The Clinician Corner

Carissa Vega is a licensed dietitian (L.D). She has worked with patients at our Plantation location for nine years. She graduated from the University of Florida with a degree in Agriculture Business and Economics. She worked briefly in this field but found her passion was really more aligned with helping people learn how nutrition can heal them. Armed with a second degree in Nutrition, Carissa says that she is grateful that her position affords her the opportunity to speak with her patients in a relaxed office environment. She takes pleasure in being able to really listen to patients and their challenges in order to help them rewrite and reach their goals. These challenges typically involve weight reduction, high blood pressure, and managing their diabetes. She believes that taking time to speak with patients and understanding the obstacles they face in conquering their challenges goes a long way in healing them.

Carissa shares her own personal and family challenges in order to better relate to patients. She takes pride in researching and sharing products and healthy finds at the grocery store which fill the walls of her office.  She takes time to teach patients cooking techniques and helps patients to understand and select the healthiest groceries on a budget. Since she was raised on a farm, Carissa loves to shop at farm stands and loves to eat fresh greens, spinach, and cabbage. She wakes up daily at 4:30 a.m. to work out and finds it gives her energy to get through her busy days.

On a personal level, Carissa volunteers more than 1,000 hours per year with the 4-H Clubs of America. She assists in running a small farm where she actively raises cattle, pigs, chickens, goats, and sheep. Her dream is to retire someday close enough to the beach to paddleboard daily and to have a full ranch and raise Florida Cracker cattle.

To schedule an appointment with Carissa, contact your Personal Healthcare Assistant at 1-954-876-9008 or PHATeam@associatesmd.com.