Donna Gould, MS, RD, LD
Hello! I am Donna Gould, MS, RD, LD, a Registered and Licensed Dietitian based in Las Vegas, Nevada. I earned a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science in Nutrition Sciences from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). I then completed my Clinical Dietetic Internship at the VA Hospital in North Las Vegas and later worked for the VA as a MOVE! Dietitian where I helped Veterans manage their weight. I currently practice at a family clinic in Las Vegas, teach at UNLV in the School of Integrated Health Sciences, design and implement group nutrition classes, and guest speak for the Cleveland Clinic Nevada and OLLI at UNLV.
I use Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT), which is a nutrition-based approach to help prevent and manage diseases. This therapeutic approach includes nutrition education and behavior change counseling to help you regain control over your health for the long-term. I specifically enjoy working with older adults to promote healthy aging, and to help prevent and manage the health issues that can arise as we age.
Why I Became a Dietitian
My interest in nutrition started when I was in high school. My grandparents had severe heart disease; both grandfathers died of heart attacks before I was born, and both grandmothers suffered many heart attacks and passed when I was just a teenager. My parents did not want heart disease in the family, so I grew up in a house that valued and prioritized healthy eating and physical activity. Healthy eating in my house meant minimally processed foods, home-cooked meals, little “junk food,” and a lot of vegetables. In fact, I was not allowed to leave the dinner table unless I ate my vegetables (Brussels sprouts night was tough)!
When it came time to choose a career, I could not imagine doing anything else with my life—I knew I wanted to learn the science behind how food affects the body and work with people to improve their health through diet. I also believe in aging gracefully, maintaining health and independence, and living your best life at any age.