Today we’d like to introduce you to Kira Miller.
Hi Kira, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My story of becoming a Registered Dietitian goes back to my teenage years when my family started making lifestyle changes to prevent disease progression. My parents also wanted to make sure they were setting me up for success by teaching me healthy eating habits to prevent being diagnosed with diabetes and cardiovascular disease that runs on both sides of my family. After a friend and I spontaneously took a road trip in the middle of the night from Spokane, Washington to Portland, Oregon, we decided we liked it so much that we moved there six months later. That’s when I became a vegetarian and, subsequently, obsessed with learning more about the food we eat. I lived in Portland for a couple of years, but I grew restless with where my life was going. Spoiler alert: it was nowhere. Some interesting conversations with friends about life occurred over the next couple months and, once again, I spontaneously signed up for a work exchange program, Willing Workers On Organic Farms, in Hawai’i. Two months before I left, I met Paul. I sold most of my belongings and still went to Hawai’i for a few months and had an amazing experience, but Paul lovingly convinced me to pursue becoming a professional in the nutrition world even if that meant going to school part-time vs full-time. I researched nutrition programs and what professional credentials and privileges each awarded, and I landed on Washington State University’s Nutrition and Exercise Physiology programs. I graduated in both their bachelor’s and master’s programs in 2017 and 2018, respectively. Since Paul’s job took him to the DFW area, I knew I would also be heading to Texas after graduation. 2018 was a big year for me – I earned a Master of Science in Nutrition and Exercise Physiology, passed the national board exam to become a Registered Dietitian, landed my first RD job, and became a Texan! After a few years of working in hospitals, clinics, and corporate wellness settings, COVID-19 happened and the world kept closing its doors on me. It was then that I began leaning towards insurance-based private practice in nutrition counseling in 2022. I started out by accepting two insurance networks and seeing most patients in a virtual setting, two days per week. By 2024, I was seeing patients, in-person, most days of the week at my current office in Allen, Texas. I love everything about private practice so far. Some of my favorite things about my practice are my patients (I am biased, but I have the best patients), my health professional network that values the importance of medical nutrition therapy, and I now accept most medical insurances.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
There have been many ups and downs since the start of my journey. I didn’t know where to begin, I didn’t have a mentor to guide me in the right direction, and I had been out of school for a few years. So, by the time I went back to school, I struggled to adjust to the demands. Then, within one month of starting at WSU, my dad passed away. I suddenly had to make the tough decision of whether to stay in school, or to take another break and interview for the program for the following year. I was so used to relying on only myself to solve life’s challenging problems that it was surprising to receive so much support from my program director and professors. They helped me determine the best path forward, which was to decrease my courseload and delay my graduation timeline. I am forever grateful for their support and guidance. Moving to Texas was also not without its struggles, but I wouldn’t be where I am today without them.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Kira Miller Nutrition and Wellness?
I am an insurance-based private practice Registered Dietitian located in Allen, Texas. I work with individuals one-on-one to prevent and manage chronic diseases, promote optimal gastrointestinal health, and more! I am known for providing personalized care and human connection through empathy. I’ve been through my own food journey and had to unlearn a lot of the perceptions and misinformation I used to carry with me. I am most proud of my patients because they are the ones taking the steps to change their lifestyles, and it is amazing to watch them grow and learn. I am also proud of my personal experiences! Not only do I operate my own private practice and freelance for a skilled nursing facility and group home, but I also provide nutrition services in a corporate wellness setting. I love that I am able to connect with many types of individuals on a regular basis. I am proud of this little world that I have created for myself, and it just keeps getting better!
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
Looking back on my journey, I definitely see myself as a risk-taker, but more of a moderate, sporadic risk-taker; I always make sure to have a safety net in place. Most of the actions and choices that brought me to my current self were risks, and most of those risks were because I was bored. Taking risks and leaning into the mindset of “I am forever evolving” is what motivates me to push beyond my so-call limitations and grow closer to becoming the person who I want to be. Taking risks is how I have been fortunate to have, and will continue to have, once-in-a-lifetime experiences.
Pricing:
- Medical Nutrition Therapy often covered at 100% with insurance
- Cash: Initial appointment $300
- Cash: Follow-up appointment $50/30 minutes
- Contract/Speaker services: Please inquire
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.rdkira.com/
