Meet RDN of the Month for February Natalie Mazurets, MS, RD – Living her Purpose and Passion
Natalie Mazurets, MS, RD is the Director of US Regulatory Affairs – Wellness at Haleon. In her current role she “leads the US Dietary Supplement Regulatory team. We manage the regulatory strategy of iconic brands such as Centrum, Benefiber, Emergen-C and Caltrate throughout the product lifecycle. For example, we provide the regulatory expertise in ingredient selection, testing protocols, claim substantiation and labeling.”
Natalie loves knowing that she’s part of a team that thinks about the consumer first in terms of needs, compliance, quality, safety and it’s all built on trusted science. The dietary supplements she and her team deliver to consumers make a difference in bringing everyday health to Americans.
The biggest challenge in my career is educating the public that dietary supplements are regulated. There is a huge misconception that the industry is unregulated and that couldn’t be further from the truth. The key is to find a company that abides by the regulations and produces products that are compliant, safe and truthful. Working for a company that shares my values allows me to sleep soundly and wake up energized.
Natalie’s WHY
I chose human nutrition as my career because as a child growing up in the ‘70’s everything was frozen, canned or boxed. Once my world expanded in the late ‘80’s and I discovered brown rice, quinoa, extra- ordinary fresh foods, such as papaya, pomegranate, plantains, fresh herbs, etc. I was hooked on their taste, how they contribute to nutrient status and overall health. Micronutrients and phytochemicals became an area of interest to me.
Personal and Professional Learning
In response to the question: what being a dietitian has taught her about life/wellness, Natalie shares a poignant personal story. [Being a dietitian] “it taught me to listen to your body and that food can be your medicine. After years of feeling unwell: GI distress, joint pain, muscle aches, poor immunity, skin issues, cardiac abnormalities and a relentless drive to find a solution, I was finally diagnosed with celiac disease in 2003. It was a time
when “gluten free” was mostly unknown and GF-identified foods didn’t exist. Having the education and understanding of the human body helped me pursue answers. Having the knowledge of food and nutrition helped me transition relatively smoothly into this new medically-required lifestyle. It taught me to never give up finding answers to your health problems and that food can heal.”
Volunteering for a Meaningful Cause
Being a Ukrainian American, my family and I volunteer at both, the Ukrainian American Cultural Center in Whippany, NJ and the Ukrainian Heritage Center in Kerhonkson, NY. Since the beginning of the war,fundraisers and aid shipments have been on-going throughout the year. Humanitarian aid is desperatelyneeded. Our volunteer services can range anywhere from medical supply donations, monetary donations, packing medical supplies to Ukraine, kitchen/food duty for fundraiser festivals and helping with overall planning efforts. My family and I try to be jack-of-all-trades.
Natalie’s volunteerism speaks to the mindset she relies on: “I can only control the things I can control. There are many things in life that are just not in my control, and I try not to focus my worry on those.” Natalie and her family are empowering themselves and others by placing their efforts and focus on what is under their control.
Natalie’s Advice to Students Entering the Field of Dietetics
Be creative! The field of dietetics is expanding and becoming more relevant in the healthcare setting as well as in businesses and manufacturing. Food and Nutrition is what unites us all as humans.
Education
My undergraduate degree, in Food, Nutrition and Dietetics, was obtained at Queens College, CUNY and my graduate degree, in Human Clinical Nutrition, is from CW Post, Long Island University. Back in those days instead of a traditional internship, I attended an AP4 program where CW Post assigned me to several different healthcare institutions on Long Island, NY to complete my dietetics rotations.
