Her Story
About Sushma
My journey into nutrition and dietetics began during high school when I decided I wanted to serve the community and help people, though I wasn't sure exactly how. While in college, I explored different paths and eventually gravitated toward healthcare and research. I started my career as a research scientist working in hospitals, and from there my interest developed in nutrition-based research. I realized that through the field of nutrition, I could work in hospitals to prevent medical conditions through healthy eating and lifestyle changes. After completing my undergraduate and post-graduate education, I began working with hospitalized patients, teaching and educating them while managing all different kinds of nutrition-related diets. I progressed through different levels of care, from working with critical patients to step-down acute care, rehabilitation facilities, and eventually nursing homes and assisted living facilities. In 2003, I expanded into outpatient education, working in community settings where I helped establish multiple clinics and hospital nutrition departments. I collaborated with pharmacists and administrators to ensure comprehensive care for clients. My work grew through word of mouth as people invited me to give talks at churches, schools, conferences, and meetings. I began taking on contracts with different centers, helping them fix menus, address nutrition-related issues, and fill gaps in their care systems. Throughout my career, I have worked with diverse populations from Central America, Asia, Far East Asia, and various European backgrounds, learning to tailor nutrition education to respect different cultural beliefs and eating habits. I pursued additional certifications in management through the academy, studied Spanish, and explored functional medicine and Ayurvedic lifestyle approaches to better serve my diverse client base. I also became certified as a yoga teacher to deepen my understanding of holistic wellness. Today, I work as a nutrition consultant, assessing issues in healthcare facilities and providing solutions based on established guidelines. My greatest achievement has been mentoring students and young dietitians who have gone on to become directors, managers, and physician assistants in various fields.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Sushma
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my commitment to helping people and giving back to the community. My biggest achievement has been mentoring and guiding younger dietitians and students who came to me from different universities. Many of them have gone on to become directors, managers, and physician assistants in different fields. The fact that students would tell their friends and colleagues 'why don't you go to Sushma, she will help you' was incredibly rewarding to me. I believe that your work speaks volumes, and you don't need to constantly seek credit or recognition. When students follow what you do and people come back to you after five years with their parents, that itself is the real reward. I focused on building practices by helping people grow, because when you help others grow, you grow too. That's what real leadership is about - making decisions that help the larger community, even when people say it won't work. I learned not to be fearful of trying new things, because if you don't try, you'll never know if it could work.
02What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The most important values to me are helping people and serving the larger community. I believe in the power of networking and working with people, because you learn from each other. I enjoy working with people from all different backgrounds and cultures, and I think it's important to be open to learning about different beliefs and eating habits rather than taking a cookie-cutter approach. I value diversity and understanding that every culture has their own beliefs, whether they're Italian, German, Central American, Asian, or Far East Asian. I don't focus on running after awards and trophies - my purpose is to help the community at large. I believe that when you do good work, the recognition comes naturally, and you don't have to constantly seek credit. What matters most is that your work speaks volumes and that you're making a meaningful impact on people's lives. I also value not being fearful of trying new things, even when others say it won't work, because that's how you create positive change for the larger community.
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