Today we’d like to introduce you to Emily Dorko.
Hi Emily, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I started with a passion to create a healthier nation with quality tasting food. I grew up with a mother with a culinary degree who also valued healthy eating. I knew I wanted to enter the healthcare field to make our nation healthier – and being on the prevention side of public health make the most sense to me given the information below:
CVD (heart disease) has been the leading cause of death in the United States for more than 100 years and currently accounts for 1 in 3 deaths, and cerebro- vascular disease accounts for 1 of every 18 deaths in the United States. The cost associated with medical treatment and lost productivity from CVD alone was $297.7 billion in the year of 2008. Obesity now rivals smoking as the largest cause of preventable death and disease with diet and exercise being the top factor in prevention of both CVG and Obesity.
As I began hands-on work in the field of nutrition, I realized much of how we eat today is shaped around our current U.S. food system, lifestyle and the family we grew up in; often prioritizing low-cost convenience foods & weight over quality food & a healthy relationship with food. This led me to start focusing on the source of our habits: infancy & childhood. I help guide parents on how to best nourish both themselves and their children to create lasting healthy habits.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Absolutely not. Completing my clinicals in acute care facilities was not my jam. I wasn’t able to create lasting change for patients.
I have also tested many different niches of populations to work with.
Developing counseling skills is just as important as having the clinical knowledge on what to do with patients. Driving patient behavior change is the BIGGEST challenge in this field, and it often is not taught enough in undergrad. Everyone has different needs and figuring out which patient needs what approach can be challenging. In the United States our current food system, lifestyles, and public policy are not conducive for health-promoting behavior.
Lastly, starting an insurance-based private practice has been the most challenging. It requires the ability to learn as you go and figure things out along the way. There is no roadmap like there is in school. The business side of things is not taught in undergrad dietetics. Much of this I have taught myself. Billing insurance has been — without a doubt — the most challenging thing I have done in my career. However with persistence, trial & error, I am becoming more and more proficient in navigating insurance companies.
As you know, we’re big fans of GroundUp Nutrition. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
I offer 1:1 virtual & in-home counseling for nutrition for the whole family! I specialize in infant & childhood nutrition, picky eating, adult & pediatric weight management, emotional eating, PCOS, pregnancy nutrition, eating disorders and diabetes management.
I focus on sustainable results for patients; I want them to not need me again for the same issue in the future! I don’t offer quick-fixes. I offer clarity for you and your family to promote a healthy relationship with food while seeking a optimal health & nutrition status.
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
I don’t
Pricing:
- $115 per session if paying out of pocket
- If using your health insurance, many people pay $0!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ground-up-nutrition.com/
