Indian American nutrition expert Geeta Sikand has been recognized among the nation’s leading dietitians in the 16th annual “TD10” feature by Today’s Dietitian. The list highlights dietitians who are making significant contributions to nutrition science and transforming patient care. This recognition coincides with National Nutrition Month and Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Day, celebrating professionals advancing the role of dietitians in healthcare through research, advocacy, and clinical practice.
Sikand, MA, RDN, FAND, FNLA, CLS, serves as Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine in cardiology at the University of California, Irvine. She has gained national recognition for proving the clinical and economic value of medical nutrition therapy (MNT) in patient care. Her pioneering research demonstrated that every dollar spent on MNT could save three to four dollars in healthcare costs for patients with dyslipidemia. These studies, published in 1998 and 2000, were the first to quantify the financial impact of dietitian-led care on patient outcomes, conducted while she was chief lipid research dietitian at the UC Irvine-affiliated VA Long Beach Healthcare System.
Sikand’s work emerged at a pivotal time when managed care models were transforming the U.S. healthcare landscape. Health professionals increasingly needed robust data to demonstrate the value of their services. “Dietitians needed to show outcomes data because managed care was taking over the health care industry at this time. Fortunately, we had the data,” she noted. Her contributions earned her two Mary Huddleson Awards from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation and solidified her role as a leader in the profession.
Later, Sikand chaired the MNT Outcomes Workgroup for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, spearheading further research that confirmed the long-term benefits of nutrition therapy alongside evolving medication treatments. She continues to advocate for the Expanded Medical Nutrition Therapy Act, legislation aimed at increasing Medicare coverage for nutrition therapy.
Beyond research and policy, Sikand emphasizes education and public outreach. She guides healthcare providers and patients alike on how nutrition counseling can meaningfully improve health outcomes. As a Policy and Advocacy Leader for the cardiovascular health dietetic practice group and a fellow and at-large board member of the National Lipid Association, she also co-chairs its nutrition taskforce and developed the multilingual Clinician’s Lifestyle Modification Toolkit. “When dietitians counsel patients, we do not just tell them what to eat or avoid,” Sikand explained. “We partner with them to explore the what, why, and how of dietary habits and lifestyle behaviors to overcome barriers and achieve lasting results.”
