Your Best Self, Your Best Work: Harnessing Authenticity in Dietetics

Tony Castillo’s journey began as an overweight middle schooler, leading him to explore nutrition after experiencing unsustainable weight loss through dieting. His fluctuating weight in college inspired him to understand how nutrition affects the human body. Today, Tony is passionate about teaching others how healthy lifestyle modifications can optimize performance in all areas of life. With experience at the University of Florida and the Toronto Blue Jays, he focuses on helping clients become elite performers, whether in sports or business. Tony graduated from Florida International University with a B.S. in Biology, B.A. in Chemistry, and an M.S. in Nutrition and Dietetics.

Toni Toledo RD, MPH is a California-based dietitian with 35 years of experience in health promotion, behavior change, and nutrition counseling. She is an adjunct instructor at San José State University, a curriculum consultant for Innovate Health Solutions, and runs a private practice focused on helping clients make sustainable lifestyle changes. Toni has held roles at Palo Alto Medical Foundation and Stanford University in program development, curriculum design, and research. She earned her MPH from the University of Minnesota, receiving both the Ruth Stief Leadership Award and the School of Public Health Alumni Innovator Award. Toni is also a peer reviewer for ACEND and cohosts the award-winning podcast PATH: Positive Approaches To Health.

Sherry Coleman Collins MS, RD, LD, FAND is a Marietta, GA–based registered dietitian nutritionist with more than 15 years of experience in food allergies, pediatric nutrition, school foodservice, and nutrition communications. She is a respected nutrition educator, speaker, and writer who frequently serves as an expert resource to the media. Sherry spearheaded the development of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics’ Certificate of Training in Food Allergies and authored the Academy’s Practice Paper on the role of the RDN in food allergy diagnosis and management. She has also completed the FARE Pediatric Food Allergy Certificate of Training and is a Fellow of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation.

​Jess Swift Harrell, MSc, RDN, IFNCP known as “Chef Jess” is a classically trained chef, registered dietitian, author, and founder of a corporate wellness firm. She holds culinary training from Johnson & Wales University, a BS in Dietetics from Michigan State University, and an MSc in Nutritional Sciences from Howard University. Jess has partnered with leading brands including Kaiser Permanente, Nutricia, Ocean Spray, and Kraft to develop impactful nutrition strategies. Her work spans corporate wellness, government nutrition programs, and sustainable health initiatives, earning her recognition as a Unilever Agent of Change. A frequent media guest, she has been featured on NBC’s Today Show, the Food Network, and more. She also teaches at Howard University.