Expanding the Arena - May Edition

In our May’s edition of Expanding the Arena Interview Series,
we have Ashley Acornley MS, RD, CSSD, LDN who is also an
Athletics and Fitness Association of America (AFAA) Certified Personal
Trainer. She works in private practice and corporate wellness with patients
of various backgrounds.

What is your educational background and how long have you been an RD?

Do you have any additional credentials relevant to your position?

I have a Bachelor of Science degree in Nutritional Sciences with a minor in

Kinesiology from Penn State University. I also have a Master of Science degree

in Nutrition and completed my Dietetic Internship at Meredith College. I have been

an RD since September, 2010. I have a Level 1 Certificate in Weight Management

through the Academy, a Certificate in Personal Training, and a CSSD board

certification.

How did you achieve your position/ how did you get started with

your current position?

I worked part time for my current private practice position in 2010 while in
grad school and have built my business and clientele there ever since.
In addition, I specialize with in-home personal training and contract
with several different corporate wellness companies. I truly believe that
if you spend time making connections with multiple companies and
partnering with a wide variety of people, you will be able to find your way
to any position that you dream of.


What key areas of knowledge/experiences did you need to have
before this job?
Much of my Dietetic Internship and graduate school experience involved
outpatient practice and private practice, so I was fortunate enough to hone
these specific skills once I graduated. Knowledge with weight loss, motivational
interviewing, coaching, and sports nutrition has really benefited my current
job position.

What are the highs and lows of your position?
I love working with my clients and being a positive component of their health
and fitness journey. I thoroughly enjoy working with athletes, diabetics, and those
seeking weight loss. Every day is different as far as schedule, duties and clientele
goes, so it keeps me on my toes and makes everyday challenging. I enjoy working
one-on-one with clients, and also enjoy doing team talks and lunch ‘n learns. I love
the flexibility of my job. The lows are I have to travel a lot, have an inconsistent
schedule/hours, and do not have a salaried position since I am a contractor.

What is a typical day for you?

I never have a “typical” day or work typical hours, which can be fun yet
challenging! I normally complete a workout at the gym prior to starting
my day. On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, I meet with my powerlifting
instructor, and on my off days I focus on running, core, and yoga. The rest of
my day varies between seeing clients at the private practice I work at, meeting
clients at their homes for in-home training, presenting for team talks or lunch
‘n learns, or consulting for a corporate wellness company. Occasionally I will
complete some telehealth visits. Because I essentially run my own business
and schedule, many of my evenings involve catching up on emails, scheduling
patients, marketing, and updating my social media accounts.  

What advice would you share with an RD (or RD2be) that is interested
in a similar career path?

Learn as much as you possibly can from other dietitians and mentors before branching off on your own. Dabble in as many different jobs and duties as a dietitian
so that you can truly find your passion and niche. As an entrepreneur, be prepared
for the inconsistent schedules and the highs/lows of private practice. Always have
several different “income streams” to support your business and schedule.

What is your greatest strength/weakness as a dietitian?
My personality fits private practice and outpatient nutrition perfectly. I am personable,
positive, and encouraging with my patients. I am also detail-oriented and a great
multi-tasker. However, I am a quiet and private individual and don’t complete as much
social media and marketing for my business as I should.

What are some of your interests outside of work?
I love being active, and it is a huge part of my life. I am currently learning how to
powerlift and olympic lift. I love to play tennis, softball, golf, lift weights, hike, and run
5Ks. I am a big animal lover and have adopted 2 cats. I also am the philanthropy chair
for my local Penn State University Alumni Chapter and am involved in planning food
drives and fundraiser events throughout the year.

What aspect of sports nutrition (or any other area of dietetics) interested you
to pursue it as a career?
I have always been athletic and involved in sports throughout my life. In high school,
I changed my diet and noticed a huge difference in my sports performance. Since
experiencing this change first hand, I became fascinated with the science of sports
nutrition and the body. I love learning about fueling the body before, during, and after
exercise.

Why have you decided to work with athletes or similar groups?
Many times athletes have very busy and demanding schedules, and nutrition
is always put on the back burner. As a dietitian, you can greatly influence an athlete’s
outlook on their health, fitness, performance, and the overall way they feel. We can
simplify nutrition and become a problem solver for any obstacle that may occur.

How do you deal with the daily stresses presented to you in your career?
Stresses in your career ebb and flow all of the time, especially in private practice.
I try to take everything one day at a time.

Prior to getting your credentials, did you have any experience in nutrition
(ie. food service, volunteering, etc.)?
I gained much of my varied experience during my Dietetic Internship. I also
completed the last month of my internship specifically at a private practice.
Prior to my internship, I volunteered at my local hospital, nursing home, and
physical therapy clinic.

What do you love about your career/job?
I love learning the science of sports nutrition and how food can heal your body
and improve your performance. I absolutely enjoy being involved in my clients’
lives on a regular basis and being a positive aspect of their health and fitness
journey.

Is there a course you took in undergrad or grad school that has helped
you in your current role?

I truly think that every core course that I took for nutrition and kinesiology has
helped in some way. However, my favorite undergrad course was Sports Nutrition
with Dr. Kris Clark at Penn State. My favorite graduate course was Gastronomy
with Dr. Susan Fisher at Meredith College. Both of these classes and professors
played a huge role in my love for nutrition and how I view food.

Expanding the Arena Initiative - April Edition

Next up in our Expanding the Arena interview series, we have the wonderful Rebecca McConville. Rebecca McConville MS, RD, LD, CSSD is a sports dietitian and eating disorder specialist. She is the owner of Rebecca McConville consulting where she works with individuals to meet their performance goals and also treat individuals with eating disorders. In her consulting role, she provides sports nutrition education to various colleges within her area and is co-creator of an eating disorder protocol at University of Missouri - Kansas City. She also co-hosts a podcast called “PHIT for a Queen”, devoted to female athletes trying to balance performance, health, intellect and taking time for self.

What is your educational background and how long have you been an RD?

Do you have any additional credentials relevant to your position?

I earned my Master’s degree from University of Kansas and have been a

practicing dietitian for 11 years now. I also have my CSSD and have applied

for my CEDRD as well.

How did you achieve your position/ how did you get started with your current

position?

As a prior college athlete, it felt like a natural fit to work with collegiate
athletes along with my personal passion to bring awareness to relative
energy deficit in sport (RED-S). Within my private practice, I joined an
eating disorder practice where I was clinically supervised for over 2 years.
I continue to receive peer consult, which I believe should be mandatory for
anyone working with people who have eating disorders.

What key areas of knowledge/ experience did you need to have
before this job?

Being a former athlete, I understand the demands of training mentally &
physically on a more personal level which allows me to relate to my clients.
I believe you do need to understand how each sport differs in their training,
competitive season, and the culture within the sport.
In regards to eating disorders, you need to understand the medical risks
but also the therapeutic approaches as this is a psychological disorder.

What are the highs and lows of your position?
I love truly helping people- whether it is texts about their PR or
excitement as they finally started their period after years of disconnect
with their body. The lows are that it can be emotionally taxing at times,
so I really try to practice what I preach with self-care. Also, in the world
of sport it can be very competitive, and you must keep your eye on the
prize and not take things personally.

What is a typical day for you?
I usually get up between 4:30am-5:30am with coffee, daily scriptures
and prayer first & foremost, and then go out for a run with my dog
Mason (otherwise he gets quite angry). I then start my workday with
scheduling, social media posts, and head to the office. Some days I see
clients for 4 hours, and other days almost 10, but I really try to stay home
on Fridays to wrap up charting/phone calls. This has allowed me freedom
to spend time with my kiddos as they have a lot of Fridays off or early
releases from school.

What advice would you share with an RD (or RD2be) that is
interested in a similar career path?

Don’t rush into private practice! I would not be who I am without my

clinical experience and connections that I have made. I understand

sports and eating disorders, but I have also seen most chronic disease

through my clinical years.

What is your greatest strength/weakness as a dietitian?

My greatest strength is that I believe my clients know that I am vested

in them and care. I work hard to stay up to date with science by reading

PubMed summaries each day and listening to at least 1 webinar or podcast

each week. My weakness is I am perpetually disorganized.

What are some of your interests outside of work?

My family of course! With my daughter now in sports, it is fun to see the

tables turn cheering her on and being her coach for her basketball team.

I am also a country girl by roots, so I love being on my parent’s farm riding

my horse, Denny, with my daughter & Mom. And like most dietitians, I am

a foodie so I love trying all the Kansas City bucket list restaurants and

culinary experiences.

What aspect of sports nutrition (or any other area of dietetics) interested you to

pursue it as a career?
Seeing firsthand the power of nutrition and how much better you feel &
recover by what you are fueling yourself with drew me into nutrition. I
also love how sports continue to be a common language we can all
understand and appreciate globally.

Why have you decided to work with athletes or similar groups?

With this population, there is never a dull moment! I think there is a thin

line between trying to perform to the best of your abilities and crossing

over to disorder. I want to help provide clarity and support to help them

perform their best but be at their healthiest.

How do you deal with the daily stresses presented to you in your career?

I am really working on work/life balance by setting a time I stop replying

to emails/texts. I have amazing colleagues whom I do peer consults with

and the occasional google chat or coffee with friends in the field.

Prior to getting your credentials, did you have any experience in

nutrition (i.e. food service, volunteering, etc.)?

I actually didn’t get into an internship the first time, which was a blessing

in disguise. I took a dietary manager position where I learned a lot about

food production, managing staff, and learning to never give up. Those

months were tough watching my classmates start internships, but it left

me with a drive that has taken me places I never thought I would go.

What do you love about your career/job?

I love the variety and flexibility and that there is never a day without a

challenge. Basically the sky's the limit when you own your own business.

Is there a course you took in undergrad or grad school that has

helped you in your current role?

I took a Sports Nutrition course in my Master’s program but honestly it

was self-study using things like free webinars through SCAN/CPSDA,

Gatorade Sports Science Institute, etc. that have helped most. Now with

specializing in my two main practice areas, I attend conferences and

supervision groups specifically around athletes & eating disorders.

What are some of the unique nutritional considerations you must consider

for the group(s) you work with?
With specializing in athletes with eating disorders you need an
understanding of prevention, acute concerns, and chronic implications in
regards to the athlete’s disordered eating. We are just now getting a
better understanding of what happens to the body under prolonged energy
deficit states.