During my dietetic internship, our director continually discouraged our class from starting our own business. Upon completing my internship, my first job was a clinical dietitian with a foodservice company. By the end of the first month, I had already had a run-in with the Chief Resident who thought he was the Messiah reincarnated. My boss didn’t even back me up and failed to recognize that an inpatient dietitian position was not suited for my personality.
My second job was an outpatient dietitian position at a small hospital. My boss, an entrepreneur herself, “had my number” and tried to prepare me best-- with tough love-- for the path in which she knew I was headed. My third job was better suited for my wiring. I ran the nutrition program of a small cardiac rehabilitation program. My boss always encouraged our staff to better ourselves and to tap into our talents. My boss always encouraged me to start my own business and am grateful for his guidance.
Early in my career, I opened my private nutrition practice where I offered a myriad of patient counseling and education services. I eventually hired a staff of dietitians, as I went from subcontractor to entrepreneur, and grew the business over 10 plus years before selling it as an asset.
As I guide you through various entrepreneurial topics and issues, please trust that you can do anything that you set your mind to do. Don’t let anyone set an intention for you or snatch your dreams. I look forward to being your tour guide on this process.
Beverly, thank you so much for discussing private practice! I am completing my degree at Indiana University this year and I hope to match for an internship starting in the fall. My fiance and I are both determined to open our own business within 5 years so I am very excited to read your postings with All Access Internships to learn more about what I can do during my first years as an RD to prepare well and go into private practice.
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