Director, Health & Nutrition

• Feb 2023 - Present

Lead Registered Dietitian

• Aug 2020 - Mar 2023

As the Lead Registered Dietitian of an amazing Nutrition Team, I guide seven Registered Dietitians (RD) and two Health and Wellness Coaches (NBC-HWC) (and growing!), I take on the challenge of guiding patients with obesity and excess weight through their health improvement journeys with an interdisciplinary team of physicians, nurse practitioners, patient care coordinators and, of course my fellow dietitians. Most of my patients have had endobariatric procedures such as the Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty (ESG), Transoral Outlet Reduction (TORe - RYGB revision), VSG revisions, and Intragastric Balloons (including Orbera and Spatz 3). I also counsel patients with pharmacotherapy for both obesity and diabetes, utilizing medications including Qsymia (phentermine and topiramate), Contrave (bupropion and naltrexone), GLP-1 medications such as Saxenda (liraglutide), Wegovy and Ozempic (semagludtide), and Mounjaro (tirzepatide). I provide accessible, real-life, sustainable means of achieving optimal health goals, exceeding the results of other practices. I offer frequent follow up with accessible telehealth appointments, respecting my patients' valuable time. I prepare patients for their upcoming procedures, explain the post operative diet progression and comfort patients as they make one of the biggest decisions of their lives. Post operatively, I provide encouragement, nutrition guidance, help with meal planning, and making realistic and attainable goals. I set patients up for success and maintenance. If we stumble, we stand right back up and I am there to provide that hand up. Working closely with our Lead Nurse Practitioner, I lead our teams to conduct monthly support groups for our patients, providing nutrition and physical activity education and a safe place for patients to come together and lean on each other.

Bariatric and Weight Loss Dietitian & Health Coach

• Aug 2020 - Jan 2021

As the sole dietitian for a premier weight loss clinic, I supported patients who receive endobariatric procedures including endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty (ESG), the Orbera Intragastric Balloon, and the Aspire Assist. Our practice also provides revisions for many bariatric surgeries including the duodenal switch, SIPS, vertical sleeve gastrectomy, and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass utilizing transoral outlet reduction (TORe). Other weight loss methods include medical weight loss, pharmacotherapy and nutrition counseling utilizing motivational interviewing.All consultations are provided via telehealth, virtually. I educated our endobariatric patients for diet preoperatively and diet progression postoperatively for their safety and comfort and prepared those patients for the new lifestyle changes that they will need for optimal outcomes from the various procedures and methods.I provided counseling for patients to promote continued weight loss or maintenance of a healthy weight long-term. In addition, I calculated nutrition needs and prescribed recommendations for patients to follow for success and make personalized adjustments as necessary.One of my favorite activities is conducting a private monthly support group for our patients to provide relevant nutrition education and guidance on their weight loss journeys.

Bariatric and Weight Loss Dietitian and Nutritionist, NEW You Weight Loss

• Feb 2020 - Jul 2020

Stay-at-Home Parent

• Jul 2007 - Feb 2020

Full time stay-at-home mom to two boys. Some of this time period was while I was a full time graduate student and dietetic intern. Full time stay-at-home mom to two boys. Some of this time period was while I was a full time graduate student and dietetic intern.

Dietetic Intern

• Jul 2018 - May 2019

Clinical – WakeMed Cary Hospital, Cary, NC - Worked with the clinical dietitian team to screen, assess and provide interventions for patients in a 178-bed hospital - Consulted bariatric patients in surgery recovery to confirm knowledge of their protein and fluid goals - Studied a postoperative patient who received a Whipple procedure and on custom TPN for 2 weeks Foodservice 1 – WakeMed Cary Hospital, Cary, NC - Learned elements of a room service style meal ordering system with tray line and delivery - Performed a QAPI audit for food temperatures between tray line and destination - Planned and implemented an extremely successful theme day during the winter season that sold out Foodservice 2 – SAS Institute, Inc., Cary, NC - Focused on procurement and receiving in a large commercial café that served 1000 employees at lunch - Conducted a food waste study for the on-campus daycare and preschool with a decentralized food service system Women, Infants & Children – Lincoln Community Health Center, Durham, NC - Performed a needs assessment and began the planning phase of a breastmilk donation program - Educated pregnant and postpartum mothers about appropriate nutrition for themselves and their children Wellness – UNC Wellness Centers, Chapel Hill, NC - Met with wellness center clients to provide nutrition education in various disease states with a focus on heart disease - Created a monthly bulletin board that addressed the controversial topic of GMO foods - Taught cooking skills and nutrition information to participants in a health promotion program at a cooking demonstration Enrichment – WakeMed Bariatric Specialists of North Carolina, Cary, NC - Provided nutrition education to preoperative patients in a one-on-one basis - Presented preoperative classes to patients on preparation for surgery and postoperative soft food progression - Produced a bulletin board for providers on weight bias and patient-first language Long-Term Care – Self Study

Nutrition Intern (2 positions)

• Apr 2017 - Aug 2017

Swim Coach

• Feb 2016 - Feb 2017

District Aquatics Director

• Apr 2004 - Oct 2007