Monique Richard overcame diabetes to become a registered dietitian. She has a passion for helping others through individualized nutrition plans. In her career so far, she has made an impact through her work. Her experience at East Tennessee State University's dietetic internship program helped prepare her through various rotations. She now works as an integrative clinical dietitian and teaches yoga. Her goal is to help large groups through a media platform to inspire healthy choices.

1. Monique Richard, MS, RDN, LDN, has overcome much to get where she is today. She
has a passion for helping the individual and creating plans specific to each of her
patients. In her short time in the field, she has already made such an impact. Here
are some words of wisdom from Monique Richards, MS, RDN, LDN, and a closer look
into her journey:
Words of wisdom from Monique Richard, MS, RDN, LDN: Dive into opportunities
whenever you can. You don’t always have to have all the answers or know
everything before leading a project, volunteering to help an
RDN/professor/organization/physician, or working with someone in the
community, but being willing to listen, learn and help will take you far in your
lifelong learning and career. Also, don’t be afraid to ask questions, challenge the
status quo and be the professional who understands it takes working together and
investigating deeper to make a difference. Nutrition science is ever-evolving, but
some things never change. Be open-minded, but know your stuff, including
biochemistry, research and what individualized nutrition is all about.
Lauren Echols, RD Spotlight Editor: What originally sparked your interest in the
nutrition field?
MR: I was diagnosed with Type II diabetes. Diabetes is prevalent in my family,
although well controlled. However, I was overwhelmed and undereducated about
the direct impact of carbohydrates on blood sugar control, what it all meant, and the
complexity of the disease. I was never referred to a dietitian despite many different
physicians’ visits, but was handed some prescriptions, and sent on my way. I was
devastated and desperate for clarification. I began reading as much as I could to
educate myself. The books I was reading either referred to dietitians or were
written by dietitians. It was at that moment I realized I wanted to go back to school
and teach others, with care and empathy, about the power of nutrition; I have never
looked back.
LE: How was your experience at East Tennessee State University? Would you
recommend this internship to applying dietetics students? Explain a few of your
rotations and the Master’s program overall.
MR: I had a very good experience at ETSU. The Master of Science at ETSU is in
Clinical Nutrition and although I knew I did not want to be a traditional clinical
dietitian in the hospital setting, I knew that this foundation would be critical to my
success and depth of dietetics in any aspect I chose to pursue. The master’s degree
combined with the internship and financial package as a graduate assistant made
this a very appealing choice. We had a good variety of community and clinical
rotations in the area and are fortunate enough to have many hospitals, clinics, health
departments and long-term care facilities in this area to rotate through. I was very
fortunate to work closely with the program director as a graduate assistant and
proved my dedication and responsibility. They allowed me to do my diabetes
rotation in India as I was contributing to a diabetes conference with the American

2. Overseas Dietetic Association at the time and wrote a review paper with board
members on the conference planning committee. They were very supportive and
open-minded to making sure we gained the knowledge and insight we needed
professionally, academically and in preparation for passing the national exam. I had
very positive experiences with the preceptors I worked with from dialysis to long-
term care, the health department, school system, and within the hospital.
LE: What do you think are some aspects of yourself that got you the dietetic
internship? What would you recommend students be doing now in order to prepare
for the internship?
MR: I think the array of my experiences and the balance of volunteerism, leadership,
employment, academic excellence, and genuinely being passionate were some
aspects that were appealing to dietetic internship programs. Being able to take
initiative and follow direction are equally important. Be present, be authentic, and
understand that everything you do contributes or detracts from your goals, so make
your choices matter. You can prepare for internships by volunteering somewhere
aligned with food and nutrition or your goals, get a job associated with a place you
can learn and implement some of the things you will learn, ask to shadow a dietitian
you think is doing what you want to do.
LE: How did you get the job and positions you currently hold?
MR: It’s sometimes being at the right place at the right time, or knowing someone
who knows of a position. These fell into place, but I also worked on a variety of
projects and free-lance contract work that made me marketable as I entered the
field as a new dietitian. After graduating in 2013 I was asked to teach nutrition
as adjunct faculty at ETSU the following Spring. I then began to work in a primary
care setting as an outpatient dietitian in two offices P/T, while creating my own
private practice, Nutrition In-Sight LLC (www.eatrightrx.com). Now I am full-time
at the primary care clinics as an Integrative Clinical Dietitian, Chair of Dietitians in
Integrative and Functional Medicine (an area of growing interest and attention in
the field of dietetics- we have more than 4100 members), have my own practice,
and teach yoga twice a week.
I try to bring a more holistic and functional medicine perspective to my clients and
offer a deeper understanding of nutrition and integrative therapies for a variety of
medical conditions and nutrition goals. I see a variety of conditions from
cardiovascular disease to diabetes, to cancer to food sensitivities.
LE: What would you say is your ‘dream job,’ or your ultimate goal in your career?
MR: I think I am still figuring all that out myself, but I would have to say my ‘dream
job’ would be some kind of TV/radio/internet program or platform that is able to
help large masses of people at once. I am a positive and passionate person with
many experiences to share. I feed off the energy of people wanting to make positive

3. changes, listen and come together to help themselves, the earth, animals, or
humanity in general. I would love to inspire people to realize that so many choices
they make related to diet and nutrition affect their health and quality of life and they
have the power to change those choices regardless of their circumstances, especially
related to chronic diseases like diabetes. We can be the change we want to see.
Addressing food insecurity is something really important to me as well, therefore
my business name, Nutrition In-Sight, a dual meaning for both being guided to gain
knowledge and reflecting on behavior and individual needs related to your own
nutrition needs and seeing what nutrition actually looks like, therefore putting
nutrition “in sight.” That may require a national leadership position to make some
major changes happen in this country and around the world, so stay tuned, it feels
big but I’m still molding what that looks like.
LE: What has been the most rewarding aspect of your educational and dietetic
career so far?
MR: I would say the relationships I have built and memories I have made while
serving others and trying to improve lives. I have so many professional colleagues
whom I consider really close friends, but I have also had some profound experiences
with clients and patients and I have learned so much about myself and my own
needs. It is extremely satisfying to know that we can touch the lives of so many
through something we all have in common and can share together. Being respected
and valued among my colleagues, whether physicians, therapists, or other
healthcare professionals is satisfying (although in some landscapes is still a
challenge) and it is something every RDN should take very seriously and work hard
to maintain by educating our peers, sharing our knowledge and actively being
involved.