Teresa has a passion for helping people navigate healthcare. This passion was born watching her two young adult daughters trying to deal with medical issues in the current healthcare environment. As a result, she chose to do her Public Health Doctoral Residency focusing on Health Literacy at the University of Texas Center for Health Communication and Literacy Coalition of Central Texas (LCCT). While in her residency, she was hired by the LCCT as Director of Health Literacy.
Teresa has a rich history as a health professional holding a Bachelor of Science degree in dietetics from Texas Christian University, a Master’s degree in nutrition from Texas Woman’s University and a Doctorate in Public Health from the University of North Texas Health Science Center (UNTHSC). She is a registered and licensed dietitian and a member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics as well as the Texas Academy. She is also a member of the Texas Public Health Association (TPHA) and the Collegiate and Professional Sports Dietitian Association (CPSDA).
Her experience with Health Literacy began as an Adjunct Clinical Associate Professor in the School of Health Professions and Adjunct Instructor in the School of Public Health at UNTHSC. She wrote the Medical Nutrition Therapy Curriculum for the UNTHSC Professional and Continuing Education Office and crafted it to teach physicians to educate patients about nutrition using plain language messaging. She also participated in research teaching librarians and clinicians health literacy basics and planned two UNTHSC Health Literacy Symposia. She currently remains on the faculty in both capacities.
Teresa has a great diversity of skills, expertise and experience. She has taught at the university and community college level, served as a health coach and public speaker and worked with patients as a clinical provider. Early in her career, she worked in both hospital and community settings with infants, children and mothers facing nutritional adversities as well as promoting nutritional health and wellness. She currently teaches Maternal Child Health Nutrition at UNTHSC.
Teresa is also a current media representative for the Texas Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. She previously received the Texas Academy “Media Award” for excellence in nutrition-based media and served on the board. Teresa has over 13 years of experience as a media spokesperson on both a national and local level. She is on Twitter @TravelingRD and has her own blog, The Traveling RD.
Visit Site
