Our community is a diverse and talented group of individuals dedicated to being By HER Side through breast and ovarian cancers. HER Community is a monthly series that introduces you to the many faces of Unite for HER.
Professional Background:
I graduated from St. John Fisher College in Rochester, New York with a BA in Communication/Journalism. After college I moved to Charlotte, North Carolina to work for a boutique public relations agency where I primarily worked to support our motorsports technology client in what is now the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. From the world of NASCAR, I moved to New York where I spent some time providing PR support to a variety of consumer brands. After some time, I decided to transition into a field that I felt would be more fulfilling and where I could make a difference in the lives of others. So I went back to school and received my nutrition degree from LaSalle University and completed my dietetic internship with Sodexo. My clinical experience includes the Crozer-Keystone Health System, Lower Bucks Hospital and – most recently – Hahnemann University Hospital where I covered our inpatient oncology and radiation oncology units for 3.5 years.
How did you become involved with Unite for HER?
Shortly after completing my dietetic internship in 2013, I started working with our former Nutrition Advisor, Katie Cavuto. It was during that time that she introduced me to Unite for HER and offered me the opportunity to help her as she worked with our women. Slowly my work expanded to making nutrition phone calls, then assisting with the Resource Area at our in-person Wellness Days, and now leading out giving the lunchtime nutrition talk and participating in nutrition vouchers.
What is your role in a Wellness Day and the Wellness Day Program?
My job at each Wellness Day is to explain the facets of our nutrition program, as well as our overall nutrition philosophy. Perhaps the most important aspect of this conversation is sharing that ultimately, we want to help our women and men feel good about their food choices. There is so much fear and stress surrounding food that can accompany a diagnosis like cancer, particularly when a person starts analyzing their lifestyle and
asking themselves, “why did this happen?” Michele and I are here to educate, answer questions, offer guidance and resources to aid a person in meeting their goals, and most importantly help them feel confident and empowered throughout their nutrition and wellness journey. In terms of our Wellness Day Program, it has evolved quite a bit in the world of COVID
and quarantine. Our in-person shopping experience has turned into grocery dollars for healthy food. And since we’ve all become experts in Zoom, we’re now offering virtual cooking classes, as well as plenty of other special virtual culinary events to stay connected (like our monthly Virtual Hangouts!). So while our nutrition program looks quite different compared to a year ago – and we are patiently waiting for the return of some of our in-person offerings – we think it’s definitely changed for the better!
What inspires your work with Unite for HER?
Definitely our women. Each and every person I have been afforded the opportunity to meet and connect with have been nothing short of amazing. Their resilience and consistent positive energy combined with my love of nutrition drives me to do whatever I can to help others live their healthiest life possible. Plus, as Registered Dietitians, Michele and I are always learning. I love reading about new nutrition science and research findings, and we both get excited to share what we learn with our community. So we are constantly inspired to always be thinking and developing new and innovative ways for us to connect and educate others.
Words to Live By:
“Be the change you want to see in the world.”