I started out in clinical dietetics at a Level 1 Trauma hospital directly out of my internship and worked there through a contract company for 7 years. I loved being part of a medical team but I also found clinical is a very taxing area of dietetics. It was then I realized I needed to be practicing more in the preventative side of dietetics.

Mindy Black MS, RD, CSSD, CPT; Samantha Previte, RD, LDN, CPT; Lauren Smith MS, RD, LDN and Whitney Hochstetler, MS, RD, LDN

I cold-called Mindy Black (other co-owner of Dietitians of Palm Valley) who at the time owned Mindy Black Nutrition. We had very parallel career paths: counseling, sports, and the grocery store experience. After speaking with Mindy, I moved to Florida to partner with her, co-created Dietitians of Palm Valley, and continued to grow our practice into what it is today.

Diana Reid, MPH, RD

I have a pretty non-traditional career path, as I started out in another field altogether and changed careers in my 40s. I think being a second career dietitian has made me very savvy in terms of business and entrepreneurship and knowing how to present and market myself. I also have a strong sense of who I am and what I have to offer. After graduate school, I worked as a dietitian in a community health center and was quickly promoted to lead the entire staff of dietitians across the organization. I don’t think this would have happened without my previous experience in management and leadership from my prior career.

Patricia Chuey, MSc., RD, FDC

In a nut shell, I help create peace of mind for consumers on the subject of food in their lives. What should be a basic and fairly easy task of eating to fuel our busy lives get unnecessarily confusing in the endless sea of food and nutrition information we all sail on. My work is focused on equipping people with accurate and practical knowledge and skills to stay well nourished, enjoy what they're eating and live a healthy, happy life without constant focus on food.

Amanda Hamel, RD

In a nutshell - Renal dietitian by day, Nutrition Tour Leader by night! I work with an interdisciplinary team on the hospital dialysis unit and counsel patients one-on-one at the bedside. When I conduct grocery tours, I show people how to shop for healthy food to fit their lifestyle needs. Sprinkle in a few private practice clients, and I’d say it’s a healthy mix!

Caroline Roessler MS, RDN, LD

I love that my job has no “typical” day! My weeks consist mostly of one-on-one nutrition consultations, during which time I can take clients around the store and we can discover and sample products that may be better choices. I also offer monthly classes and store tours, an associate wellness program, as well as participate in community events such as school career days and talks geared towards specific audiences at local fitness clubs, offices or community centers.

interviews