Dr. Platka-Bird has her Ph.D. in human nutrition with specialties in psychology and biochemistry. She is a registered dietitian (RD), a Certified Eating Disorder Specialist (CEDRD), and a Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE). Dr. Platka-Bird has 35 years of experience in nutritional counseling for people with eating disorders. She was a college professor at the State University of New York – Oneonta for 19 years and worked as the nutrition therapist at the Center for Hope of the Sierras in Reno, Nevada for over 15 years.