RDN Spotlight: Candice Hernandez, RDN
What is your ethnicity/race?
I identify as Afro-Latina. My mother is African American and My father is from Guatemala.
Where/when did you go to undergrad/dietetic internship/grad school?
Undergrad at California State University of Long Beach. My internship was with Pepperdine University’s ISSP program.
Why did you decide to choose nutrition and dietetics as a career?
Food has always been a staple for family gatherings. It was the type of food culturally and traditional that made me interested. It wasn’t until my mother was diagnosed with Type 2 DM. She looked like what society’s idea of a “healthy body,” would look like, and yet she needed to go on medication for her disease. I wanted to understand why she had T2DM and not me, one’s body who may look “unhealthy.” After further research, I came across the field of Nutrition and Dietetics, with no clue of the profession and fell in love. I found my passion.
What do you do now as an RDN and what does a typical day/week look like for you?
I work in Community Nutrition as a WIC supervisor who manages one of the many clinics in the agency. A typical day consists of checking appointments for the day. Delegating low-risk counseling to my staff while I and another degreed nutritionist do counseling for high-risk participants. I attend meetings about updates with the agency and new policies. I also work on administrative tasks that need my attention as well.
What is/was the biggest challenge for you in becoming a dietitian and how did you overcome that challenge? This can be related to being an RD of color or not just any challenge?
The exam was my biggest challenge ever. I’m not a great standardized test taker so the RD exam was very difficult for me. I took my exam 8 times before I finally passed. The RD exam is no joke. I studied differently each time, paid for tutoring, and met up with friends who were in the same situation with the exam. I became determined to pass no matter how many times I took it. I was not going to let all my hard work go to waste.
Have you had any mentors in your career if yes how have those mentors affected your career/life?
I was lucky enough to meet Dr. Tonce Jackson through my current agency as she is the co-founder of CinnaMoms, a group specifically for African American mothers in the WIC program who needed more support with breastfeeding. I remembered my experience of breastfeeding my son and what support I could have had to help me continue after exclusively breastfeeding for 4 months. I wanted to be a part of helping women of color who have the same concerns. Then the notion of Racial Equity became widespread, which inspired me to learn more.
Why do you think diversifying this field is important?
I believe that the message and knowledge can come across with understanding more when they can relate to the educator/ healthcare provider. I wanted to see more RDN’s who looked like me, shared the same cultural experiences and challenges. I want to show my community that there is more than just one “type” of RDNs who can relate to their socially challenging experience with health care professionals.
What is a piece of advice you would give a student of color interested in entering the field of dietetics?
Resilience goes a long way. If you have a passion for something, don’t give up on it. There will be many times you feel like giving up but then you remember our ancestors survived slavery, the great migration and civil rights so we (POC) can live in a society that gives POC opportunities to go after their dreams no matter what.