Alumni spotlight: Terence Boateng, Nutrition Communication (MHSc) ’20
Recently I was able to connect with Terence Boateng about his experiences in the world of nutrition and his exciting career since completing his master of health science in nutrition communication (MHSc) at the School of Nutrition in the Faculty of Community Services (FCS). In his own words:
There are two graduate programs in Nutrition: Dietetics (PMDip) and Nutrition Communication (MHSc). Which did you choose and why?
My interests always lay in private practice as I have a passion for preventative health care. The MHSc program was more appealing to me because it offered flexible placement opportunities where I had the opportunity to work with companies like Nutriprocan which were more in line with my career goals.
Tell us a bit about your career journey.
In 2020, I started working for Athletes Care (external link, opens in new window) , an interdisciplinary clinic with allied health professionals like physiotherapists, chiropractors, and massage therapists, that fit my philosophy of preventative healthcare. My work focused on counselling clients interested in integrating nutrition science with physical activity. I also worked as a registered dietitian with JM Nutrition (external link, opens in new window) , in the area of men’s health, pediatric nutrition, sports nutrition and general health.
These two jobs had me working very long hours and I quickly learned paying clients have high expectations from dietitians in private practice. Still, I decided to launch my own practice called CS Nutrition (external link, opens in new window) , where I work with athletes and the public. Thankfully, I had built enough business that it no longer made sense to work for both JM nutrition and Athletes care. I put all of my energy into my own practice. As of April I am officially six months into my own thriving business and I am very excited for the opportunities that lie ahead.
What have been some highlights of your career to date?
In June of 2020, I was approached by Callisto, a publishing company based in New York, to write a cookbook based on my nutrition and bodybuilding expertise. I was already working long hours and had little free time for extra projects. The opportunity to be a first-time author was so appealing that I accepted the offer and spent the next year writing, editing, and preparing meals for the cookbook. My book titled ‘Bodybuilding 30-minute cookbook’ (external link, opens in new window) launched with great success on Amazon and a number of other outlets.
What have been some of your career challenges? How did you manage these challenges?
One challenge was working extremely long hours in private practice. I have quickly learned that when working for yourself you are always on the clock. I often find myself answering emails in the middle of the night before waking up early for consultations and charting. Throughout education I held multiple jobs and volunteer roles so I’ve grown accustomed to long workdays. As an undergraduate student, there were times when I was volunteering with two dietitians, worked in a research lab, and managed a nutrition and exercise lab, all while completing full-time school. These years have left me with a work ethic well suited for entrepreneurship.
How has the COVID-19 pandemic affected your work?
COVID-19 has caused major shifts in the role of dietitians. Shifting to virtual has opened up the pool of clients I see dramatically. Typically, the people I would see either lived or worked near my office; however, now I can work with people all over Ontario. This also made it far easier to start my own practice as the expenses necessary to run a virtual clinic are much more manageable for a relatively new graduate like myself. Additionally, since I no longer have to commute to an office daily I am able to offer a broader availability to my clients and accommodate more people.
Do you have any advice for current or prospective graduate students?
During graduate school, I also began pursuing a lifelong interest in martial arts. Years later I am still heavily involved in this sport and it is still my go-to hobby for work-life balance. I would advise prospective graduate students to find their own hobbies that they can use to recharge their batteries during and after the demanding program. These activities may seem trivial at the time but in my experience were totally necessary for thriving in graduate school.
Graduate Student Series
This is part of a series of introductory profiles about alumni and graduate students featuring their research and their advice for prospective graduate students. It is our hope you are as inspired by their success as we are. If you would like to submit a story idea for consideration please contact Madeleine McGreevy at mmcgreevy@torontomu.ca
