About Rey 

Rey’s love of food began when they would help stuff Dominican empanadas for holiday meals - the feel of the dough, the smell of the stuffing, the sound of bolero music and chatter. Cooking is their way of showing love in action.

Their interest in nutrition as a practice started after a three-year stint in social services following undergraduate studies in Ithaca, NY. During that time, Rey met a holistic nutritionist who helped them recover from fatigue, migraines, and seasonal allergies. This experience inspired Rey to study at the National Institute of Whole Health to see if nutrition was their true professional calling. Indeed it was, so then they continued to study dietetics at Simmons University in Boston, MA and completed their dietetic internship at the University of Virginia Health Systems in Charlottesville, VA. The educational training never stops - currently, Rey is enrolled in the three-year Somatic Experiencing® Professional Training to enhance their skills working with traumatized or stressed individuals reconnect with their bodies and facilitate healing.

Rey came to work in healthcare inspired by their own health concerns. In 2014, they were diagnosed with Hashimoto’s, an autoimmune condition that attacks the thyroid gland. They learned about integrative functional approaches to support their thyroid, which has delayed their need for hormone replacement therapy. In 2020, Rey was diagnosed with Intestinal Methanogen Overgrowth (IMO) and an H. pylori infection. They resolved their digestive symptoms (mainly constipation, bloating, and brain fog) using the same testing and treatment protocols used in practice. After identifying caretaker burnout in 2024, Rey took one year to recover using somatics and nutrition as healing frameworks.

In their spare time, Rey volunteers at urban farms such as OASIS on Ballou and Urban Farming Institute (UFI) - it’s their favorite way to embody nutrition while connecting with the land and people. They also enjoy powerlifting, listening to podcasts, and learning to sew clothing.