‘Buffalo State saved my life’: Q&A with Alex Ford in advance of ‘Buffalo State Talks’

Alex Ford, ’12, has built a career on doing what he loves: helping people live healthier lives. 

After graduating cum laude from Buffalo State with a Bachelor of Science in Dietetics, Ford worked as a Registered Dietitian while completing coursework to become a physician. While working and studying, he began volunteering as a nutrition educator at 4th Family, a not-for-profit organization that empowers at risk youth and adults through personal development opportunities. 

None of it would have been possible, Ford said, without Buffalo State, where he explored his passion for nutrition and was encouraged by mentors to fearlessly pursue his dreams.

Now a family medicine doctor at Community Care Physicians, 4th Family’s director of medical education, and a ringside physician for USA Boxing, Ford returns to campus as a guest speaker for “Buffalo State Talks,” a lecture series featuring faculty, staff, and alumni. He graciously gave us a few moments of his time to discuss his upcoming talk and how Buffalo State shaped his path.

How did you become interested in nutrition?
Growing up, I was overweight and required to physical fitness exams at my high school. I was always failing them. When I got to my senior year, I was tired of my body image; I wanted to be in better shape and feel better about myself. I had no idea what a dietitian or a nutritionist was, but through trial and error, I ended up losing weight and becoming interested in nutrition.

When did you know you wanted to pursue it as a career?
I did super well in the sciences in high school, so I committed to UB as a pharmacy major. I was all about nutrition and fitness but was thinking I’d be a pharmacist and maybe open a gym or do something in the health and wellness sector. The more I thought about it, the more I was like, “I’m not passionate about pharmaceuticals and drugs; I’m passionate about nutrition.” 

What drew you to Buffalo State?
I confided in my UB advisor, so she went online and searched for nutrition and dietetics programs, and Buffalo State came up. I was like, “This is what I always wanted to be doing, but I had no idea it existed!” I went to an open house, got all my ducks in a row to transfer, did my transfer orientation, and I was off and running—I’d found my passion. 

When did medicine come into the picture?
In my senior year, I was required to complete an internship. I was struggling to find one, but Dr. [Carol] DeNysschen connected me to a dietitian named Maria Haas, a kidney transplant dietitian at ECMC. She was part of a healthcare team with a nephrologist, a renal transplant surgeon, social workers, psychologists. I would hear all these medical terms I wasn’t familiar with, and I was so fascinated. I would go to Maria with my questions, and she was like, “I have no idea, but why don’t you go talk to them?” Dr. Mark Laftavi, chief of transplant surgery at the time, went through all my questions and invited me to go on rounds with him. I talked to Maria and said, “Would you care if for the last two weeks of this internship, I split my time with you and Dr. L?” They were okay with it. I started researching and discovered I was only missing a few courses to be eligible for medical school. 

What does your day-to-day look like?
Every fifteen minutes looks different—I might see someone for strep at 8:15, post-partum at 12:15, and an ankle sprain at 3:15. I love that. There are so few dietitians in my area; I’m getting so many referrals. Throughout my education, I was like, “Doctors don’t learn about nutrition in medical school? What if I combined the two?” Now, I’ve created my own wellness practice within my office. It’s amazing; this is what I hoped would happen when I was a dietetics student.

How did Buffalo State help get you to where you are today?
Buffalo State saved my life, in a sense. I don’t know what I’d be doing if I didn’t get into the dietetics program, because that’s how I got exposed to medicine. 

What inspired you to participate in “Buffalo State Talks?”
I’ve kept in contact with Dr. DeNysschen, my mentor since I matriculated into the program, and she said, “I think you could inspire students—are you interested?” It’s important to give back; it’s my duty to do that. 

What advice do you have for current Buffalo State students?
There’s no such thing as failure; there’s a learning experience in everything. Take risks—that’s one of the main purposes of education. Apply for that grant. Pursue that person that could be your mentor. Push yourself to the limit. Once you become a professional in the real world, you’ve gotta hit the ground running. Be aggressive. Believe in yourself. Take chances. Trust the process and listen to the people who tell you you’re meant for more—you owe it to them to go as far as possible.

“The Path of Purpose: How Nutrition Fueled my Medical Career” takes place Tuesday, April 8 from 5:30-7:00 p.m. in the Jacqueline Vito LoRusso Alumni & Visitor Center. Refreshments will be served. For more information and to register for the event, please visit the website.

“Buffalo State Talks” is brought to you by the Alumni Engagement Office, the Honors Program and the School of the Professions. This lecture series is free to attend for all students, faculty, staff, and alumni. 

Photo courtesy of Alex Ford and Community Care Physicians.