Brianna Fear-Keen, APD
SURGICAL WEIGHT LOSS TEAM & THE AMBITIOUS DIETITIAN
for something nutrishus
Brianna is a perfect fit to add more Australians (Accredited Practising Dietitians - APDs) to the series and along with her husband, she's "Supporting Dietitians To Create and Build a Business and Life They'll LOVE!". Dietitians are helping people and other dietitians in so many ways! With a new business and adding twins to her family, Brianna is definitely another busy dietitian.
***Brianna would like to offer a FREE 20 minute Fire Starter Session to everyone at What RDs Do who is thinking about starting their own private practice or wants to up level their existing business. Head over to www.theambitiousdietitian.com.au to register your interest.
Why did you become a RD?
I grew up in a family whose focus was always on food so I guess finding a job that centered around food was only a natural progression from that. I always wanted to work in community health/health promotion and I did work experience with a community dietitian when I was 16 years old and from that moment onwards, my mind was made up. I think we are so lucky to have such a unique profession that has so many career opportunities that it makes being a dietitian so appealing.
What area of dietetics do you work in?
I have a lot going on at the moment. I am currently on maternity leave after having twins 4 months ago. When I am not being a mum, I work as part of a multidisciplinary team for one of the biggest surgical weight loss clinics in the state. I am also the “Inspiration Officer” at The Ambitious Dietitian, a business founded with my husband 12 months ago.
How would you explain what you do?
When I am in my clinical role, I give people back their lives. I follow my weight loss patients over a 12 month period and I see their lives absolutely transform in every way possible during this time. When they first come in to meet us, they are at the end of the road in terms of their non-surgical weight loss journey and they have no idea of the opportunities that are ahead of them after surgery. I see people get remission from conditions that they have had for years, I see women fall pregnant who have never been able too, I see people get jobs they never had the confidence to apply for before, I see people being able to start exercising and most importantly, I see my patients relationships with significant others and their children start to blossom. I really couldn’t ask for a more rewarding job.
The Ambitious Dietitian (TAD) provides dietitians in the private practice the cheer squad they have never had working for themselves. We provide education, support and accountability for dietitians to grow their business and feel supported in doing so.
What are your ‘typical’ daily/weekly tasks?
Oh there are so many!!! Clinically I could see 30 patients a day, go through all of the pathology results, do a supermarket tour or a workshop, speak at an information night, develop resources, attend a case conference meeting and probably answer a heap of patient phone calls and emails.
Throughout the week with TAD, we often have late night accountability and support meetings, we could be helping someone to plan and integrate a business plan into their practice, we might be working on some branding or building a website for a client, we could be implementing marketing strategies for our clients, we might be looking for opportunities for expansion for someone’s practice, we might be developing a course, preparing resources, scheduling our social media or writing blogs. There are lots of hats for us to wear as a dietitians in business that’s for sure.
What has been your career path?
I started off in private practice servicing aged care facilities for the first 12 months of my career. I then went to the public service working for the state Diabetes Service for 7 years and more recently, I’ve spent 2 years in the surgical weight loss industry and now we have started our own business helping other dietitians expand their business or start up their own private practice.
What advanced education or special training do you have?
I also have a Bachelor of Health Science (Public Health) because I honestly thought I was going down the road of health promotion and I originally wanted to work on community health nutrition projects.
In an ideal world, what does the industry look like 5 years from now?
Wow, there are so many things that come to mind but I think the one thing I’d really like to see in years to come is ensuring that there are opportunities for everyone who wants to be a dietitian to utilise their skills so they can be the dietitian they want to be. That new grads don’t have to keep their job that got them through university but that they can get out there and start using their skills, that dietitians stuck in jobs they don’t enjoy have the freedom to pursue a different avenue within our profession. I want every person who wants to be a dietitian to be able to do exactly what makes their heart sing so they can have the most rewarding career of their life.
What do people think that you do for a living?
Well according to my 5 year old, I tell people about healfy food so they don’t get sick and die.
What is your favourite meal?
I think I would have to say my grandfathers gnocchi with pork and veal bolognese. Just thinking of it brings back so many happy memories. It’s funny how we associate food with memories isn’t it?
What tip(s) would you give to our readers?
Work out what you are passionate about when it comes to what kind of work you want to do and once you have done that, find your cheer squad. Surround yourself with those that support you and your growth.
Anything else you’d like to add that you feel would be valuable:
I would like to offer a FREE 20 minute Fire Starter Session to everyone at What RDs Do who is thinking about starting their own private practice or wants to up level their existing business. Head over to www.theambitiousdietitian.com.au to register your interest.
More about Brianna:
Website: www.theambitiousdietitian.com.au
Email: brianna@theambitiousdietitian.com.au
Instagram: @theambitiousdietitian
Thanks Brianna!
