Sara Ferrigno, Nutrition Consultant, RYT
Thrive Nutrition & Yoga
San Francisco, CA
www.thrivesf.com

After being miscast and exhausted in the corporate world, I realized my recovery and life work would be teaching yoga and nutrition. Finding Bauman College launched me on my path. In the Nutrition Educator course, I learned about the importance of the quality, quantity and variety of proteins, fats and a carbohydrates within a whole foods diverse, seasonal and organic diet. My studies and work with practice clients awakened my budding interest in blood sugar management. In the Nutrition Consultant course, I fell in love with clinical nutrition and realized I wanted to work with physicians helping clients be well.

Once certified, I applied for a six-month internship that split into two segments, the first with Edward Bauman, M.Ed., Ph.D. and the second with California Pacific Medical Center (CPMC). Working with Ed, I participated in client sessions, follow-up calls, and appointments. I helped with the birth of Bauman Nutrition's Commit to Be Well 6-Month Program. I was now ready to intern at the Health & Healing Center (HHC), CPMC’s comprehensive integrative medicine program in San Francisco, California.

Interning at the Health & Healing Center gave me a broad understanding of how integrative medicine works at a major medical center. I began by auditing client charts and getting to know the hospital filing system. I was then assigned research projects that greatly expanded my nutritional repertoire. Sharon Meyer, C.N.C., one of the certified nutritionists at the Center, served as a mentor. Undoubtedly, working with Sharon, a seasoned nutritionist, was one
of the most valuable aspects of the internship.

Currently, I am seeing my own clients at the Health & Healing Center. I work with a wide range of people: some seeking a general tune-up, wishing to lose weight and balance their blood sugar; others with complex medical conditions. With each person, I follow an Eating For Health™ approach to whole-food nutrition, customized dietary supplements, counseling, and lifestyle change to help guide them down a healthier path. I work side-by-side with massage therapists, acupuncturists, psychotherapists, and M.D.s. We meet on a weekly basis to discuss cases and clinical issues.

Reaching my goal of becoming a clinical nutritionist and working in one of the nation's largest integrative medicine centers is a dream come true. However, it wouldn't have been possible had such fabulous Bauman College teachers, staff members, and mentors not surrounded and supported me.

In the News...
September 2008:  Sara's Lunch Wrap recipe is featured in this SF Chronicle article about healthy children's lunches.