Hi Reader,
A study just published in The BMJ is making the rounds, and the findings are the kind of thing your patients will definitely bring up at their next appointment. (Hint: it involves a very beloved food and a surprising plot twist about how it's prepared.) More on that in the P.S.
But first, let's talk about the referral strategy most RDs in private practice never think to use, and why five specific professional relationships could change your pipeline completely.
What's inside this issue:
- 📋 5-Minute Momentum — The two-sentence outreach message that gets you on a referral source's radar this week
- ✅ Tried & True — The resource that walks through the full referral strategy (and earns you 4 CDR-approved CEUs)
- 📖 Go Deeper — How to build a referral network that actually sends you patients
- 💬 Ask Julie — "Do I really need to network with other providers already?"
- 📅 Calendar-Worthy — Events worth putting on your radar this month
This Week's Edge
The 5 Professionals Already Seeing Your Ideal Patient
Here's the thing about private practice referrals: most RDs think about them backwards. They wait for a physician to remember their name at the exact moment a patient needs nutrition counseling. That's a long wait.
The better strategy is to identify who is already in a relationship with your ideal patient and get on their radar before the referral moment arrives.
For most RDs, those five professionals are: the primary care physician, the endocrinologist or cardiologist, the personal trainer or fitness coach, the therapist or counselor, and the pharmacist. Every one of them sees your patient regularly, has earned their trust, and has direct visibility into their health goals.
You don't need to cold-call anyone, you need two sentences and a clear value statement. RDs who build the strongest referral pipelines are the ones who make it easy for other providers to remember them and refer with confidence.
I walk through the complete referral system — the provider one-pager, follow-up cadence, and what to do when a referral comes in — in The Dietitian's Guide to Private Practice: Launch.
5-Minute Momentum
The Two-Sentence Outreach Message
"I'm [Name], a registered dietitian in [city/area] specializing in [your niche, e.g., diabetes management, GI disorders, weight-inclusive care]. I'd love to be a resource for any of your patients who could benefit from medical nutrition therapy, and I'm happy to send over a one-page overview of what I do and how referrals work."
You're not asking them to commit to anything; you're offering to be useful and making the next step frictionless.
The goal is to get your name in front of one new provider this week. Think about who has been sitting on your mental "I should reach out" list the longest. That's your person. Email, LinkedIn, or a quick call to their front desk is all you need.
5-Minute Action Step: Personalize the two-sentence framework above and send it to one provider today.
Tried & True
The Blueprint for Everything You Just Learned
The referral strategy above is one piece of what I cover in The Dietitian's Guide to Private Practice: Launch. It's the resource I wished had existed when I was building my own practice, covering referral systems, intake processes, pricing, legal setup, and more.
The book now comes with a 4-CPEU assessment approved by CDR, so you're earning continuing education credits on exactly what you're building. The book + assessment bundle is $39.99.
Go Deeper
How to Build a Referral Network That Actually Sends You Patients
The two-sentence email is your starting point. But how do you follow up without being annoying? How do you stay top-of-mind over months and years? This week's post on The RD CEO walks through the full process, including what to include in a provider one-pager and what to do when a referral actually comes in.
Ask Julie
"Do I Really Need to Network With Other Providers Already?"
Q: I'm in the very early stages of building my private practice. I have just a few clients and I'm still working full time. I don't want to reach out to providers too early because it feels premature. When should I start building a referral network?.
The instinct to wait makes sense, but best time to build your referral network is now, before you need it. Referral relationships take months to warm up, and the provider you reach out to today probably won't send you a patient next week. But six months from now, when a patient asks for a dietitian recommendation, your name may be exactly the one that comes to mind.
Having just a handful of clients is an advantage. You can reach out to one new provider contact per week. That's 24 potential referral sources in six months. Start now.
Have a question about building your income or influence as an RD? Hit reply. I read every one, and your question might appear in a future issue. (You can stay anonymous.) 😊
Calendar-Worthy
Events Worth Your Attention
Fancy Food Show, June 28–30, New York City. Great for RDs interested in food industry media, freelance writing, or building brand relationships. Learn more here.
FNCE 2026, October 24–27, San Antonio. Early bird registration is open through September 2, saving you $100. Register here.
p.s. That BMJ study? Researchers tracked 205,000 people for nearly 40 years and found that three servings of french fries a week was linked to a 20% higher risk of type 2 diabetes, but boiled, baked, or mashed potatoes showed no significant association at all. Please pass the potatoes.