Meet Kyle Dodgion | MS, RDN

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kyle Dodgion and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kyle, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I grew up in a mixed race family with ties to Japanese food and culture on my mom’s side and an all-American father from Texas. In addition, I grew up as a closeted gay boy in a conservative city in Colorado. I didn’t fit in and always felt I was too Asian for the white kids, too white for the few Asian kids in school, and too gay to function (Mean Girls reference), but I found creativity and drive in my love of food. I still remember cooking with my Japanese grandparents at a young age.

Later in life I pursued a culinary degree and found myself working for a variety of restaurants over the next 12 years. Over time, the harsh lifestyle, poor hours, and unimpressive pay eroded my love for food and I found it had become a commodity rather than a joy. I needed to rebuild my relationship with food and what better way than to help nourish those in need, rather than indulge throngs of faceless guests. It was then I decided to become a registered dietitian (RDN).
For those who don’t know, a RDN is a specialized healthcare provider with a bachelor’s degree in human nutrition, 1200 hours of supervised experience, and board certified by an impressively difficult board exam. In 2024, every RDN will require a master’s degree to boot, which I completed this year. It was while attaining my undergraduate degree that I ran a small focus group for trans women here in Denver.

During a conversation in that group, one beautiful soul was gracious enough to share the story of how she had her gallbladder removed, in part from the increased risk from gender affirming hormone therapy in combination with poor diet. The biggest factor leading to her surgery, however, was not being educated by her provider about her medications, how they affected her body, and what lifestyle changes were necessary to transition healthfully. Healthcare can be a truly unwelcoming environment for many trans and gender non-binary individuals for a number of reasons, especially in our present political climate. This woman experienced the pain of feeling unseen and having to explain her gender identity to her healthcare provider who was less than embracing. I thought it was appalling that a person had to have a body part involuntarily removed and, more importantly, that it could have been prevented with proper guidance.

This is when I decided to focus my efforts on helping the trans and gender exuberant community thrive through the power of food. At the time, few practitioners were focused on this area of health. Today, research and evidence based practice in medical nutrition therapy for trans individuals is scarce, but at the time it was virtually nonexistent. I realized if I truly wanted to help those in this community, I would have to start a private practice.

What should our readers know about your business?
In my practice as a registered dietitian, I help trans and gender exuberant individuals optimize their diet, reconcile unhelpful body image, and resolve GI distress so they can transform into the healthiest version of themselves, especially when they don’t feel affirmed by their current provider. I wanted to have a specific focus on helping trans and gender non-binary individuals navigate their gender identity and feel their absolute best through the transformative power of food.

In the world of clinical nutrition, there is little representation of queer, BIPOC/API dietitians, especially male identifying, like myself. Additionally, nutrition recommendations are made based on a gender binary, with the BMI being a major tool for diagnosis and treatment. Evidence based guidelines for trans folks and those who do not fit in one gender box are minimal, and recommendations for treatment weren’t included in the Nutrition Care Manual until 2021. I saw a major gap in the type of practitioners available to the gender queer community and was called to do something about it. I started my private practice shortly after taking my registration exam and have been working with the Denver Naturopathic Clinic since October, 2022.

I don’t only work with gender fluid individuals, and at the Denver Naturopathic Clinic I see patients struggling with liver disease, GI dysfunction, disordered eating patterns, and working professionals looking to optimize their health and wellness for a long, prosperous future. My studies in herbalism and integrative medicine allow me to approach nutrition and wellness from a holistic perspective and my advanced training in dietetics brings evidence based expertise to my practice.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
My bestie and I would have to start the week with a bang, by visiting some of the trendier spots in the city. We might start with some shopping, art gazing, and drinks in RiNo. Some special places are Bigsby’s Folly, Ironton Distillery, Finn’s Manor, and Barcelona. You can also get great views from The Red Barber in the Catbird Hotel or The Woods in the Source Hotel.

You can’t visit Denver without experiencing the quirky world created by Meow Wolf, a great way to beat the heat on a summer day. Follow that up with a cold cerveza at Raices Brewing Co. Finish your day with the late night happy hour at Angelo’s Taverna. The oysters are fresh and the balsamic glazed ribs are insane.

Of course, enjoying the outdoors is what we do best in CO. We would take a hike at Rattlesnake Gulch Loop in Eldorado State Park for a great moderate hike, or the Enchanted Forest Loop near golden is an easy one. After building up an appetite grab a beer at the dog friendly New Terrain Brewery in Golden, complete with rotating food trucks.

The next day we might go antiquing on south Broadway. While you’re in that area, Tikka and Grill has some of the best Indian and Nepali food in the city and Sushi Den/Izakaya Den isn’t far to have some world class sushi.

LoHi has some great shops and restaurants and a favorite of mine is Linger. With a great rooftop view and elevated international street food, there’s something for everybody there. But you can’t leave Denver without having Thin Man Ice Cream. The line might be long, but it’s worth it. Tennyson street is close to the area, and if you want to finish the night in a super cool bar, check out the fantastic cocktails at the new bar, Top Ten Lounge. The owner is super nice and the place is stunning.

Finally, before heading to the airport, I would take my friend to breakfast. Sunny’s is open Fridays and weekends and has a creative breakfast menu, but it’s small and fills up fast! If Sunny’s is full or closed, we’d head downtown to Union Station and grab a pancake flight at Snooze before I get her on the A train which will take her directly to the airport.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
John Bartley, VP of People and HR Services at Turning the Corner, LLC: This man is my rock, my cheerleader, and my most valuable advisor. I couldn’t have dreamed of being a successful practitioner without him.

Aims Babich, care advocate at Arise: Aim’s is one of the most vibrant, intelligent, and informed individuals I have met. They have helped me shape my view of the world and encourage me to be the best advocate I can be.

Dr. Kelsey Asplin, owner of Denver Naturopathic Clinic: Dr. K. was a professor of mine at MSU Denver and sparked my enthusiasm for herbalism and integrated health and she later offered me an internship in her clinic. Today, we are practitioners working side by side to uplift and support those who are truly ready to take the next step in optimizing their health and wellness.

Website: https://denvernaturopathic.com/ AND https://ksdodg.wixsite.com/mysite

Instagram: rdn_kyle_dnc

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyle-dodgion-ms-rdn-he-him-a5229b87/

Image Credits
Freddie Salas