Manny Brazil

Job title: Clinical Dietitian

Place of Employment: NorthBay healthcare

Year graduated from Sac State DPD: 2018 DPD, 2020 DI class

Notable Career Highlights/Achievements: Becoming an ICU dietitian is pretty high on my list of achievements.

Jamee Calisa

Job title: Registered Dietitian

Place of Employment: Asbury Park Nursing & Rehabilitation Center

Year graduated from Sac State DPD: May 2018

Notable Career Highlights/Achievements: Completed a combined masters and internship program May 2021. Currently Legislative Ambassador for California Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and Treasurer-Elect for California Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics - Northern Area District.

Michele Casias, RD

Job Title: Registered Dietitian

Place of Employment: Marshall Medical Cardiac Rehabilitation

Year Graduated CSUS: 2018

Notable Career Highlights/Achievements: California Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics’ Northern Area District Public Policy Co-Chair 2019-2023

Advice for current students: Follow your passion, even if it is a niche subject within the field of nutrition. You will find your way into the right place.

Samantha (Corpuz) Castillo

Job title: Nutritional Services Director

Place of Employment: San Pablo Healthcare and Wellness Center

Year graduated from Sac State DPD: 2018

Notable Career Highlights/Achievements: 2020 Graduate-Napa State Hospital Dietetic Internship Program. I have only been in my position for less than 2 years now, but the future is bright!

Advice for current students: Don't burn any bridges! The impression you leave on those around you can profoundly affect your future opportunities.

Taureen Cofer

Job title: Registered Dietitian

Place of Employment: Nutricopia

Year graduated from Sac State DPD: 2017

Notable Career Highlights/Achievements: I have worked with staff and patients in over 15 care facilities across three different states.

Advice for current students: Always be patient, kind, and understanding toward your interdisciplinary team members. They all come with their own strengths and specialties, and nutrition may not be one of them.

Haley Dockrey

Job title: Dietitian II

Place of Employment: UC Davis Health - Health Management & Education
Year graduated from Sac State DPD: 2020

Notable Career Highlights/Achievements: As a dietetic intern, I was awarded the highest-scoring Journal Club presentation on plant-based eating. I have worked in several settings as a per diem RD, including inpatient and various outpatient clinics (bariatrics, renal, gestational diabetes, primary care), and now full-time as an educator for chronic disease management.

Advice for current students: Be open to trying new things and say yes to challenges and opportunities - you never know what path it may take you! Also, don't sweat the small stuff. When you make mistakes, laugh, move on, and learn from past experiences.

Viviana Gonzalez

Job title: Educator

Place of Employment: Sutter Medical Foundation

Year graduated from Sac State DPD: 2020

Notable Career Highlights/Achievements: I am proud to work as an RD in diabetes management and disease prevention.

Advice for current students: Change is the only constant thing in life, so don’t be afraid to go above and beyond everyone’s expectations. Keep an open mind early in your career, and soon, you will find your passion and place of work that aligns with your goals.

Lindsey Herring

Job title: Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, RD/RDN, LD

Place of Employment: Bell County Public Health Department, TX
Year graduated from Sac State DPD: May 2021

Notable Career Highlights/Achievements: I completed the Georgia Southern University dietetic internship and received my graduate certificate with an emphasis in Community Nutrition and Public Health. Since then, I’ve moved to Texas and am currently the Registered Dietitian for the Bell County Public Health Department. I serve the community nutrition and public health needs of 4+ regions and a military base. I collaborate with the Community Health Division health educators team and contribute to the monthly newsletters and community resource guides. I also provide nutrition counseling, education, referrals to clients and families in the WIC program, and more! Lastly, I receive RD referrals daily and provide medical nutrition therapy and high-risk nutrition counseling for underserved residents in the county.

Advice for current students: Your journey will be filled with many trials and tribulations. The path to becoming a Registered Dietitian is challenging, but it’s worth it, so stay positive and keep going! Make friends along the way and stay connected with your classmates, mentors, professors, advisors, and anyone who has impacted your RD2B journey! Get involved on campus and in the community! Most importantly, ask questions, embrace the learning process, and follow your passion!

Abbey Lake

Job title: Clinical Dietitian (RD, CNSC)

Place of Employment: Dignity Health - St Joseph's Medical Center
Year graduated from Sac State DPD: 2020

Notable Career Highlights/Achievements: Obtained the title of Certified Nutrition Support Clinician (CNSC) within 1 year of becoming an RD

Advice for current students: Dietetics is a very broad career path; so get involved in as many nutrition experiences as possible, regardless of your primary focus, to become a well-rounded intern. You never know, you may find a new focus you love! Say yes to opportunities, and don't be afraid to ask questions. This is your time to learn and absorb as much information as possible.

Paige Little

Job title: Outpatient Pediatric Dietitian

Place of Employment: UC Davis Health - Outpatient Specialty Clinics
Year graduated from Sac State DPD: Spring 2019

Notable Career Highlights/Achievements: Currently working as a Pediatric Dietitian with hopes of becoming a Board Certified Specialist in Pediatric Nutrition.

Advice for current students: Get a nutrition/dietetics advisor as soon as possible and meet with them at least once yearly to help you plan your course pathway. Know in advance the steps it takes to become an RDN. Get as much experience as possible within the nutrition/dietetics field before applying for dietetic internships. Examples include: diet technician, diet assistant, diet aid, Peer Health Educator at Sac State, etc. Explore the programs you wish to apply to in advance. Most importantly, stay motivated and believe in yourself, because the reward of being an RDN is worth all the hard work, dedication, time, and sleepless nights you put into it!

Matthew Lobo

Job title: Registered Dietitian

Place of Employment: Kaiser Permanente Vallejo
Year graduated from Sac State DPD: 2019

Notable Career Highlights/Achievements: Sac State Alumni Cum Laude, UCSF DI alumni, "Is Fiber a Superfood" article in Meals on Wheels newsletter

Advice for current students: The road ahead will include many challenges and great successes. Know that success is not found walking the path alone, so utilize people you can count on, mentors, and build a good support system. Be open and willing to learn despite your struggles and work on your weaknesses. For those that ask the question, "Is this worth the work?" I will tell you that it is 100% worth it. Once you see the gratitude in your client's eyes for helping them change their life, you may find it more rewarding than you thought.

Nathaniel McKee

Job title: Registered Dietitian

Place of Employment: California Healthcare Facility, Stockton

Year graduated from Sac State DPD: Fall 2018

Advice for current students: The CSU Sacramento dietetics program guided me through the journey to become a registered dietitian. The faculty inspired me and were available when I needed support. The classes challenged me and provided the knowledge I needed to take the next step. I would not be where I am today if it wasn't for this program.

Randi McCreary

Job title: Foregut, Metabolic, and General (FMG) Surgery Clinical Dietitian II>

Place of Employment: UC Davis Medical Center

Year graduated from Sac State DPD: May 2018

Notable Career Highlights/Achievements:
- I hold the advanced certification of Certified Nutrition Support Clinician (CNSC)
-I am a proud malnutrition champion within our clinical nutrition team. I have advocated for and presented about the importance of identifying and treating malnutrition, highlighting our RDs at the forefront for malnutrition identification and diagnosis.
-This year, I took the lead on the outpatient Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) workgroup which encompasses many surgical lines at UC Davis. Our hope is to be able to identify and provide nutrition intervention and optimization to those patients identified at nutrition risk before they go into surgery, during the perioperative period, and after they discharge. Early nutrition intervention translates to fewer post-operative complications, fewer hospital readmissions, and a smoother recovery for our surgical patients.

Tania Naber MS, RD

Job Title: Outpatient Dietitian

Specialty: Nephrology

Year graduated from Sac State DPD: May 2020

Notable Career Highlights/Achievements:
PUBLICATIONS & AWARDS
Nutrients September 2021
Naber, T. and Purohit, S. Chronic Kidney Disease: Role of Diet for a Reduction in the Severity of the Disease. Nutrients 2021
PMCID: PMC8467342
American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences April 2021
Mildred B. Davis Fellowship
California Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics August 2020
Dolores Nyhus Graduate Fellowship Fund

Advice for current students: Undergrad is the time to develop the skills to achieve a successful academic journey and professional career. Time management, organization, and good study habits are essential to get the most out of this program. Build your resume early by being a part of the nutrition community and volunteering your time—the experience will work in your favor. Try not to get discouraged, and don’t let anyone’s opinion sway you from your path. Believe in yourself every step of the way—you have what it takes to be the future of nutrition and dietetics!

Ofunneka Omekam, MA, RD

Job title: Registered Dietitian Team Lead

Place of Employment: Community Medical Centers

Year graduated from Sac State DPD: Spring 2018

Notable Career Highlights/Achievements: I received my Master of

Arts in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies at Sac State in 2020. I matched that Spring to Sac State for my Dietetic internship. Technically, it makes me a triple alumna of Sac State :)

Advice for Taking the RD Exam:

I think knowing the material, your learning style, and being able to think critically to understand the questions being asked of you, will help you pass. Take your time and well-deserved breaks while studying. And if you need to move the exam or retake it, that is okay. I moved my exam back like 3 times and I know a bunch of people who passed after one or more fails, (including myself) who are still amazing dietitians. This exam is just really difficult for everyone. You will pass soon --Good luck!

Bronya Petrov

Job title: Clinical Dietitian

Place of Employment: Providence Queen of the Valley Medical Center (also where I did all my rotations in my dietetic internship!)

Year graduated from Sac State DPD: May 2021

Notable Career Highlights/Achievements: During my Dietetic Internship, I had the opportunity to develop a presentation and teach a group nutrition class on cancer prevention to cancer survivors. The handouts and presentation that I created are still being used as part of the cancer wellness program in our outpatient department, and I’ll have the opportunity to relaunch this group class!

Advice for current students: Make the most of your Dietetic internship experience and treat it like a potential job opportunity. It’s a privilege to train with various preceptors and to learn from their experiences. Ask thoughtful questions and have your resources on hand. The internship is a wonderful opportunity to make a good impression on potential employers or colleagues and to figure out what speaks to you in this career. Don’t be discouraged if you’re in a rotation that you don’t like. There are many paths to take, and you never know what doors will open!

Paula Ramirez

Job title: Registered Dietitian

Place of Employment: Community Medical Centers

Year graduated from Sac State DPD: Spring 2018, Sac State Dietetic Internship Spring 2021

Notable Career Highlights/Achievements: Passing the RD exam in 2021 and working in a community setting where I get to help primarily Spanish speaking, lower income patients. I am working to become a Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES).

Advice for current students: For future RDs - take your time, believe in yourself, and do not compare yourself to others. Get out in the field, network with dietitians, be very flexible, and always keep an open mind.

Martin Del Real

Job title: Olympic Sports Dietitian

Place of Employment: Michigan State University

Year graduated from Sac State DPD: 2019

Notable Career Highlights/Achievements: Recipient of the Foundation's Commission on Dietetic Registration Diversity Scholarship 2020-2021 from the Academy of Nutrition And Dietetics. As a Sports Dietitian, I was able to contribute to the success of both Gymnastics and Women's Soccer Team this past season. They both won for the first time in history, The big 10 regular season championships!

Advice for current students: Be always open to constructive criticism and have a curious mind. Make sure you always have questions and stay up to date by constantly learning on your own and from other peers in the profession. Do not be afraid to network!

Brosnan Rhodes

Year graduated from Sac State DPD: 2019

Job title: Registered Dietitian

Place of employment: Rehab Without Walls; currently waiting to hear back from Mercy San Juan

Notable Career Highlights/Achievements: Worked at a medical prison facility. During that time, I helped to rewrite the TPN policy for the state prison system. Co-wrote an RD consultation guide for providers while at Mayo, which is currently in review for publication and distribution.

Lori Taylor

Year graduated from Sac State DPD: 2018

Job title: Clinical Dietitian

Place of employment: Adventist Health + Rideout Hospital

Notable Career Highlights/Achievements: I continue to log hours, expand my knowledge on Diabetes Care and Education, and develop group education material for my company to progress toward my personal goal of becoming a Diabetes Care and Education Specialist.

Advice for current students: Find a good group of colleagues/friends that you can collaborate with. Make connections and foster good relationships with other nutrition professionals.

Annabelle Toll

Year graduated from Sac State DPD: 2019

Job title: Clinical Dietitian

Place of employment: Shrinerns Children's Northern California

Notable Career Highlights/Achievements: One of the favorite parts of my job is getting to know our patients and families on a deeper level. Many of our patients are often with us for extended periods of time while they recover from burns or are in rehab after a life-altering event, so getting to connect with patients and their families has been very special. It’s amazing to see all their progress and how much improvement they make during their stay!
Another highlight is establishing a good relationship with the members of each multidisciplinary team I work with. Having good team dynamic and colleagues who trust your recommendations and value what you bring to the team makes for positive and improved patient outcomes.

Advice for current students: As a student, I would say to involve yourself in as many things as you can. Whether that's clubs on campus, involvement in leadership, or getting connected with your professors. It’s also helpful to seek out any new volunteer/internship opportunities. Not only does it look great on a resume, but it will help you explore different fields of dietetics to see if you like/or dislike that area of the field.
As a professional - everyone says it for a reason, but networking is key! The field of dietetics is a small world and it’s important to connect with and stay in touch with others as you move through your RD journey. I have found great help from others whether it’s reaching out to an RD in a different specialty about advice on a patient or learning about various job opportunities.

Kyler Torres

Job title: Clinical Dietitian

Place of Employment: Vibra Hospital of Northern California

Year graduated from Sac State DPD: 2018

Notable Career Highlights/Achievements: Obtained an MS degree in Nutrition and Dietetics. Applying to Physician Assistant School with the classes required for the DPD.

Advice: Not knowing what you want to do with your degree is OKAY. Once you have licensure, your options are vast.

Casey Whitmore

Job title: Nutrition Manager & Registered Dietitian

Place of Employment: Sutter Center for Psychiatry

Year graduated from Sac State DPD: 2020

Notable Career Highlights/Achievements: A career highlight of mine is being able to work within the mental health field, where I have the opportunity to give others life-changing support.

Advice for current students: Make connections with others within the dietetics profession, and don’t be afraid to try new learning opportunities when they present themselves. The connections I established during undergrad have helped me get to where I am today.

Lori Yo

Job title: Registered Dietitian II

Place of Employment: Kaiser Permanente, Roseville (I work in adults, pediatrics, and level III NICU)

Year graduated from Sac State DPD: 2018

Notable Career Highlights/Achievements:
MAS, Maternal and Child Nutrition, UC Davis 2022
Working on internship hours to earn an IBCLC