My Own Gut Story

As a young adult studying at UCLA I found myself more tired than everyone around me. I needed more rest than the average over-extended college student. I woke up from ten hours' sleep feeling foggy and fatigued. My mood was low and, even with the typical struggles of young adulthood, I couldn't understand why I felt so off when everything around me should have been great. I was found to have "slightly low iron" - but that was normal since I was a young woman who didn't eat a lot of meat, right? I was dismissed by several medical practitioners, labeled as a hypochondriac by family and friends, and treated for anxiety and depression. A few years after college I sought help from a new physician who amazingly tested me for celiac disease just from this set of complaints. I will forever be indebted to her for how she changed my life for the better. As much as the diagnosis was a relief and a confirmation that I was not crazy, I certainly struggled for several years with the huge change that is the gluten-free lifestyle, along with still feeling unwell and developing many more gastrointestinal symptoms than I had ever had before. I visited physicians and dietitians who were supposedly experienced in the area and I found that I knew more than they did about my condition. Disheartened, I attempted to exclude every food that made me feel sick, which didn't leave much to eat and had very negative psychosocial consequences. Then I became heavily involved with the Celiac Disease Foundation and found a supportive community of thousands of others who had experienced the same dismissal, confusion, lack of help from the medical community and isolation from their friends and family. Through this organization I also found expert health practitioners who helped me to understand my body and finally reach a gut equilibrium that is very manageable. 

I know first-hand the importance of advocating for one's own health. I know how it feels to be searching for answers and to lose hope that answers actually exist. While many medical conditions do not have perfect solutions or simple answers, I truly believe that finding knowledgeable health practitioners who will take the time to understand you is essential to improving quality of life. There is always hope for improvement, and finding the right person to talk to can make the world of a difference. 

Office Locations

     2001 S. Barrington Ave., Los Angeles CA 90025 - Monday through Friday, Saturdays by request

     Telemedicine via FaceTime or Google Hangouts

Professional Qualifications


Credentialed Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR)
Certified Eating Disorder Registered Dietitian by the International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals since 2017

Formal Education

Master of Science, Family & Consumer Sciences - Nutrition & Dietetics
    California State University, Northridge, 2012- May 2015

Didactic Program in Dietetics
    California State University, Northridge, 2010-2012

Bachelor of Arts, American Literature, French minor
    University of California, Los Angeles, 2003-2007
    Including 32 units psychology coursework (developmental, abnormal, cognitive, research, and counseling techniques)

Professional Training

Dietetic Internship - Veterans Affairs Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, 2013-2014
     Including specialized training with:
  • VAGLAHS Division of Gastroenterology, Research
  • Delete the Wheat, LLC (Melinda Dennis, RD, LD)
  • Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Division of Gastroenterology
  • Rosewood Centers for Eating Disorders - Santa Monica (formely A New Journey Eating Disorder Center)
  • Women, Infants & Children (WIC)

University of Chicago Celiac Disease Center Preceptorship Program, December 2014
  • 16 hours specialized training in medical and nutritional management of celiac disease

Professional Experience

     Dietitian   -   UCLA Division of Digestive Diseases & Celiac Program                                           Sept 2017 - present

     "Ask the Dietitian"   -   Celiac Disease Foundation                                                                            August 2014 - present

     Chair    -     Dietitians in Gluten and Gastrointestinal Disorders                                                      June 2017 - present 
                         Subgroup of Medical Nutrition Practice Group, Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics              

     Manuscript Reviewer   -   Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics                                                      August 2015 - present

     Dietitian   -   La Ventana Treatment Centers, Santa Monica                                                           November 2015 - May 2017

     Dietitian   -   A New Journey Eating Disorder Center, Santa Monica                                             July 2014 - November 2015

     Outreach Coordinator   -   Celiac Disease Foundation                                                                     2012-2013

     Project Manager   -   Marilyn Magaram Center for Food Science, Nutrition & Dietetics            2011-2012                                                                                                     California State University, Northridge

     Crisis Counselor   -   The Suicide Prevention Center, Los Angeles                                                2008-2009

Publications & Presentations

Case Study Presentation: Substance abuse, trauma, and eating disorders                                      October 17, 2016
                  Behavioral Health Nutrition Practice Group Member Breakfast, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
                  Food and Nutrition Conference and EXPO 2016, Boston, MA
 
“The Dirty Side of Clean Eating: Orthorexia and risk it poses to recovery”                                        October 1, 2016
                  National Eating Disorders Association Annual Conference 2016, Chicago, Illinois

“The Triple Threat: Interplay between addiction, eating disorders, and trauma”, Speaker            July 20, 2016
     Labor Assistance Professionals Organization Annual Conference, Las Vegas, NV

“Medical Nutrition Therapy for Gastrointestinal Disorders”, Speaker                                                July 18, 2016
     Veterans Health Association Greater Los Angeles Dietetic Intern Class of 2016

“Trends in Gluten-Free Nutrition”, Speaker                                                                                             April 30, 2016
     Celiac Disease Foundation National Conference & EXPO

“Gut-Brain Axis: The intersection of gastrointestinal disorders and mental health disorders”      March 23, 2016
     Webinar Presenter, Behavioral Health Network, Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics

“Gluten-Related Disorders and Co-existing Conditions”, Webinar Presenter                                   January 20, 3016
     Celiac Disease Foundation Arizona Chapter                        
 
“Gluten-free living and emotional health: what every dietitian must know”, Interviewee              December 2015
     Today’s Dietitian, vol 17: 12, p 36. Author: Judith C. Thalheimer, RD, LDN.
                 
“How to Cope with Food Intolerances and Allergies”. Manuscript Reviewer.                                   August 2015
     Complete Food and Nutrition Guide, 5th edition.  Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.                                      

"Gluten-free diet adherence in celiac vs non-celiac American adults" Poster Presentation         June 21-24, 2015
     International Celiac Disease Symposium 2015, Prague, Czech Republic

“Celiac Disease for Children and their Families”, Speaker                                                                    May 21, 2015
     Celiac Disease Family Support Group, Children’s Hospital of Orange County

“The Gluten Conundrum”, Speaker.                                                                                                           March 21, 2015
     GI Symposium: Responding to Current and Emerging Gastrointestinal Disorders, Orange District of the California Dietetic Association

“Celiac Disease & Gluten Sensitivity”, speaker, Los Angeles Unified School District                       March 18, 2014
     Celiac Disease Foundation Southern California Chapter School Nurse Awareness Program

“The Gluten-Free Craze: the Truth Behind the Trend”, Interviewee                                                     October 2014
      Jessica Oliveiras, University of Southern California,

“Celiac Disease & Gluten Sensitivity”, speaker, Los Angeles Unified School District                       February 6, 2014
     Celiac Disease Foundation Southern California Chapter School Nurse Awareness Program

“Gluten-Free Essentials”, Speaker,                                                                                                             April 12, 2012
     Klotz Student Health Center, California State University at Northridge

“Gluten-Free 101”, Speaker,                                                                                                                         November 17, 2012 
     Marilyn Magaram Center for Food Science, Nutrition & Dietetics, Northridge, CA

“Presentation of Celiac Disease in the Mouth”, Speaker,                                                                       September 15, 2012 
     San Gabriel Valley Dental Hygiene Association, Santa Margarita, CA    

Celiac Disease Foundation "Ask the Dietitian" Program: 
     “Traveling Gluten Free”, author                                                                                                              June 6, 2016
     “Irritable bowel syndrome, gluten-related disorders, and the low fodmap diet”, Author           February 3, 2016
     “Gluten-Free 101”, Webinar Speaker                                                                                                     January 20, 2016     
​     “Women’s Health and Celiac Disease” feat. Sheila Crowe, MD. Webinar Speaker,                      March 19, 2015
     “Women’s Health and Celiac Disease” web article, Author                                                              February 25, 2015
     “Gluten in Medications & Heart Health” feat. Steve Plogsted, PharmD. Webinar Speaker         February 11, 2015
     “Consistent Carbohydrate Gluten-Free Meal Plan” Author                                                               February 5, 2015
     “Diet for Celiac Disease and Diabetes” Author                                                                                    February 5, 2015
     “Take Care of Your Heart”, Author                                                                                                          February 3, 2015
     “Healthy New Year & Type 1 Diabetes” feat. T1D Exchange. Webinar Speaker                             January 21, 2015
     “Staying Healthy in the New Year” Author                                                                                           January 8, 2015
     “Happy Gluten-Free Holidays & Turkey Talk” Webinar Speaker                                                      November 19, 2014
     “Happy Gluten-Free Holidays” web article, writer, Celiac Disease Foundation “Ask the              October 29, 2014
     “Oktoberfest & Halloween” webinar, Celiac Disease Foundation            “Ask the Dietitian”         October 15, 2014
     “Oktoberfest: A Gluten-Free Halloween” web article, writer, Celiac Disease Foundation            October 14, 2014
     “Back to the Basics for Gluten-Free Back to School” web article, writer, Celiac Disease             September 10, 2014
     “What’s in Your Lunchbox? Kid Friendly Breakfasts and Lunches” meal plan, writer                    September 10, 2014