Sparta Community Hospital is pleased to welcome Olivia Hoelker, Registered Dietitian. Olivia has always had a passion for food and nutrition, but her passion grew when she was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes during her freshman year at college.
Olivia completed her Associates degree in Economics from Moorpark College, where she also competed on the Women’s Volleyball team. It was then that she decided to pursue a career as a Registered Dietitian from the University of Kentucky.
During her time as a dietetics major, she volunteered to teach nutrition and cooking classes to all ages, and was fortunate to have had the opportunity to travel the state of Kentucky as a Team Leader for a summer food and nutrition program.
Olivia graduated in 2019 from the University of Kentucky’s Co-ordinated program in Dietetics with a Bachelor’s degree, while simultaneously completing her Dietetic Internship, where she was recognized as the 2019 Outstanding Dietetic Intern from the Bluegrass Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
During her internship, she spent the majority of her time with Jewish Hospital, Frazier Rehab Institute and the Weisskopf Child Evaluation Center in Louisville Kentucky, where she gained the knowledge about clinical and pediatric nutrition.
Soon after passing the Registered Dietitian Exam, Olivia began to work as a dietitian in the weight loss industry. She spent 1 year helping individuals learn to live a healthy lifestyle by managing their diet and exercising on a regular basis.
Olivia’s overwhelming passion for clinical nutrition, diabetes in particular, lead her to pursue her journey as a clinical dietitian and future Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist. The first Diabetes Self- Management Education program is scheduled to start on January 14th. For more information on this program, please contact your provider or you may call Olivia at 618-443-1435.