals? 

We are held up to a set of standards including a minimum of a Bachelor’s of Science in nutrition (which includes many of the same undergraduate courses doctors end up taking) as well as Dietetic Internship (which includes various rotations in various settings) followed by an exam. We have to complete all of these as well as stay up to date on current research, policies, and trends whereas many people who have simply taken up an interest in nutrition by reading a lot of articles can call themselves a “Nutritionist”.

More about Julie:

Facebook Page: Planted in Nutrition: Counseling & Services
Website: Planted in Nutrition
LinkedIn: Julie Wallace, RD, LD
Instagram: @jwallacerd

*Currently, my business is on hold due to health issues. I am hoping to be up and running
again in January. I am active on social media, however, so please feel free to follow me.

Thanks Julie! Find out more about What RDsDo.

If you're a dietitian that would like to be featured, email me for the details!