RDN Spotlight: Reaa Ali, RDN

What is your ethnicity/race? Did your family have any customs related to food? Please describe.

I am Middle Eastern/North African from Egypt. My family was very big on having Friday breakfast together with the neighbors. It was a way to share time, effort and kindness through food and traditions of our community.

Where/when did you go to undergrad/dietetic internship/grad school?

I went to CUNY Queens College for my undergrad in New York City, where I double-majored in nutrition dietetics and in exercise sciences and graduated with two bachelor's degrees in Spring 2020 (COVID year). Then, I did my Dietetic Internship also at Queens College where I graduated the following year, and I'm finishing up my masters in nutrition and exercise sciences there this year.

Why did you decide to choose nutrition and dietetics as a career?

I have always been passionate about how fueling a person's body the right way can drastically change their energy levels and performance not only in life in general but also in sports. Unfortunately, since nutrition is not available as a stand-alone major back home, I decided I have too much passion for this field to set it aside, so I packed my bags and decided to come to the US and study nutrition here and start my journey.

What do you do now as an RDN and what does a typical day/week look like for you?

Since I am still a full-time graduate student, I decided to opt for a part-time position at a nursing home so I can finish my degree while still gaining some work experience. I'm projecting once my semester starts that a typical day would be working at the facility from 8-4pm then having class from 6-8pm. When I'm not at the facility I will probably use that time to catching up on school assignments and my research project since there's not much time to do anything on the days I'm working.

What is/was the biggest challenge for you in becoming a dietitian and how did you overcome that challenge? This can be related to being an RD of color or not just any challenge?

As an international student, the biggest challenge for me was trying to figure out how to be part of the Dietetic Internship because there is a lot of paperwork and steps involved with the visa and not many programs are aware of what is needed, and many programs don't even accept international students which I found very disappointing. Another challenge for me was having to leave my country, family, and culture to come here to study what I love. I believe coming from a different environment and suddenly being immersed into another one allowed me to have a very open mind when it comes to cultural diversity and how people perceive, use, and relate to food differently which is something I strongly take into consideration with my patients/clients.

Have you had any mentors in your career if yes how have those mentors affected your career/life?

I wouldn't say I had specific mentors per se, but I had many people who advised me on so many steps throughout my journey to becoming an RD and I must say I could not have done it without their encouragement and support. Don't be afraid to reach out to people in the field or at your university or even previous interns to ask questions and advice, you would be surprised how many people are willing to help!

Why do you think diversifying this field is important?

Diversity adds so much to the table of being a dietitian. Food is something that is very sacred in so many cultures. It's not just a way to fuel our bodies, it's a way to celebrate occasions and holidays, a way to mourn loved ones in funerals, a way to show hospitality to neighbors, and kindness to coworkers, a way to show respect to elders and excitement to children. Without all these different aspects that come in with different cultures, we would lose the signifying sentiments of food and with it the connection and relatability to our clients/patients. We have to understand the different significance and representation that food holds in different cultures before we start demanding things from our patients, and the only way to be more aware is to diversify the field and be open to grow and learn from each other. This is why I believe diversifying the field is truly essential to its success and improvement.

What is a piece of advice you would give a student of color interested in entering the field of dietetics?

Go for it with full force and don't let anyone dictate your path for you. It can be as original or as traditional as you want it to be.