Empower * Lead * Inspire * Encourage
Nikki Martinez
April 2021
Nikki Martinez is a 32-year-old Latina who immigrated to the US from the Dominican Republic at the age of 9 with her parents and her two siblings. Growing up in an impoverished neighborhood Nikki saw firsthand the effects that poor diet and health had on her community. She was eager to help and make a difference in these types of communities. With her passion for nutrition and wellness she was led to obtain her degree in nutrition and dietetics so that she can help impoverished communities to better their health through diet education.
Today Nikki is a licensed registered dietitian. She received her Master’s Degree in Nutrition and Dietetics from Lehman College. She currently works at Fresenius Kidney Care in Queens, NY as renal dietitian. Nikki works closely with a team of nurses, doctors and social workers to provide optimal care to her patients. Nikki enjoys educating her patients on healthy eating for renal disease. She works with poor people of color who are struggling with end stage renal disease (kidney failure). Most of the cases she sees are a consequence of diabetes and hypertension, which is a major health issue in impoverished neighborhoods. Nikki helps her patient’s live longer and feel better while on dialysis. Through her work she hopes that she can make a difference in the quality of life of her patients.