Today we’d like to introduce you to Chelsea Marquez.
Hi chelsea, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Chelsea Marquez, MS, RD, LD, is a Registered Dietitian whose passion for wellness was shaped long before she ever stepped into a classroom. With both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in nutrition from Texas Woman’s University, she has spent more than a decade transforming lives through evidence-based nutrition and compassionate care. Chelsea specializes in Medical Nutrition Therapy for diabetes, heart disease, chronic kidney disease, gastrointestinal disorders, and eating disorders, with a particular focus on helping individuals rebuild a healthy and sustainable relationship with food.
Although nutrition is now her calling, Chelsea did not always know the path she would take. Looking back, she believes her journey was divinely guided. Her mother, a Certified Diabetes Educator and registered nurse, introduced her to the world of wellness early by bringing her to work rather than leaving her with a babysitter. Chelsea grew up hearing conversations about healthy habits and witnessing firsthand the impact of practical, patient-centered education. When she enrolled in her first nutrition course, everything clicked. She knew instantly that she had been given a heart for this work.
Over the past ten years, Chelsea has gained extensive experience across hospitals, long-term care facilities, and outpatient clinics, building a strong clinical foundation. Eager to learn as much as possible, she spent her evenings and weekends immersed in nutrition education, leadership roles within the Academy, community volunteering, contract work, and writing her own blog. Her expertise has led to speaking engagements with news outlets and contributions to physician group blogs in both Texas and California.
A new chapter began in December 2022 when Chelsea’s husband, also a Registered Dietitian, purchased JTA Wellness, a practice rooted in whole-person care. Joining the practice opened the door for Chelsea to take on a leadership role focused on purposeful expansion. She is guiding the practice as it expands its locations and service offerings, driven by the belief that every person deserves access to high-quality, culturally inclusive nutrition care, no matter where they live. Chelsea is helping the practice broaden its outreach, enhance its programs, and meet the diverse needs of the communities it serves. She also leads employee wellness initiatives across multiple worksites and provides engaging presentations on a wide range of nutrition topics.
Today, Chelsea continues to live out her mission to guide, educate, and empower each patient with the tools they need to thrive. For her, nutrition is more than a profession. It is a calling, a ministry, and a lifelong commitment to helping others discover the freedom and joy that come with true wellness.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
As JTA Wellness grows, Chelsea has seen firsthand how complex the path to nutrition care can be for many families. Behind every appointment request is a real person with a real story, and often, a real barrier standing in the way.
One of Chelsea’s patients came to JTA after years of struggling to manage her diabetes. She had tried multiple times to schedule visits with a dietitian through her insurance plan, only to be told her condition did not meet the coverage criteria or that her appointments would require out-of-pocket costs she simply could not afford. By the time she reached Chelsea, she felt defeated and overwhelmed.
This story is painfully common. Many individuals wait months for approvals, face denials due to unclear policies, or discover only part of their care is covered. Others switch jobs and lose access to providers they trust. Even when insurance does cover nutrition care, the paperwork alone can feel like another barrier to wellness.
Chelsea addresses these challenges by creating a more transparent and supportive experience. She and the JTA Wellness team guide patients through verifying benefits, estimating costs in advance, and exploring alternative pathways, such as employer wellness programs or self‑pay options with flexible scheduling. The goal is simple: no patient should feel confused, ashamed, or alone when seeking the help they need.
While insurance roadblocks remain a major challenge, telehealth has opened new doors for many patients who once thought nutrition care was out of reach. Chelsea remembers a patient who lived nearly two hours away from the nearest medical center. His long workdays made it almost impossible to attend regular follow-ups, and he often delayed care because traveling meant losing income. Through telehealth, he met with Chelsea from his truck during lunch breaks or from his kitchen table before work. Consistent visits finally became realistic, and for the first time, he stayed on track with a nutrition plan tailored to his lifestyle.
Still, virtual care is not without its own obstacles. Some families lack reliable internet, secure private spaces at home, or comfort using technology. Others worry about whether telehealth visits will be reimbursed the same way as in person sessions. These uncertainties can make patients hesitant to try virtual care, even when it would greatly benefit them.
To bridge this gap, Chelsea ensures that each telehealth visit is designed to be simple, personal, and fully guided. The practice offers tutorials for patients new to virtual platforms, provides flexible scheduling for parents and shift workers, and continues advocating for broader coverage so that virtual nutrition care remains accessible for everyone, regardless of where they live.
The heart of JTA Wellness’s mission is to ensure that care is within reach for every person, every family, every story. Chelsea leads the practice with the belief that wellness should not be limited by ZIP code, technology comfort level, or insurance status.
To make this vision real, the practice is:
Working toward the expansion of locations
Offering hybrid in-person and telehealth models to fit busy lives
Building culturally inclusive care plans tailored to each patient’s background
Partnering with employers to provide nutrition support at worksites
Advocating for policies that protect telehealth access and improve insurance coverage for nutrition services
Every step forward is driven by the stories of real people whose lives are changed when the right care finally becomes available. Chelsea continues working to ensure that no patient is held back by systems that should be helping them live healthier, fuller lives.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about JTA Wellness?
About Our Practice: What You Should Know
JTA Wellness is a nutrition practice rooted in compassion, clinical excellence, and the belief that every person deserves access to meaningful, personalized nutrition care. Our mission has always been to help individuals and families improve their health through education, empowerment, and a whole-person approach to wellness.
What We Do and What We Specialize In
We provide comprehensive Medical Nutrition Therapy for diabetes, heart disease, chronic kidney disease, gastrointestinal disorders, eating disorders, weight concerns, pediatric nutrition, and general wellness. What we are known for is our ability to take complex medical information and translate it into simple, actionable steps that fit real life. Patients often tell us they finally feel understood and supported rather than overwhelmed or judged.
What Sets Us Apart
What makes JTA Wellness unique is our commitment to accessible, culturally inclusive care that honors each patient’s background and lived experience. We do not believe in rigid rules or one-size-fits-all plans. Instead, our focus is on helping people heal their relationship with food, understand their bodies, and build sustainable habits that last.
Another hallmark of our practice is flexibility. With both in-person and telehealth appointments, workplace wellness programs, and family-based counseling, we meet people where they are and adapt support to the realities of their daily lives.
Celebrating Twenty Years of Impact
This year is especially meaningful as we celebrate the twenty year anniversary of JTA Wellness. Reaching this milestone is a testament to the trust our patients place in us and the commitment our team has made to delivering compassionate, evidence based care year after year.
As part of honoring this legacy, we are expanding our offerings to better support the evolving needs of our community. New services include:
InBody body composition analysis to offer deeper insight into metabolic health and progress
Group classes that create community, accountability, and shared learning
Targeted programs designed to troubleshoot the difficult, often overlooked aspects of health such as stress, fatigue, hormone shifts, emotional eating, digestive concerns, and more
These additions allow us to support patients more holistically and provide tools that address the real world challenges they face.
What We Are Most Proud of as a Brand
We are proud of the warmth and trust that our brand represents. People know JTA Wellness as a place where they will be heard, respected, and guided with empathy. Our patients often tell us they feel seen for the first time, and that is the heart of our work.
We are equally proud of our growth. Since the practice transitioned to new ownership in 2022, we have embraced a vision centered on expansion, inclusivity, and innovation while preserving the compassionate roots that built the practice twenty years ago.
What We Want Readers to Know
JTA Wellness is more than a nutrition practice. It is a place dedicated to helping people feel better in every sense of the word. We offer personalized nutrition counseling, pediatric and family care, corporate wellness support, presentations, group programs, and newly expanding services that deepen and enhance the patient journey.
Most of all, we want readers to know that we are here to walk alongside them. Our brand exists to help people find confidence with food, clarity in their health, and real hope in their path to wellness — no matter where they are starting from
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
Finding a mentor can be one of the most influential parts of growing in any career, especially in nutrition, where collaboration and shared experiences make such a difference. My best advice is to place yourself in spaces where learning happens naturally and where you can connect with people who inspire you.
For me, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics played a major role in shaping my professional journey. Through their mentorship programs, volunteer opportunities, and professional groups, I met experienced dietitians who guided, encouraged, and helped me navigate new stages of my career. These relationships developed over time and became a foundation I still lean on today.
Some of the most meaningful mentorships in my life have also come from my colleagues. Working closely with other dietitians taught me the value of shared problem-solving, honest conversation, and learning from others’ strengths. Many of these colleagues became trusted mentors simply because we supported one another through challenging cases, celebrated growth, and exchanged ideas freely.
My husband, who is also a Registered Dietitian, has been one of my greatest mentors. We continually learn from each other by discussing emerging research, talking through tough clinical situations, and pushing one another to grow as leaders. Having a partner who understands both the science and the heart of our field has been an invaluable gift.
What Has Worked Well for Me
Saying yes to opportunities even when they felt out of my comfort zone. Many of my most important connections came from volunteering, joining committees, and taking on leadership roles early in my career, asking genuine questions, and being willing to learn from others with more experience. Mentors appreciate curiosity and openness.
Staying gracious and receptive when offered feedback. Growth happens when you feel safe enough to hear honest guidance—keeping relationships alive with simple, thoughtful communication. A short message or update goes a long way. Seeing mentorship as something that can happen in everyday moments. Quick conversations at conferences, discussions between appointments, and even conversations at home can become powerful learning experiences.
Mentorship does not have to be formal or intimidating. It grows naturally when you surround yourself with people who inspire you, challenge you, and believe in your potential. Seek out those relationships, nurture them, and let them guide you. They will become some of the most meaningful parts of your professional life.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://jtawellness.com
- Instagram: @jtawellness
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jtawellness
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/jta-wellness/
- Twitter: https://x.com/jtawellness
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@jtawellness
Image Credits
Louis Regal
