Today we’d like to introduce you to Bridgette de Juan.
Hi Bridgette, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
As a child, I was active in sports, dancing as a ballerina and running track and cross country. Little did I know my world would be turned upside down when I was 13, and I awoke to a life-long battle with an autoimmune condition affecting 294,000 children in the US. I was diagnosed with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis, and within a short few months, my joints deteriorated, and I was wheelchair-bound. I had lost all ability to participate in any activities I once loved. The following years would be marked as the darkest periods of my life, but my mourning reached an expiration date, and I knew I had to shift mentally. This is when I discovered my true love and appreciation for nutrition and science.
Resources and finances were limited for my condition, but I vividly remember asking my mother to find medical textbooks from the public library. I began to saturate my brain with clinical knowledge from physical therapy medical immunology, to nutrition. Over two years, I rehabilitated my atrophied muscles, re-learned how to write, feed myself, and walk again. I continued to develop an interest in how nutrition plays a role in gut health and immunology. Eventually, at age 30, I found the courage to completely abandon my career in finance and be the first generation in my family to complete my Bachelor’s Degree. After graduating with a BS in Dietetics and Nutrition with Summa Cum Laude honors, I passed my boards to become a Licensed Registered Dietitian in Florida. I quickly landed my first role as a Clinical Dietitian. My vow is to positively impact and encourage each one of my patient’s lives with compassion–an experience I had not always had on the other side of being a patient. Thus far, it has been a fulfilling experience to impart accurate knowledge with evidence-based research and improve someone’s quality of life. I am grateful for life’s obstacles because I would not be who I am today without these struggles.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Aside from dealing with a chronic illness, I also had to combat my barriers. In a short period before beginning University, I lost my only sibling, both grandparents, and two aunts I was very close to. I began to doubt my ability to complete college and manage my health, let alone find financial resources. Then, I discovered that the closest credentialed program was over an hour’s commute away from home. I felt intimidated and was riddled with self-doubt. At this point, I had a decision to make, and I reminded myself that the result was worth the fight. I knew if I set my mind to something, I would achieve it.
I appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
As a Registered Dietitian, we are the nutrition experts. I work in the inpatient setting, and as the sole dietitian, I manage my hospital’s entire clinical nutrition department. This has been a wonderful opportunity to work closely with Specialties, Physicians, Nurses, and other departments. As a clinician, it’s vital to my role to review research and make recommendations to Physicians and other providers. At first, this was an intimidating aspect of my role, but it forced me to fight the imposter syndrome and show how valuable the dietitian’s role is in the critical care setting. This was highlighted even more during the COVID pandemic, where we are essential for managing nutrition via tube feedings for ventilated patients. Thankfully, I’ve continued to grow my knowledge and expertise and collaborate with some excellent Physicians.
I’ve also expanded my knowledge of leadership skills thanks to my Clinical Nutrition Manager. As a fellow Latina, she has truly paved a path for representation in a field lacking diversity. As a result, I have embraced pushing past my comfort zone, and I now focus more on why I should say “yes” to opportunities instead of why I cannot. This has led to recognition, awards, presentations to other disciplines, and a recent publication in US World Health News & Report as an expert contributor. I am beyond grateful for the ability to motivate and help others.
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
Despite being such a nerd for science, what surprises most people to know about me is that I am highly creative and artistic. My first passion was Interior Design and Architecture, and in my downtime, I enjoy working on construction-related projects with my father, a General Contractor. I love collaborating on designing or remodeling spaces, painting art, or creating new recipes.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @gigitherdn
- Other: @thedietitianary (TikTok)
