About Joy
Specialties
Sports nutrition
Digestive disorders
Weight management
My Story
I am a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist in Los Angeles and Long Beach, CA trained in medical nutrition therapy and outpatient counseling, ready to help you make and achieve your individual goals. I am happily equipped to provide evidence-based nutrition counseling that focuses on YOU.
I completed my dietetic internship with the Veterans Affairs Healthcare System in Los Angeles, CA. I earned a Master's of Science in Nutrition Science at the University of Hawaii, with my published thesis research in psychological models of behavior change. I previously earned a bachelor's degree in Communication from the University of Southern California.
I grew up as a competitive swimmer in Houston, TX and went on to compete with the USC Trojans. I embraced the benefits of good sports nutrition practices, with food and hydration being key training elements and tools for success in my swimming career.
In addition to understanding nutrition as fuel for sport, I have learned firsthand the importance of nutrition for health problems, when several years ago I was diagnosed with Crohn's disease. I interned as a researcher at the Cedars-Sinai Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center in Los Angeles, focusing on the interrelation of nutrition, disease, and the gut microbiome.
In 2015 I got married and left L.A. for Boston, MA, where I started a private practice and served on the Board of Directors for the Massachusetts Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. My husband's career recently brought us back to sunny SoCal. We left behind our parkas and snow boots, but brought with us a new treasure: a baby daughter!
I am always reading, always learning, and love staying up to date on the latest nutrition research. Some of my other research interests are in smartphone-based apps in the clinical setting and nutrition for the endurance athlete. I have conducted research on the role of caffeine in endurance sports and look forward to adding more scientific discoveries to the field!
During my downtime, I enjoy writing, running, and exploring the sights and tastes of L.A. with my husband, our lively 4 year old girl, and our sweet baby daughter.
That's a little about me. Now I'm looking forward to learning a lot about YOU!