This week from Stacey:

Our own Sarah Koszyk, RD, interviews Margaret Furtado, MS, RD, LDN, an expert dietitian in bariatric surgery and weight management. She shares candid answers to our questions. Enjoy.

Vote. Please. Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Elections plus your State District. Here’s the link: http://elections.groupxm.com/elections/vote.cfm. I’ll say it again; I was shocked to learn that for the past years, the overall voting percentage for the Academy has hovered at 14%. What?? Unacceptable. Let’s change that this year. There are just a few more days to vote.

We have enhanced our Conferences and Continuing Education sections. Check them out. Do you have a webinar, workshop or conference you want to promote on NutritionJobs? Send me the details. 

Cheers to you and your career!
- Stacey

 Meet the passionate expert dietitian in bariatric surgery and weight management, Margaret Furtado. Her renowned expertise has brought her international speaking engagements and book deals.

Sarah Koszyk, RD: What attracted you to the field of nutrition and dietetics?
Margaret Furtado, MS, RD, LDN: I grew up always struggling with my weight, and around the age of 14 was given a 1-page, 1,000-calorie diet menu by a local primary care doctor.  Although I lost a good amount of weight that summer, I knew this wasn’t the ideal way to go about it, especially at that age.  I was a freshman in high school that fall and chose to study the effects of liquid protein diets on mice.  I knew I needed to study nutrition formally and learn more about how to best nourish my body, as well as the healthiest way to lose weight.

What is your Job Title and the Company you are with now?
Clinical Dietitian Specialist with Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center/The Johns Hopkins Center for Bariatric Surgery.
http://www.hopkinsbayview.org/bariatrics/

Describe a typical (or not so typical) day-in-the-work-life for you.
See my first patient around 8 am (either pre- or post-op bariatric surgery patient), and then see several pre- and post-op patients throughout the day, teach a bariatric weight loss class, precept dietetic interns, plan upcoming bariatric support group sessions, return voicemail messages and emails from pre- and post-op bariatric surgery patients with questions or concerns. 

How did you get your current job in dietetics?
Johns Hopkins is my third bariatric center of excellence in the decade I’ve been working in obesity medicine (previously at Massachusetts General Hospital’s Weight Center and Tufts University), and I learned about the opening at Hopkins by chance.  I was looking through the job postings on the Maryland Dietetic Association web site, and noticed the opening for a full-time outpatient dietitian at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center to work with The Johns Hopkins Center for Bariatric Surgery patients and team.  The position had been open for over 2 months, so it was fortuitous that I happened to apply just in time before it was filled.  I was in the process of moving from Boston to Baltimore for personal reasons, so it was one of those serendipitous moments where things just fell into place very easily.

What skills were you born with and what skills have you learned along the way?
I was born with the skills of really listening to patients and intuiting what they may be feeling or needing from our consultations and classes.  Patients often remark “how did you know to ask me that question?” and they tell me they really needed to examine whatever it was I inquired about. 

Skills I’ve learned along the way include time management, which sometimes can be challenging where you have a really busy day, writing projects, meetings, and conferences to speak at.  However, if you plan ahead and regularly reassess your commitments, it really helps to streamline things.

Additionally, although I’ve always loved counseling, motivational interviewing is something I’ve become quite adept at over the years, and I enjoy working with different clients to help them reach their own answers to their most pressing questions.

What advice do you have for others wanting to be just as successful and fulfilled as you?
It may sound trite, but I’d say “follow your passion, and the rest will follow.”  I was a renal dietitian for 6 years in Boston, and although I loved it, I felt ready to do something a bit more positive.  I fell in love with bariatric surgery while I was working with the bariatric RD at Boston University to assist my hemodialysis patients in preparing for gastric bypass surgery in order to lose enough weight to qualify for a renal transplant.  I became so intrigued with it that I took a substantial pay cut to leave renal and join the bariatric surgery team at Tufts Medical Center.  However, the difference in pay was quickly recouped, and books and speaking engagements also followed. Johns Hopkins has been a wonderful opportunity in many ways, including my 3-year Yahoo! Health blog via my Hopkins affiliation where I write on nutrition and healthy weight. I’m told, by patients, colleagues and mentors alike, that my passion for bariatric surgery and nutrition is evident.   I feel it sustains me and inspires me to keep learning and growing.

If you could be paid for your job with something other than a paycheck, what would it be?
Travel all around the world, attending and speaking at bariatric surgery conferences!  I’ve spoken in Brazil, Portugal, and Paris, and it’s always so exciting to meet interesting people from all over the world.  I return with a newfound sense of passion for the field and aspirations for future projects.

Registered Dietitians (RDs) are food and nutrition experts who have met the following criteria to earn the RD credential:

• Completed a minimum of a bachelor’s degree at a US regionally accredited university or college and course work accredited or approved by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
• Completed an ACEND-accredited supervised practice program at a health-care facility, community agency, or a foodservice corporation or combined with undergraduate or graduate studies. Typically, a practice program will run six to 12 months in length.
• Passed a national examination administered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR). For more information regarding the examination, refer to CDR’s website at www.cdrnet.org. 
• Completed continuing professional educational requirements to maintain registration.

Some RDs hold additional certifications in specialized areas of practice. These are awarded through CDR, the credentialing agency for the Academy, and/or other medical and nutrition organizations and are recognized within the profession, but are not required. Some of the certifications include pediatric or renal nutrition, sports dietetics, nutrition support and diabetes education.

In addition to RD credentialing, many states have regulatory laws for dietitians and nutrition practitioners. Frequently these state requirements are met through the same education and training required to become an RD.

Dietetic technicians, registered (DTRs), are trained in food and nutrition and are an integral part of the health-care and foodservice management teams. DTRs have met the following criteria to earn the DTR credential:

• Completed a dietetic technician program by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, that includes 450 hours of supervised practice experience in various community programs, health-care and foodservice facilities and has completed at least a two year associate’s degree at a U.S. regionally accredited college or university.

OR

• Completed coursework in an ACEND-accredited didactic program or coordinated program in dietetics and has completed at least a bachelor’s degree at a U.S. regionally accredited college or university.
• After completing the degree and dietetics coursework, pass a national examination administered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR). For more information regarding the examination, refer to the CDR website.
• Completed continuing professional educational requirements to maintain registration.

Take a look at this passionate sports dietitian, Eve Pearson. Eve brings nutrition to the forefront of her athlete’s training and shows how nutrition can enhance performance.

What attracted you to the field of nutrition and dietetics? 
A grandmother who was sick for many years with everything under the sun and my athletic background.

Your Job Title?
Business Owner, Sports Dietitian, Consultant

What company you are with now?
Nutriworks

Describe a typical (or not so typical) day-in-the-work-life for you.
Never the same! Business owner and Sports Dietitian means I don’t see two of the same days ever.  Needless to say, never boring!

How did you get your current job in dietetics?
I created it.  There was a niche, so I filled it.

What skills were you born with and what skills have you learned along the way? 
Born with determination, self-motivation, organization.  Learned along the way – flexibility, effective communication, and have fun!

What advice do you have for others wanting to be just as successful and fulfilled as you?
Make sure you know what you want.  Many people go through life without a clear outline of this.

If you could be paid for your job with something other than a paycheck, what would it be? 
At this moment, payment for my trip to Nepal and Everest Basecamp in 2013.

You are an employer and are looking to hire someone new. How do you ensure that your potential employee provides you with all you need and want? What steps do you take to find that dream employee? Here are 5 top tips for an employer to conduct that winning interview and find the best employee for the job.

#1. Define the Job. It sounds so simple. Yet it is step #1 and very important. Your job descriptions will set the stage for your potential employees. Once you know exactly what you are looking for, you will have an easier time finding a person who can accommodate each request. For example, are you looking for an office manager who is good at answering phones, customer service, organization, computer proficiency? Make your job description as detailed as possible so you can use this during the interview as a guideline to asking your questions.

#2. List Your Top 5. Make a top 5 list of duties/responsibilities that this person will be in charge of. This list contains the most important aspects of the job. By having your top 5 list, you can define what is extremely valuable to the position. These characteristics and traits can also be included in your interview questions so you know what to ask.

#3.  Question No-No’s. Make sure to not ask any of the interview question no-no’s. These questions include personal questions such as marital status, family status (kids or not), sexual orientation, religious status, age (you are able to ask if over 18 or 21 if applicable for the job requirement), prior arrests, military status, disability status (See American Disabilities Act for complete guidelines), and dates attended school.

#4. Candidate Assessment. First impressions are everything. Make sure the candidate is dressed appropriately for your work setting. Make sure the candidate is well-spoken and well-written. Your employees are a direct representation of you and your company. Look at the candidate’s work ethic and interest in working for your company. Is the candidate interested in long-term growth and development? Does the candidate seem stable and willing to dedicate the required amount of time to your job? This is your time to make your assessment.

#5. Pay Attention. Really listen to what the candidate is saying and how the candidate is answering your questions. The interview time is a time for you, the employer, to listen more than teach, educate, or inform. By allowing the candidate to talk as much as possible, you will get to know the personality of your candidate and you will gain better insight as to whether or not this candidate is best qualified for the job.

A follow-up interview may be necessary if you have a few qualified candidates that you are having a hard time choosing between. However, the initial interview should narrow that gap tremendously and find you the candidate of your dreams. Once you decide to hire the candidate, you’ll have to set up a training schedule for the new employee so that all your ducks are in a row.

What attracted you to the field of nutrition and dietetics?
My father struggles with his weight (and he now has lots of weight-related diseases including heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and high blood pressure), so I grew up in a house where nutrition and diet were always a topic of discussion. My health-minded mother taught my two sisters and me to eat well (fresh fruits instead of frosted cereal, crisp veggies instead of chips, and water and tea instead of soda), and to be healthy, both inside and out—she didn’t want us to follow in our father’s unhealthy footsteps, so she encouraged balance, moderation and a healthy lifestyle. 

I am passionate about nutrition (thanks to my mom!), but I am also a foodie!  I love grocery shopping, cooking, eating, going out to eat, and trying new cuisines and foods, so studying food and nutrition was a natural fit for me. 

Your Job Title?
Nutrition Entrepreneur/ freelance writer and author.
I am a health journalist, a nutrition consultant for The Best Life Diet by Bob Greene (Oprah Winfrey’s personal trainer), and the author several health books, recently including Drop 5 Pounds (Sterling, 2010), which I wrote with the editors of Good Housekeeping Magazine, and The Salt Solution (Rodale, 2011), written with the editors of Prevention Magazine. I am also the co-founder of www.wholeuweightloss.com and the owner of www.thedietpi.com.

I recently finished the What’s Your Diet Type? e-books series and am currently working on the shopping guide The Grocery Cart Makeover as well as a book with the editors of SELF.

Your Website?
www.heatherkjones.com

A typical (or not so typical) day-in-the-work-life for you.
My days are random and rather disorganized!  However, typical activities include writing blog posts and articles, interviewing health experts, reading and editing manuscripts, working on meal plans, managing my team of interns and contractors, and developing, testing, and running health workshops. I also do nutrition communication work for a few food brands, as well as PR and marketing for my own brands (Whole U and The Diet P.I.).  

How did you get your current job in dietetics?
Before I worked for myself, I spent seven years working with the Nutrition Action Healthletter, the nation’s largest circulation health newsletter, published by the Center for Science in the Public Interest (a consumer advocacy group).

What skills were you born with and what skills have you learned along the way?
I’m creative and have lots of ideas for nutrition articles, books, and programs. I am also a fast learner, a hard worker and a natural negotiator and networker. I love working with people and implementing new ideas! 

I am not very organized and I am a bit of a procrastinator, but I try to set daily deadlines to keep on track!  I’m also a big picture type of person, so details are not my thing, but I‘ve learned how to be a diligent fact-checker.

What advice do you have for others wanting to be just as successful and fulfilled as you?
Work hard, be persistent and NETWORK, NETWORK, NETWORK.  Make many contacts and friends in your field, and partner with people you like and trust. 

If you could be paid for your job with something other than a paycheck, what would it be?
Travel points!  I LOVE to experience new cultures and cuisines! 

Powerhouse Nutrition Babe says it all about this entrepreneur dietitian, Lauren Harris-Pincus. Social media savvy and on top of her game, Lauren truly has the know-how of how to diversify endeavors.

What attracted you to the field of nutrition and dietetics?
I was the fat kid.  I began “dieting” when I was 6 or 7 years old.  My weight was the focal point of my childhood.  After two summers at “fat camp”, and dozens of “diets”, I finally lost almost 50 pounds at the age of 17.  During those years, I tried SO many fad diets to lose and/or maintain my weight, and ultimately, I felt lousy and never saw the “promised” results.  While in college, I struggled to choose a career path that would fulfill my passion for helping others and provide the flexibility to work on my own terms.  When I discovered that my university offered a degree in Clinical Nutrition, my decision was made.  I became a Registered Dietitian to inspire people to find their best inner self and learn along the way that being healthy is much more important than being skinny! 
                 
What is your Job Title?
Co-founder NutritionBabes, LLC
www.nutritionbabes.com

Tell us about NutritionBabes.
 Kathleen A. Siegel, RD, CDN and Lauren Harris-Pincus, MS, RD are Registered Dietitians and co-founders of www.NutritionBabes.com, a popular nutrition and wellness website. They are passionate about promoting better health through their “Triad of Wellness,” which equally emphasizes balanced nutrition, exercise and cleaner living. Their mantra, “Think Healthy…not Skinny” is a philosophy they support wholeheartedly. Kathy and Lauren are known for their non-diet approach to weight control. Nutritionbabes.com offers an online Nutrition Boot Camp, as well as individual and family nutrition coaching. Their Babes Blog provides recipes, fitness tips, product recommendations, and tools to live a cleaner, healthier lifestyle. Fortune 500 companies, schools, and charities frequently seek out the NutritionBabes for speaking engagements. Kathy and Lauren are active members of the American Dietetic Association, Nutrition Entrepreneurs, and Dietetic Practice Groups including Sports, Cardiovascular and Wellness Nutrition.

What is a typical (or not so typical) day-in-the-work-life for you?
As a mom of two, I am constantly balancing work and home life.  No two days are truly ever alike.  In a typical day, I get my kids off to school and sneak in a workout.  Then I may see clients, write a blog or develop a recipe for NutritionBabes.com. I spend time on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Klout, professional listservs, etc…  Social media takes up a lot of time!  I correspond with companies regarding product reviews and giveaways on our site.  Kathy and I will spend time either on the phone or in person going over day to day items or strategic planning for NutritionBabes.  We may be preparing for a speaking engagement, writing for other sites or filming videos.  I also serve as the RD on our school district nutrition committee, so I may have a meeting scheduled to help further those goals.  The afternoon brings daily carpooling and an attempt to cook a quick, healthy dinner in between pick-ups and drop-offs.  Once we are through with activities, homework and bedtime, I usually get in front of the laptop and join a twitter chat or do a little research before bed.

How did you get your current job in dietetics?
My fellow NutritionBabe, Kathy Siegel and I met through our children about 6 years ago.  We had both maintained private practices for many years and aspired to create an avenue to work together as Dietitians.  A few years ago, we were joking around with my husband and he suggested, “You guys should be the NutritionBabes”.  Once the chuckling stopped, we realized that the name was catchy and easy to remember.  Thus, our company and www.nutritionbabes.com was born.

What skills were you born with and what skills have you learned along the
way?
I think I was born with personal drive and passion to achieve.  I have always taken pride in helping others, and as a result of my personal struggles, a career in nutrition was the obvious route to take both personally and professionally. My clients relate to my story and I find it easy to empathize with them.  I have always loved theater and spent many years growing up participating in school productions. A little flair for the dramatic helps when attempting to deliver your message.  I am still learning every day how to effectively convey information.  Counseling individuals requires many learned skills, but crafting messages for the public at large is an entirely different challenge.  You must be able to adapt to your audiences.  Writing a research paper demands a much different type of prose than composing a blog or preparing a speaking engagement.

What advice do you have for others wanting to be just as successful and
fulfilled as you?
Do your research and never give up.  Find people who are successful at what you want to do and get creative.  Someone told me that you have to ask 10 times for what you want before moving on; being polite but persistent is the key.  If you hit a roadblock in your path, find another way around. And, if you exude passion in what you do, people will respond. Ultimately, it is critical to NETWORK!!  I’ve discovered along the way that WHAT you know is obviously important but WHO you know will open the door.  Mutually beneficial relationships are what make the business world go round.  A large part of PR is offering services in exchange for exposure.  As an entrepreneur, laziness is not an option.  Nobody will push you if you do not push yourself.  Set small objectives and larger goals so you can always strive to go a little further. 

If you could be paid for your job with something other than a paycheck,
what would it be?
I have always joked that if I won the lottery I would love to have a personal chef.  Nothing would be more fun to me than having someone cook super healthy versions of all my favorite international cuisines.  Any volunteers?

Helping the veterans continue to stay healthy and rehabilitate, Renée Hoffinger, MHSE, RD, shares how she provides her patients with the “Recovery Diet.”

What attracted you to the field of nutrition and dietetics?
The concept of preventing disease and maintaining health by something as simple and non-invasive as eating. In my early twenties I worked at an internist’s office and was inspired to do better than hand out tear-off sheets on diabetic diets from drug companies.

Your Job Title? 
Registered dietitian/clinical specialist substance abuse

Company you are with now?
North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System  (the VA in Gainesville)

What is a typical (or not so typical) day-in-the-work-life for you?
As the RD in a residential rehabilitation program for veterans I complete clinical assessments and provide nutrition education, both didactic and hands-on. This afternoon, for example, I’ll be taking 2 veterans to a local market for a functional, as well as educational, field trip. On Weds I’ll be planning, preparing for, and conducting a cooking class.  I usually have some extra-curricular project I’m working on after the official workday. This past summer I wrote a book (“The Recovery Diet” due to be published by Adams Media in January 2012) spelling out most of what I’ve learned and have been teaching over the past 18 years as a dietitian in the field of substance abuse.  It is basically one big pep talk on how to use good nutrition to regain your health and support your recovery from alcoholism (although most of the content can be applied to recovery from any chemical addiction), plus a section on “Putting it Together in the Kitchen”, compete with 12 weeks of menus.

How did you get your current job in dietetics?
I was known in this town as the RD who works part-time (my husband and I both worked part time while raising our children) so when someone was needed for a part-time position, I got the call.  My previous position as an MDRD (Modification of Diet in Renal Disease) research RD was winding down so I overlapped for several months.  I had zero background in substance abuse but it turned out to be an excellent match.

What skills were you born with and what skills have you learned along the way?
I’ve always intuitively been a “people person”.  Nutrition knowledge and more formal counseling skills have been developed via formal education, workshops, OTJ training, as well as reading, reading, reading. A sense of humor is probably one of my most useful “skills” – that I acquired growing up in a punny family – but it really helps in my current work, defuses situations, puts things in perspective, makes life more enjoyable.  I developed photographic skills by taking community education photography courses (back in pre-digital days) and use my photos as backgrounds for slides in nutrition presentations at conferences.  Much to my surprise, one of my photos recently won the JADA cover photo contest! It is a mandala of hands (veterans are the models) and foods we’ve cooked together, highlighting hands-on nutrition education, which I believe is the wave of the future for RDs and those they serve.

What advice do you have for others wanting to be just as successful and fulfilled as you?
Well, it depends on how you define success…..Treat each person as a spark of the Divine.  They might be a challenging spark of the Divine but try to learn and grow from difficult situations. Sing and dance your way through each day. Be grateful for the opportunity to do work that you love and the privilege of being with folks going through difficult life transitions.

If you could be paid for your job with something other than a paycheck, what would it be?
I am. I get a lot of honest feedback, most of it positive and appreciative. It is a privilege to be allowed in to share in amazing life transitions/transformations.  It would be great to get a bit more support from the powers-that-be, in terms of resources to do the job even better and make more efficient use my time. Specifically, to teach in my dream kitchen: a secure, well equipped, commodious space, where ingredients and equipment are readily available.

From social media to sports dietitian, Corinne Dobbas, MS, RD, shares how she balances her blogs, twitter, speaking gigs, counseling, and more.

What attracted you to the field of nutrition and dietetics?
My fascination with the fact that food has the power to change your overall health. What you take into your body determines how you feel, function, and thrive in your everyday environment. Additionally, while running track and cross country in high school, I started reading sports nutrition books and articles, furthering my passion on how food is your body’s fuel. Ultimately, I loved exercising, cooking, healthy eating, and nutrition science as well as working one-on-one with people. I knew if I could use my strong interpersonal skills coupled with nutrition knowledge, I would have the power to change peoples’ lives—and that inspired me.

Your Job Title: Nutrition Director at Bay Club Marin; Founder and owner of Green Grapes Nutrition.

Company you are with now: Bay Club Marin and Green Grapes Nutrition

Website:
www.GreenGrapesNutrition.com

A typical (or not so typical) day-in-the-work-life for you?
Every day is different! Typically, I’ll see clients, answer emails, return phone calls and do some marketing/social media work in the morning hours. Early afternoon, I’ll get in a good workout (after all, I work out of a health club … I must use it!). I’ll then return back to my office, see more clients, and tie up loose ends—phone calls, phone meetings, interviews, emails, etc. Throughout the day, I’m always on social media outlets, specifically Twitter and Facebook. I may write a blog post; however, I usually don’t have time at work and do my best writing at home. Once I get home, around 7 or 8 PM, if I don’t have a networking event or nutrition talk, I’ll write nutrition articles, blog posts, or client menus, if needed.

How did you get your current job in dietetics?
A good friend of mine had interviewed for the position, but decided to pass on the opportunity and recommended me. After much persistence—emails, phone calls, face-to-face meetings—I finally became the Nutrition Director at Bay Club Marin. Here, I mainly do private nutrition consultations, specializing in weight management, sports nutrition, and disordered eating. Regarding Green Grapes Nutrition, I started Green Grapes Blog almost three years ago, while a dietetic intern. The blog took off and once a RD, I changed Green Grapes Blog to Green Grapes Nutrition. Since—through networking, social media, and word of mouth—I write nutrition articles for various outlets, speak at a mixture of events/conferences, and participate in a wide variety of social media nutrition-press needs, such as The Whole Grains Conference.

What skills were you born with and what skills have you learned along the way?
Great question! I mainly do counseling, writing, and speaking. Therefore, I will share some strengths and challenges that I’ve had along the way for each area of focus.

For my counseling skills, I naturally have a high degree of relatability and easily connect with people. Since a child, people have always opened up to me. Therefore, I simply listen to my clients and reflect what I hear that they’re really saying, enabling them to truly see themselves and where they are on their level of change. This allows my clients to come up with their own solutions. Thus, they have a high rate of success. Throughout counseling, I have to work on my “poker face,” so my thoughts don’t interfere with my clients’ answer/s to their problems. I will offer advice, but it is my clients’ job to put the tools I provide to use through their own given solutions.

Regarding writing, I have a fun unique approachable tone that allows readers to connect. My writing is very much “me.” Yet, along the way, I’ve learned how to adapt my writing for given audiences/tones and really “kick-up” my grammar.

Lastly, I love crowds. Thus, I love speaking. I feed off the crowd’s energy. Despite my love for public speaking and ease I feel with it, I’ve found that I still need to practice before a talk—no matter how many times I’ve done it. This prevents any sort of stumbling and ensures an easy flow of speech. I’ve also learned how to provide a high-energy talk—even if the crowd isn’t high energy. I’m so attuned to peoples’ energies that this took a long time to master. But, I’ve found that it’s all mental. Just keep thinking that the crowd adores you, even if they don’t show it. You’ll give the best talk ever.

What advice do you have for others wanting to be just as successful and fulfilled as you?
You must be persistent. Gone are the days of applying for a job and simply getting it. If you want something—whether a job or speaking gig—you must go after it 100%. Call the company, go to their door, find out the main contact by name and email them. Whatever you need to do to get what you want—do it. It takes a lot of work and time, but eventually, if you’re good at what you do and persistent (in a professional way, of course), you’ll get what you want. Also, get online! If you’re not on Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn, and if you don’t have a blog and/or website, then you’re behind the curve. We’re in the age of the internet! If you want to grow, get on it! Yet, just don’t get on it, do it well and be aware that everything you do online is searchable, or rather “Googleable.” Define your voice, image, brand, etc. and make sure that it is consistent with your overall web presence. Lastly, use your support network. If you’re not sure about something, reach out to other dietitians. Not only will you make new friends, but you’ll develop more connections and a bigger better network. And the larger your network is, the better your chance is at finding new job opportunities. Funny how that works.

If you could be paid for your job with something other than a paycheck, what would it be?
Grapes! No, I’m just kidding. Letters, testimonials, or words from clients on how I’ve empowered them to change their life for the better are more than enough. At the end of the day, having the ability to partake in someone’s life transformation is an honor—truly. There’s nothing more that I could ask for—except perhaps having the ability to prevent that transformation from needing to occur, which is why I also love giving talks to younger kids on health, wellness, and proper nutrition. I will say that what I do is very rewarding, as other dietitians know.

From eating disorders to dialysis, Therese Shumaker, MS, RD, LD, educates and counsels a variety of people.

What attracted you to the field of nutrition and dietetics?
I got attracted to dietetics right after high school. I took a nutrition class at our community college. I had always been interested in fitness, but that class really got me hooked on how nutrition plays such a vital role in getting and staying fit.

Your Job Title?
MS, RD, Clinical Dietitian.  I have a Masters degree in exercise science, and am working toward a second Masters degree in counseling

Company you are with now?
Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota- I have worked here 12 years.

A typical (or not so typical) day-in-the-work-life for you?
I am lucky enough to work in two specialty areas of dietetics. I devote some of my days to working with patients that have eating disorders. I see patients in the outpatient clinic. I do this two days a week. I also teach nutrition classes to our patients that are in an inpatient and outpatient alcohol/drug rehabilitation unit. Three days a week I work in our dialysis unit, and educate patients and their families about the nutritional needs of dialysis patients. I love being able to work in two specialty areas, as the variety keeps me from being stagnant, and there is always something for me to do and learn. I am never bored.

How did you get your current job in dietetics?
I have wanted to work with patients that struggle with eating disorders and addictions for a number of years. As having been in a position of needing help myself ( I am a  a recovering alcoholic), this is truly my niche and my passion.

What skills were you born with and what skills have you learned along the way?
I think that I have always been outgoing. I remember as a kid standing on the street curb waving to people as they drove by. My nickname as a kid was “hi and by” as that is what the neighbors and my parents used to call me, because of my strong need to wave to everyone as they drove by. I was born to be a risk taker, and for awhile I did not like this in myself, but now see that it has benefitted me in many ways.   I have learned most things about myself along the way, and I do believe that I really can do anything that I want to do, if I work hard enough for it. I have overcome my addiction to alcohol and have done some pretty amazing things since then.

What advice do you have for others wanting to be just as successful and fulfilled as you?
My advice is to find something your passionate about, and pursue your passion. It took me awhile to find this, as I am 43 years old, and feel like a baby in the area of eating disorders, but this is what I want to do when I grow up. I think it has been important for me to get involved with a professional organization as well. It has given me the ability to network with people and make new connections. It has also given me opportunities for leadership roles that I would never been able to have if not involved in the association.  I was also involved with my local and state dietetic association.

If you could be paid for your job with something other than a paycheck, what would it be?
Great question, I would have to say “running shoes”. I was a runner on and off in my 20s and 30s, and have been running now pretty competitively for about 5 years. It helps with my stress level, and I am doing things I never dreamed possible, like qualifying for the Boston marathon with plans to run it in 2012!