RDN Spotlight: Johane Filemon, MS, RDN, LD, CLT

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

I was born in Haiti and raised in the United States.  I grew up eating Haitian foods, so my culture is embedded in my DNA! My parents were both culinary trained, so the foods were always a melting pot of African/Haitian, French and Spanish cuisines. My exposure to food was awesome growing up. I love, love good food!

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

I grew up in Florida so for me it was inevitable that I would attend a university there. I was not ready to be far away from my parents LOL. I attend The Florida State University for my first bachelor’s degree where my focus was exercise science Pre-Med. I then went to The University of Georgia where I focused more on dietetics and received my second bachelor’s degree. I continued at UGA and received my master’s degree in Food and Nutrition Science. After UGA, I completed my dietetic internship at Life University in Atlanta, Georgia.

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

I didn’t actually choose dietetics, at least not initially. My 1st choice for a career was medicine so I was originally a pre-med major. It just so happened that FSU required those who were in the Exercise Science pre-med program to take nutrition courses.  This is when I was introduced to the field of nutrition. I was so elated because there was actually a career out there that merges my love of food and medicine. When I told my Haitian parents that I was leaving medicine to focus on dietetics. They were not that excited LOL, but I’m so happy they eventually came around. 

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

Since ‘Rona has come around and completely disrupted everyone’s life, my typical day looks completely different than it did in 2019. Now my workday for my practice starts in the afternoons. Being at home all day with kids has required a lot of balancing but I am making it work somehow.  I also do a lot of work as a wellness influencer on social media.  During the week I spend a lot of time creating content while supporting my kids who are in digital school at home. 

5. 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?

There were a few challenges that I came across early on in this field. As I went through my school as a dietitian, I was usually one of few if not the only student of color in the programs I was in.  It was kind of hard not seeing people who look like me in the field that I was choosing.  The only mentor that I had to relate to was my graduate professor who was a PhD in nutrition and had amazing knowledge but it was limited to nutrition and not the field of dietetics.  I don’t think I had access to any dietitians of color at the time.  My next hurdle was deciding on which internship programs to apply to. Being that most internship programs require that you are available 40 hours a week working with no pay, I knew the program had to be associated with a university if I wanted to receive financial aid, and that is what I did. The lack of mentors in the field who looked like me made things a little hard because I had no guidance. This is one of the main reasons why I am willing to give back to any dietetic student who requests my assistance or guidance no matter what is going on in my life. 

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

My grad school professor was absolutely awesome! He was not a dietitian but he knew nutrition well, was from Ghana. Being that I was also an immigrant, he had so much wisdom to share with me. He gave me so much confidence to believe in myself and what I was capable of doing and how far I could go. Whenever he calls me to come to speak to his classroom, I do not hesitate because he did the same for me. 

7. Why do you think diversifying this field is important

Because the world we live in is diverse! If our field only looks one way, it does not reflect the country and the world that we live in. Different backgrounds bring in different perspectives and knowledge which helps make recommendations better. Also, I’ve found that some people are more comfortable working with a professional that looks like them or has a similar background as they do.  So the field needs to be diverse to meet the needs of all.

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

Do it! Don't let anyone tell you no! Find yourself a dietitian of color who aligns with your goals and ask them to be your mentor. It's so much easier to find an RD of color in the field.