Today we’d like to introduce you to Mackenzie Mueller
Hi Mackenzie, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My story starts as an active teen who personally needed help fueling properly for sport and a growing body. Through working closely with a dietitian in high school to taking a nutrition elective while at UT Austin, I realized my passion for nutrition science. After switching my major from Biology to Dietetics I was off to the races. I graduated from UT Austin in 2014 and started graduate school in January of 2015. I worked as a graduate research assistant in the Nutrition and Exercise Lab and enjoyed learning about research methods and being part of the research team. I returned to UT Austin to complete my dietetic internship and got my first job working as a Registered Dietitian at a maternal fetal medicine clinic (Texas Perinatal Group in Austin). There I was lucky to have immense mentorship through another dietitian, Kelli Webb, and the physicians at the practice. I gained many hours of experience working 1-1 with women who had diabetes in pregnancy. It was eye opening and helped me harness my counseling skills, a very important aspect of being a dietitian (that I believe is not emphasized enough in the current curriculum). After working in person through the COVID pandemic I chose to pursue virtual practice opportunities. I was lucky to travel and work remotely for a time. Currently I am working at a virtual maternity care practice, called Pomelo Care, which supplements traditional pregnancy care with unlimited, customized support.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The road has been smooth, mostly 🙂 Some of the struggles include questioning my impact and navigating the emotional work of the job. It seems that people who are drawn to this career path are natural “helpers” and with that inclination also comes the skill of feeling and caring deeply. It can be hard to figure out how to balance both while striving for the best for patients and yourself.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
At this point in my career my specialty is gestational diabetes and diabetes management in pregnancy specifically. This past August I became a Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist. This credential reflects the many hours of experience I have working with women to balance blood sugars. My work consists of connecting to my patients, understanding their personal goals, lifestyle, food preferences, culture of food, and assessing what nutrition interventions are relevant for the patient. I am most proud of the way I have advocated for my and created a warm and safe environment for people to show up to my sessions. Every time I work with someone I see it as an opportunity to create a positive health care experience, it matters that my patients feel heard and supported and I am there to do that.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
Be patient with yourself and the process of growing in your field! Try to learn something from every client you work with. Acknowledge the limitations you have and bring to the table. If there is anything people need less of it is judgment, especially around food. There is a reason they have shown up and most of the time it takes time to build trust, don’t overlook that! Lastly, don’t be afraid of therapeutic use of self. It has taken me 5-6 years to allow myself to connect more with my clients, and when done professionally and appropriately it can add a lot to the session. Showing that you yourself are human is a big way to connect with others.
Image Credits
Personal photo: Wayan Barre Photography
