We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Donna Monthei, RD, LD. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Donna below.

Hi Donna, thanks for joining us today. One of our favorite things to hear about is stories around the nicest thing someone has done for someone else – what’s the nicest thing someone has ever done for you?

Fresh out of college in Dallas, I was driving one of my parents’ hand-me-downs—a car that was generously held together by hope and duct tape. Despite having good credit (thanks to my parents’ foresight during my college years) and a decent first job, I was still pretty cash-strapped and hadn’t built much financial history. Replacing my four-wheeled time bomb felt like a major financial stretch.

At the Honda dealership, after hours of negotiations that weren’t going my way, the finance manager casually asked about my university. When I mentioned UT, his entire demeanor changed. “Wait, you’re a Longhorn?” Suddenly, this stranger was crafting a financing deal that was far better than anything my limited financial profile should have warranted, all because of our shared burnt orange allegiance.

But the moment that really stuck was his parting advice: “Just pay it forward to another Texas-ex when you get the chance.” Here was someone who turned Longhorn loyalty into genuine kindness, literally got my adult life rolling. It taught me that sometimes the most meaningful connections come from the most unexpected places—and that Hook ’em Horns isn’t just a cheer, it’s a way of looking out for each other.

Donna, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My path to becoming a gut health dietitian began with a lucrative but soul-crushing career in computer programming. While the paychecks were nice, I found myself yearning for work that actually mattered—something that could make a real difference in people’s lives. So I made the leap back to school for nutrition, trading financial security for genuine passion, and it was the best decision I ever made.

My specialization in gut health wasn’t planned—it was earned through personal experience. A routine dental procedure requiring aggressive antibiotics left me with SIBO, and I spent an entire year navigating the debilitating symptoms that completely upended my life. That experience became my greatest teacher and ultimately my greatest professional asset. When I sit with patients struggling with digestive dysfunction, there’s an immediate understanding that goes beyond clinical knowledge—I’ve walked in their shoes, felt their frustration, and most importantly, I’ve found my way back to health using the same protocols I now use to help others.

What sets my practice apart is my diagnostic approach. While many practitioners focus on symptom management, I’m essentially a digestive detective who insists on comprehensive gut microbiome testing before developing treatment plans. I want to know exactly which organisms are present, how digestion is functioning, and what specific imbalances need addressing. It’s the difference between throwing darts in the dark and having a precise roadmap to healing. This data-driven methodology allows for targeted, individualized treatment that achieves faster and more complete results.

I’ve also learned that discussing digestive health requires a special touch—these aren’t exactly comfortable topics for most people. So I’ve developed a communication style that puts patients at ease, sometimes using well-timed humor to transform awkward conversations into productive healing dialogues. Many of my patients have felt dismissed or misunderstood by previous healthcare providers, so creating an environment where they feel genuinely heard and validated isn’t just beneficial—it’s essential for successful treatment.

What I’m most proud of is the transformation I witness in my patients’ lives. SIBO and digestive dysfunction don’t just affect your gut—they impact your energy, mood, social life, and overall quality of life. Watching someone reclaim their vitality and confidence after months or years of suffering is incredibly rewarding. I offer a free gut health assessment to help people understand their symptoms and determine if my approach might be right for them. You can easily schedule this on my website—it’s a no-pressure conversation where we can explore whether we’re a good fit for working together.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

Reputation in healthcare is earned through consistent results and genuine patient care, and I’ve built mine by prioritizing authenticity over everything else. I’m committed to giving patients the truth about their condition, their timeline for recovery, and what their treatment will realistically involve. No sugar-coating, no false promises—just honest, evidence-based guidance they can trust.

What I believe sets my reputation apart is my commitment to meeting patients exactly where they are in their healing journey. I don’t believe in one-size-fits-all protocols or pushing people into treatment approaches that don’t align with their lifestyle or capacity for change. Some patients are ready to dive headfirst into dietary modifications; others need a gentler, more gradual approach. My role is to create a path that works for them, not force them down a path that works for me.

The fact that I’ve personally navigated SIBO and digestive dysfunction also contributes significantly to my reputation. Patients appreciate knowing that I truly understand their struggles—not just clinically, but experientially. When I explain why certain symptoms occur or why specific dietary changes are necessary, they know I’m speaking from both professional expertise and personal experience. That combination builds trust in a way that textbook knowledge alone simply can’t achieve.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

Early in my practice, I was living every new business owner’s reality: having expertise but no audience. I was doing everything possible to build awareness—speaking at events, writing articles, networking—while seeing just a trickle of patients and constantly questioning whether I’d made the right career choice.

Then came the game-changer: I headlined a gut health seminar that generated massive exposure. Almost immediately, my practice went from barely sustainable to completely overwhelmed. Patients were calling daily, my schedule was booked solid for months, and I was finally experiencing the demand I’d been praying for since opening my doors.

But here’s where the story gets interesting—I got exactly what I’d wished for, and I couldn’t handle it. Within a month, I was working 70-hour weeks, feeling constantly behind, and struggling to provide the quality care I prided myself on. I was so terrified of losing this momentum that I was accepting every patient request, scheduling myself to the breaking point, and basically proving that sometimes getting what you want is more challenging than not having it.

The resilience came in recognizing that my expectations needed a complete reset. Success wasn’t just about attracting patients—it was about creating a sustainable practice that could serve people effectively without burning me out. I had to learn to see turning patients away as a sign of success, not failure. I implemented systems, created waitlists, and most importantly, learned that sustainable growth meant saying no to some opportunities so I could fully embrace others. It was a humbling lesson in the difference between wanting something and being prepared for it when it arrives.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://evervitalnutrition.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/evervitalnutrition/
• Other: I think an immense future need in the area of gut health is helping people that have had issues from taking GLP-1 medications. I’ve just published an ebook entitled, Beyond Weightloss: A Dietitian’s Guide to GLP-1s and Your Gut Health that is available on Amazon. The link is here: https://www.amazon.com/Beyond-Weight-Loss-Dietitians-GLP-1s-ebook/dp/B0FHJ55R3C/ref=sr_1_1?crid=5S7HMHOXHUWW&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Ebd5ngfOwXNfV-0Wr6wM8A.L-3Lef6IsQulSUzzIfBxXkBPTqHux65Y5fjjRNHQLSo&dib_tag=se&keywords=donna+monthei&qid=1752785461&sprefix=donna+monthei%2Caps%2C189&sr=8-1

Image Credits

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