Find a Dietitian

Lisa Harper Mallonee BSDH, MPH, RD is unique in that she is both a registered dietitian and registered dental hygienist. She had always had an interest in nutrition and wellness and found that during her tenure as a full-time hygienist that nutrition played a MAJOR role in the field of dentistry but was limited to the scope of nutritional services that she could legally provide. The two positions Lisa currently holds are related because as a dental hygienist there are a number of systemic conditions that have oral manifestations.

Read what nutrition conditions Lisa can recognize from a patient’s oral exam and what she does in her current position that blends the two health professions together.

Paula Cantu, RD, LD began her career as the outpatient dietitian for the US Reynolds Army Community Hospital, where she developed and coordinated a highly successful weight loss and exercise program for all overweight soldiers assigned to Fort Sill, Oklahoma. Lessons from that experience sparked a passion for nutrition and wellness that shaped her private and professional life

Read about how Paula is committed to a lifelong goal of promoting wellness and an active lifestyle through her role as a Food Service Director and community activist.

Katherine Dennison, MPH, RD, LD, the Chief Clinical Dietitian at Thomason Hospital, Iraq and Dietitian in the US Army Reserves will be deployed to Mosul, Iraq in June 2007 and is not expected to return to US soil for 13 months. This will be Katherine’s first tour of duty.

Read about Katherine’s decision to become a Dietitian in the US Army Reserves and what her job will entail when going over seas.

Becca Gray, clinical dietitian at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas, knows first hand what it is like to make an impact in people’s health and nutritional status at home and abroad.

Read about how Becca is providing evidence to show the impact that the dietitian has on improving patient medical outcomes.

It seems the “best ice cream in the country” employs some of the country's best allied health professionals; one of them is registered dietitian, Brenda Valera, RD, LD.

Read about Brenda's long career with Blue Bell Creameries.

"When a (career) opportunity feels good and fits good, take it.” Nutrition and dietetics offers an abundance of opportunity and no one knows that any better than Suzy Weems, PhD, RD, LD. She is an educator, a leader, and motivator for change in public policy.

Read about how Suzy first became involved in politics.

Jessica Setnick, MS, RD, LD, a Dallas native, first discovered her interest in eating disorders during her pursuit of an undergraduate degree in anthropology at the University of Pennsylvania. “My fascination with the development of human eating behavior coupled well with my interest in the psychology of eating and eating disorders,” says Jessica. With this revelation, she decided to complete her thesis on eating disorders in children, earn her masters degree in exercise and sports nutrition, and complete a dietetics internship at Texas Women’s University to become a registered dietitian. Eight years later, Jessica works as a nutrition consultant at her private practice in Dallas, Understanding Nutrition, where she specializes in the identification, treatment, and prevention of eating disorders.

Read about Jessica's biggest challenge and her proudest accomplishment thus far in her career as a dietitian.

For Cathy Montgomery, RD, CSP, LD, love for legislation came naturally. Cathy, a neonatal nutritionist at Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children’s Hospital, had the history of family politics on her side. With a mother who had run for the Texas State Legislator and a brother with over a decade of political involvement, the Houstonian was instantly drawn to the legislative process and dietetics. “I attended Nutrition Day at the Capitol and loved it!” says Montgomery.

Read how Cathy used a preemie diaper to persuade politicians to take notice of her testimony.

Felicia Ricks, RD, CSR, LD, certainly has more legislative experience than others. As one of the first dietitians in Texas to receive specialty certification in renal nutrition, Felicia’s testimony at the ESRD rules hearings was her first entrée into politics. Her involvement in legislative issues continued this past year with passion and energy, but she admits that “it took a significant amount of active persuasion by all the people I most respect to get me there!”

Read Felicia’s expert advice for simple ways TDA members can get involved with legislation.

Using sheer determination and good old customer service skills, El Paso Dietetic Association’s (EPDA) 2004-2005 President Kelley Trahan, MS, RD, LD and her board created a successful 60 member association virtually from scratch.

Click here to read the full Member Spotlight on Kelley Trahan, MS, RD, LD