Getting to the heart of good nutrition

Mara Sansevero is the sole proprietor of Heartfelt Nutrition.

I am a registered and licensed dietitian who excels in communication and creativity. After receiving my Bachelor's of Science in Nutritional Sciences in 2001 at the University of Rhode Island I moved to Boston to further my career and attend the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University. In 2003, after two years of post-graduate study, I completed my Master's of Science along with my dietetic internship at Tufts-New England Medical Center and the Frances Stern Nutrition Center.

I specialize in diabetes self management and became a Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE) in the fall of 2006. Another area of interest is migraine nutrition. I have worked in 2 headache centers and continue to work with many patients that suffer from migraine. I am familiar with many disease states having worked in a variety of health care settings. I have practiced in primary care clinics as well as medical specialty clinics, interacting with neurologists, gastroenterologists, endocrinologists, and oncologists.

I'm a member of several professional organizations including the American Dietetic Association and two subdivisions (the Nutrition Entrepreneur's Practice Group and the Diabetes Educator Practice Group) as well as the local division, the Massachusetts Dietetic Association. I am also a member of the American Association of Diabetes Educators and an active member of the local chapter.

What is a Registered Dietitian?

A registered dietitian (RD) is a nutrition expert! She becomes an expert by earning a bachelor's degree with a major concentration in nutrition from an accredited university or college and course-work approved by the Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education (CADE) of the American Dietetic Association (ADA). Course work is heavily science-based including chemistry, biology and biochemistry, along with food and nutritional sciences. Management and psychology courses must also be completed.

In addition to the degree, completion of an accredited pre-professional work experience is necessary. This dietetic internship is at least 900-hours in different healthcare settings usually lasting 6-12 months. The Registered Dietitian (RD) status is earned when the internship is completed and a national examination is passed. In addition, many states require the RD to be licensed in the state. In Massachusetts this is listed as LDN in the dietitian's credentials. For a Registered Dietitian to maintain licensure status and remain current and knowledgeable about the profession, continuing education is mandatory and he/she must complete at least 75 credit hours in approved continuing education classes every 5 years.