Meet Erin Gregory Hendrickson, RDN, who specializes in corporate wellness. Learn how she has used her passions to help create engaging events for thousands of individuals. – Sarah

What attracted you to the field of nutrition and dietetics? I don’t have a profound moment in which I just KNEW I wanted to be a dietitian. I’ve always had a passion for food, travel and culture and when my intro to nutrition class paired the three, I was hooked. The professor? A dietitian, of course!

Your Job Title? Program Coordinator

Company you are with now? Hospital Corporation of America (HCA).
Owner, The Minimalist RD

I’ve actually never worked as a clinical dietitian, but I fell into my current role in the business and industry side of healthcare. I coordinate wellness programs for employers around the hospital system area in Nashville and refer employees into our hospitals for proper preventative screenings and injury care.

Website:
MinimalistRD.com

Social Media:
 – Instagram: @theMinimalistRD
 – Twitter: @theMinimalistRD
 – Facebook: Erin Gregory Hendrickson

Describe a typical (or not so typical) day-in-the-work-life for you? My work day always brings a new challenge, which keeps me on my toes. I manage wellness programs for employers with thousands of individuals so I’m constantly in communication with the leadership teams to ensure I’m creating and delivering a program that provides results. I give presentations, manage an online portal, create engaging health focused events and partner with other health professionals in the community. I also coordinate with hospital staff for employee referrals and to ensure proper care management if needed. The overall goal at the end of the day is to bring the community together and make the Nashville area a happier and healthier place to live.

How did you get your current job in dietetics? I began my career in foodservice and transitioned into the corporate wellness field. I fell in love with this area of dietetics and I began my current role as part of a hospital pilot program. It’s grown into a full time job with so much leadership opportunity and learning experiences.

What skills were you born with and what skills have you learned along the way? Is having curiosity a skill? I was born with an innate desire to ask questions and test limits, which allows me to often think outside the box for ideas and solutions.

Focusing and prioritizing my time is something I’ve had to learn. With today’s on-the-go lifestyle, time is a commodity most of us lack. MinimalistRD.com was born after realizing too much physical and mental clutter was wreaking havoc on my heart. It’s my creative space in which I focus on sustainable living and responsible consumerism.

What advice do you have for others wanting to be just as successful and fulfilled as you? Take chances and don’t settle. It’s okay to have absolutely no clue of what you’re doing or where you’re going. Everything will fall into place when you pursue your own happiness and passions, not what others or the world expects of you.

In the words of my favorite innovator Steve Jobs, ‘Stay hungry, stay foolish.’

If you could be paid for your job with something other than a paycheck, what  would it be? Airfare and food!

Sarah Koszyk is founder of Family. Food. Fiesta. A family-based wellness program and blog focusing on recipes, family health tips, and videos with kids cooking in the kitchen. She is a Registered Dietitian and Nutrition Coach specializing in sports nutrition and adult and pediatric weight management. Connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, or LinkedIn.