get to know: Maria Brumfield, MS, RDN, LD

The center for the female athlete at Dayton Children's is led by a group of physicians, specialists, dietitians, and athletic trainers dedicated to the current and future health and wellness of the female athlete. Each caregiver plays an important role on the team, providing total wellness of the young female athlete and the unique situations that affect them.

Name: Maria Brumfield, MS, RDN, LD

Role on the center for the female athlete team: Registered Dietitian

Why is it important to have your specialty as part of the center for the female athlete team?
Spreading the message that food is fuel can allow the female athlete to nourish their mind and body and allow them to adequately fuel for their unique energy needs. Working with females to share the joy of nutrition and discuss ways that we can allow them to embrace the power of nutrition to fuel them and their unique needs, is the most rewarding feeling as a provider.

Viewing food as fuel can allow the female athlete to take charge of their wellbeing to nourish their mind, their bodies, and fuel them for all of their life goals -- sports and beyond. 

What are your goals for the program?
As a registered dietitian my goal is to allow female athletes to embrace the power of nutrition. My goal is to allow the girls to become as excited about fueling their body, as they are about competing in their sport. My goal is to share the message that the female has unique nutrition needs, and just as going to practice is a part of training, adequate nutrition is, too! My goal is for females to become excited about embracing the power of all food groups and embracing their unique nutrition needs, as a whole, while promoting their overall well being. I want to empower the female to take charge in having the knowledge to adequately fuel their bodies. 

What do you want female athletes to know about the program?
As a former high school, college, and post collegiate athlete, I want female athletes to know that the opportunity to participate in the center for female athlete at Dayton Children’s is a special opportunity. To have endless resources at your finger tips to promote well being, confidence, and to empower is second to none. I want female athletes to know that they are special in so many ways, on and off the field, court, course, etc. “She can do this!”

One final thought
I am a former high school, college, and post collegiate athlete. Being a female athlete myself, I hope to connect with female athletes in the program about fueling, and being a female athlete. I have done sports my entire life, I hope having that personal connection to the female athlete allows our female athletes to feel the support that this amazing team has for them, as the team is female-led!