Meet our new team member
Ekta Agarwal
Account Director
Tell us how pursuing a career in dietetics started .
Dietetics happened to me because I did not get into medicine ! Dietetics grew on me because I knew my knowledge would always be relevant and applicable ... or at least while human beings depended on food for survival ! Not having to deal with blood , guts , emergencies and late-night shifts were additional perks .
How did your career progress from there ?
I completed my Bachelor ' s degree and Post- Graduate Diploma in Dietetics in Mumbai and then set up a private practice . I moved to Australia in 2005 and enrolled in the Master of Nutrition and Dietetics program at Griffith University . This was my opportunity to learn the ' how ' of research and I grabbed it with both hands by completing an Honours Program followed by a PhD . My PhD program evaluated the association between malnutrition and health outcomes in acute care patients across hospitals in Australia and New Zealand . With over 3,000 participants , it was one of the largest studies on the topic in Australasia . I loved writing and presenting my papers at national and international conferences and view my PhD journey as my happiest time in dietetics . I then progressed into academia with teaching positions at the Queensland University of Technology and Bond
University . In 2019 , I decided to exit dietetics to grow my small business in promotional products and branded merchandise ... but whilst I took myself out of dietetics , I could not take dietetics out of me ! And what an absolute privilege to re-enter the profession at Dietitian Connection ( DC ).
What attracted you to working at DC ?
The short answer is ... Maree ! Over the past 15 years , Maree has been many things to me : my manager , my PhD advisor , a business coach , my mentor and a sounding board . I am always so inspired by Maree ' s out-of-thebox thinking , her vision for dietitians and her unique approach to everything she does . The opportunity to work at DC came about in the most unexpected way , which leads me to believe it was the universe conspiring to make it happen . My business has been an extension of the skills I gathered in dietetics and my role at DC is an extension of skills I gathered in business . It is no surprise the DC team is a dream team , and I am excited to show up daily to learn , share and celebrate with each member of the team .
© Dietitian Connection 13 Infuse | May 2023