Surgical ICU to Sports Nutrition! Joel Totoro is currently a registered dietitian and Director of Sports Science for Thorne.  Previously, he was the Nutrition Solutions Manager at EXOS in Phoenix, AZ working with the Performance and Innovation Team. Prior to joining EXOS he was sports dietitian for the University of Michigan working with Football, Hockey, Men's & Women's basketball and chair of the Human Performance Committee. Totoro came to Michigan from the New England Patriot serving eight years as team dietitian,  where he became the first full-time sports dietitian in professional sports.  While with the Patriots, he directed all aspects of the team’s nutrition needs and worked closely with the teams performance and medical staffs. Totoro also served as the assistant chief dietitian at St. Luke’s Hospital in Massachusetts, specializing in trauma nutrition, from 2002 to 2004.  He received his Bachelor of Science in Allied Health-Dietetics from the University of Connecticut in May 2002. He is an original member and former Board of Directors chairperson for the Collegiate and Professional Sports Dietitian Association. 

Be a Go-Getter! Mary Ellen Kelly is a veteran Sports RD that will inspire you to seek out opportunities and pave your own path! Mary Ellen is the owner of Fuel Forward, LLC, a nutrition consulting business.  She is Adjunct Faculty for Boston University and for Bloomsburg University.  Additionally, she is a Manager of CPSDA's Sports Nutrition Immersion Program (SNIP).  She was the Miami Dolphins’ Full Time Sports RD from November 2014 through March 2018 and was the Head Sports RD at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill from 2011-14 and Staff Sports RD in 2010.  Prior to UNC, she served as the Campus Dietitian/Sports Nutritionist at St. John’s University in Queens, NY. She was the 2015 recipient of the CPSDA Trailblazer Award. Mary Ellen shares valuable insight and advice on the profession that will leave you feeling inspired to find your happiness, keep a growth mindset and go after your dreams!

Be authentic, be real and make connections quickly! Rob Skinner has done it all and will inspire you to do the same. Rob Skinner is the Senior Sports Dietitian with Acrobat and Combat Sports at the United State Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He brings over 20 years of experience working as a dietitian and exercise physiologist with athletes at all levels.

Prior to coming to the USOPC, Rob was working in the NFL at the Washington Redskins where his primary responsibilities were advising players about eating for performance, investigating new performance technologies, educating players on issues regarding dietary supplements and working with the Redskins' Executive Chef to provide healthy meal options.

Rob also spent three years in Virginia Beach, where he worked as the performance dietitian/exercise physiologist for Naval Special Warfare, working with U.S. Navy SEALs. Prior to this role, Skinner was the Director of Sports Nutrition at the University of Virginia for three seasons and spent 10 years working with student-athletes in a similar capacity at Georgia Tech. He also served as a nutrition consultant for the NFL Atlanta Falcons in the spring of 2007.

Skinner is a registered dietitian with the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, as well as a member of SCAN, and a previous board member of CPSDA. Skinner also holds certifications as a Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics , a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist and a Certified Exercise Physiologist

Skinner has authored/co-authored several publications, including the chapters on “Ergogenic Aids” and “Working with the Collegiate Athlete” in AND publications, including Sports Nutrition: A Guide for the Professionals Working with Active People, 3rd edition and Working with the Collegiate Athlete and Weight and Body-Focused Sports, 4th edition Skinner graduated with a bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Georgia as well as a bachelor’s degree in nutrition from Georgia State University. He also has a master’s degree in exercise science from Georgia State University. Rob is originally from Atlanta, Ga., and now resides in Colorado Springs, CO with his wife Barbara.

Start before you're ready! Jennie Zabinsky is currently the owner of Bliss Nutrition, a nutrition counseling private practice focused on sports performance and eating disorders, adjunct faculty at Virginia Tech, as well as a Performance Nutrition Consultant within Virginia Tech Athletics where she is overseeing the completion of an all sports dining facility and the treatment and initiatives surrounding eating disorders and disordered eating. Prior to this role, Jennie was the Associate Athletics Director for Sports Nutrition at Virginia Tech for 8 years. Jennie has a degree from Roanoke College, where she also played basketball, and 2 degrees from Virginia Tech. Jennie has a passion for bringing a non-diet weight inclusive approach to the athletic population. Jennie shares insight and advice on growing a sports nutrition program, how to get seat at the table, and intuitive eating and sport. Jennie will inspire you to go for it!

Stay humble, work hard and follow your passion! Beth Wolfgram has an incredible journey to becoming a Sports RD. Beth is a Registered Dietitian with her Master of Science degree in nutrition from the University of Utah and her Bachelor of Science degree in exercise science from Northeastern University. Beth is a Board-Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics (CSSD), as well as a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS). She has worked in the sports nutrition and wellness field for over 25 years around the United States, England, and Australia. Currently Beth has a nutrition consulting business and private practice, Fueling Your Performance. She was the Director of Sports Nutrition at the University of Utah Athletic Department for 10 years and the consultant sports dietitian with the Utah Jazz for 16 years. Beth has worked with Bowdoin College, Bates College, and a variety of high schools in both Maine and Utah. She currently serves on the board of directors for Collegiate and Professional Sports Dietitians Associations (CPSDA) as the Professional Development and Student Programming Chair. Beth shares valuable insight on her career as veteran sports dietitian that will leave you feeling motivated and inspired! 

Confidence comes with experience! Lauren Marucci is in her 4th year as a performance dietitian at LSU. Lauren coordinates the nutrition plans for the men’s basketball, soccer, softball, and swimming and diving teams. Lauren also has experience working in the NFL. She spent the 2016-2017 season working as a Gatorade SNIP (Sports Nutrition Immersion Program) Fellow with the Chicago Bears. She has also interned with EXOS and worked extensively with Florida State University prior to working at LSU. Lauren completed her masters and dietetic Internship at Florida State in 2016 and graduated from Penn State majoring in nutritional sciences in 2014. Lauren shares valuable insight on the profession and how she has grown as a sports dietitian throughout the years. If you're an up-and- coming sports dietitian you won't want to miss this one! 

Second career Sports RD! Angela Bruzina has an incredible journey to becoming a sports dietitian. Angela is currently the performance dietitian for the Major League Soccer team Minnesota United FC. Prior to her role with MNUFC, she was a consultant dietitian for FC Cincinnati and former dietitian at University of Cincinnati Athletics. As a retired opera singer, Angela finds many similarities between her previous career on stage and fueling athletes on the field. She feels she has found her home in helping athlete’s optimize their nutrition. Angela shares insightful perspective on the field that will leave you feeling inspired to find your people! 

The first veteran Sports RD interview is here! Kelly Rossi shares valuable insight and rewards of the profession. Kelly is the Director of Performance Nutrition at the University of Delaware. Prior to this role, Kelly worked at the University of Virginia for 8+ years. Before UVA, Rossi supported the Office of Naval Research (ONR) for 6 years as a Staff Exercise Scientist. Kelly served on the CPSDA Board of Directors for 4 years, serving as the Research & Education Chair as well as the Secretary & Membership Chair. Kelly has an incredible journey to becoming a Sports RD that will leave you feeling motivated and inspired.

The first guest is here! Meredith Price shares her unique journey on becoming a sports dietitian that will leave you feeling inspired! Meredith is currently the Associate Director of Performance Nutrition at the University of Washington. Prior to her role at Washington she was a Sports Nutrition Immersion Program (SNIP) Fellow at the United States Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado and traveled as a sports dietitian to the Rio Olympics in 2016.  Meredith shares invaluable life lessons, challenges and rewards of her career path to becoming a sports RD. 

In this episode I'll talk about how I became a sports dietitian and my journey up until this point in my career. From high school, to college, the dietetic internship, sports nutrition fellowship to my first full-time job as a Sports RD, I'll share it all!