Today we’d like to introduce you to Areli Gutierrez.
Hi Areli, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Hi! I’m Areli Gutierrez and I am a Mexican American Registered Dietitian and have a board certification as a renal nutrition specialist. I am from the Rio Grande Valley where I had a wonderful chemistry teacher in highschool that got me interested in the subject. I especially found the chemistry of food and nutrition fascinating. I attended Texas A&M College Station where I majored in Nutrition Science. From here I worked many jobs in the nutrition field, such as in WIC and food retail, while I pursued my Masters in Nutrition and completed my dietetic internship.
My first job as a dietitian was working for the correctional facilities of the North Carolina Department of Public Safety. It was here where I first started working with dialysis patients and became interested in renal nutrition. Upon moving to Houston I started working in dialysis centers and eventually obtained my board certification in renal nutrition. As one of the very few Spanish-speaking Latina renal dietitians, I saw the need for bilingual kidney education tailored for my Hispanic/Latine community so I started my own private practice, Latina Kidney Dietitian LLC.
I also took my passion for cultural inclusion in nutrition one step further and started a podcast called Food Culture Curious, where I interview health care professionals of different backgrounds about how to improve cultural competency and practice with cultural humility.
I have since been published in a peer reviewed journal, and have spoken at several conferences and for different organizations on the topic of cultural inclusion in renal nutrition.
I am also involved in Latinos and Hispanic in Nutrition and Dietetics (LAHIDAN) where we focus on improving representation of Hispanics/Latinos in nutrition care.
I am so grateful for the opportunities that come my way and excited to continue to help my Hispanic/Latine community!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It definitely has not been a smooth road! Unfortunately there are so many financial barriers to becoming a dietitian. For example, to be a registered dietitian you need a dietetic internship and for someone coming from a low economic background such as myself my only chance was to obtain a paid internship. So I applied year after year to one of the few paid internships available and after four years I was finally accepted into the Michael DeBakey VA Medical Center where I completed my internship. This is on top of completing your bachelor’s and masters. So needless to say, most of my life I was working multiple jobs to put myself through school and make ends meet. But I will say, I feel my sacrifices were more than worth it. Being in the 5% of Hispanic/Latine dietitians and being able to help my community means so much to me.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Latina Kidney Dietitian LLC is my private practice where I see patients with Chronic Kidney Disease. Unfortunately because of several factors related to social determinants of health Hispanic/Latines are more likely to have chronic kidney disease and eventually renal failure. Diet plays a big part in preserving kidney function and avoiding complications, yet there is not a lot of culturally inclusive information for this population. That’s where I come in! I love teaching patients how to enjoy their cultural foods while still achieving their health goals. And seeing the relief in the eyes of my Spanish-speaking patients that I can counsel them in their native language is priceless.
What does success mean to you?
There are so many things that come to mind when I think about the future! I would love to be able to expand my practice and hire other kidney dietitians, write a cookbook of Latine kidney recipes, and partner with organizations and brands to help spread the message.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.latinakidneydietitian.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/latinakidneydietitian
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/areli-g-67015910b
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@foodculturecuriouspodcast
