Gail Prosser, RD, CDE

	Joined Aug, 1991 Department: Pediatrics [Map] Health Education [Map] Title: Registered Dietitian III Degree: RD, CDE Languages: Spanish, Japanese Practitioner Homepage
Bio My true first name is Patricia, although I've always gone by my middle name, Gail. Lately, I use both depending on which language I am speaking. I use "Pati" in Spanish and "Gail" in English. I am originally from Eureka. When I was in high school, Santa Rosa was the "big city". My friends and I loved to drive down here with our parents to buy school clothes at the big mall. Does anyone else remember when there was only one mall and it was outdoors?! Now I have been living in Santa Rosa since 1991 and it has become my permanent home. After graduating from Eureka High School, I went to UC Davis where I studied Nutrition and Dietetics. I graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree and then moved to New Orleans, Louisiana, where I did my dietetics internship at Touro Infirmary, an affiliate of Tulane University. I then relocated to Houston, Texas where I worked at Texas Children's Hospital. I studied for my master's degree in nutrition while becoming a specialist in pediatric nutrition. After years of experience in a children's hospital, later working in the community for the Women's Infants and Children's program (WIC), and then in private practice, I am now happily settled into my current position at Kaiser Permanente in the department of Pediatrics. Kaiser Permanente has allowed me to blend the scientific aspects of Dietetics (putting the practice of nutrition knowledge, metabolism, and science into health healing and prevention) and teaching, which allows me to take scientific knowledge to the practical level and assist families with meal planning, grocery shopping, making healthy choices, menus and much, much more!
My Medical Specialty
My specialty interests and affiliations within my field: PEDIATRIC NUTRITION. I have always had a passion for children and families! Besides years of babysitting, being camp counselor, or student tutor, I just find myself naturally wanting to share with others and being involved with people. Pediatric nutrition is so dynamic, the nutritional needs of an infant, toddler, school aged child or adolescent are so different and unique. I enjoy bringing families together to share common goals like eating healthy, exercising (no, make that playing together!), or sharing family meals. CERTIFIED DIABETES EDUCATOR. I have special expertise in diabetes education for people of all ages. I am fortunate to be able to work together in a setting with a pediatric diabetes nurse educator and pediatric endocrinologist. Our team is dedicated to serving our families with the best care possible, and the most recent research knowledge. We are so lucky here to have the capability of having children wear insulin pumps or continuous glucose monitors to help control diabetes. Many other families must travel hours to the bay area for such services. EATING DISORDERS. Our team is called Healthy Bodies Healthy Minds. I think this is a great group name as it truly identifies the connection between taking care of your physical and emotional health. The departments of Pediatrics and Child Psychiatry work together to facilitate the recovery from eating disorders. Proper nutrition is critical to staying well, especially for growing adolescents. I try to bring the support of all family members to see food as nourishment and life. HEALTH EDUCATION. Ask me about our lending library in the West Building or the Stein Building on Old Redwood Highway. We have DVD's, tapes, books, cookbooks and many on-line resources free for your use! Meet the staff in the department, the resource specialists. They can help you sign up for one of our many educational classes or check out resources on-line in the comfort of your own home.
Interests
I guess I like to talk a lot, because I speak Japanese and Spanish too. I have a minor in Japanese language at UC Davis and have spent many vacations traveling around all the islands of Japan and visiting my relatives there. My mother was one of 11 children, do you know how many cousins I have?! Years later I started studying Spanish on my own, in order to provide a more intimate educational experience at work. Now I have fallen in love with what I think is one of the most beautiful languages in the world. My goal is to become better at expressing myself through practice and travel. I love to travel, especially when it incorporates scuba diving. I love to scuba dive and travel, learning about language, culture, and of course, food! For fitness and fun, I run, hike and walk regularly. My sons and I ride mountain bikes up in Annadel State Park. They are at the age now where they wait up for Mom. I love to dance Lindy Hop, a 1940's style of swing or partner dancing, play the guitar, and garden. I keep up a small patch of flowers and vegetables around the condo. There is nothing like a home grown sweet tomato from the garden!	Hobby Photos & Links: I'm learning to play the guitar scuba diving in Monterey, CA sea nettle jelly
Family & Friends
People in my life: I am a single mother of two teenaged boys that live in two households. I really understand what is like to struggle to get dinner on the table and eat together after a day at work, trying to get homework done and finding time to exercise or play. I think that helps me be creative with ideas that I share with other families. And, yes, I learn just as much from you. Keep the great ideas coming! My children and people I care about: My parents live in Eureka, in the same old house they lived in when I was born. They have been married since 1951, isn't that great? My mother is from Tokyo, Japan and my father a native Californian. An interesting story about my family or friends: I have a variety of friends from all my hobbies and community involvement. And I still have childhood friends too. My friend Debbie and I were babies in a crib together, our mothers were best friends. Forty years later, we took off for a "girl's weekend away" to celebrate our birthdays, and it was great catching up. She lives in San Diego now.	Photos of my Family & Friends: when the kids were little My parents in 1951
My pets: Someday I hope to have cats and dogs and other pets, but for now we have a pet newt, Ted. He is pretty low maintenance, eats once a month and doesn't make any noise. These orange bellied newts are native to California. He shares his aquarium with a betta fish.	Pet Photos: Ted
Travel
An adventure I've had: I have had many exciting and adventurous vacations. But I'll never forget my adventure to Iguazu Falls. My friend Milinda and I spent 3 weeks in Buenos Aires, Argentina. We were there mostly to dance Tango but took a side trip to Iguazu Falls. The falls borders 3 countries, Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay. On a boat in the river, you can be in three countries at once! I did a guided adventure. We hiked and swung on zip lines through the jungle canopy. Large Toucans and thousands of orchids all around us. Then I ropelled down the face of a (smaller) waterfall and swam in the river. I wondered why I was the only one to jump in the river and swim after being so hot and sweaty in the jungle. Later, I found out there are crocodiles and piranhas in the river. Why didn't my guide tell me that?! One of my recent trips: The last few years I have spent my vacations scuba diving in Mexico and other areas of the Carribean. The reef systems are amazing and so full of life and color! Unfortunately, the reefs have been damaged quite a bit by divers interacting with the life there. Either by touching or bumping into corals and sponges, or trying to touch turtles and other marine life. Sadly, there is quite a bit of litter as well. The fellow divers in my dive club are committed to appreciating the beauty of the reef systems without doing any further damage. We look but don't touch, unless it's to pick up a piece of trash on our way back in to shore.	Travel Photos: Dancing Tango in the streets of Buenos Aires Iguazu Falls Trip Photos: Baby sea turtle Purple tube sponge