Rewind: Building A Successful Private Practice

Written By Deanna Belleny
 
 

In this rewind episode of Feed Me the Facts, we revisit Basheerah’s inspiring journey from food marketing to launching her own private practice. She shares the challenges of starting out, the realities of working with insurance, and what it takes to succeed as a dietitian entrepreneur of color. She describes how she managed her schedule as she built her private practice on the side while working full-time as an outpatient dietitian. Basheerah shares her insight on how to find clients, discusses marketing strategies that are necessary for a new private practice, explains the technology needed to set up a HIPPA-compliant practice, and more. A must-listen for current and RD2Bes considering private practice!

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

  • Changing Careers (00:00)
    How Basheerah transitioned from a corporate career into nutrition and pursued her master’s degree and RD.

  • Balancing Work and Graduate School (04:00)
    Juggling a full-time job while completing coursework and an internship.

  • Early Career in Outpatient Nutrition (08:00)
    Insights from working in weight management at Wake Forest Baptist Health.

  • Starting a Private Practice (11:00)
    How she began seeing clients on the side and eventually launched her own practice.

  • Tools & Systems for Success (14:00)
    HIPAA-compliant platforms, scheduling, and charting systems that streamlined her business.

  • Financial Realities of Entrepreneurship (18:00)
    Why saving before starting matters, plus the challenges of delayed insurance reimbursements.

  • Marketing & Finding Clients (20:00)
    Networking, referrals, social media, and ads — what worked (and what didn’t).

  • Challenges as a Dietitian of Color (30:00)
    Subtle barriers, building trust, and the importance of finding your niche.

  • Mentorship & Support Systems (34:00)
    The role of professors, peers, and other entrepreneurs in her growth.

  • Mindset & Skills for Success (38:00)
    The resilience, hustle, and scrappiness needed to thrive as a dietitian entrepreneur.

    Resources & Links:

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Deanna Belleny
Next

Rewind: Pursuing Multiple Passions with Alice Figueroa