Carol Banister, RD/LD, MS, CDE
Carol is the owner and president of Banister and Associates LLC. She is a registered/licensed dietitian with both her undergraduate and graduate degrees from Kansas State University. Carol thrives on challenges, learning and growing which motivated her to open her private practice 30 years ago when it was unheard of a dietitian having her own nutrition counseling practice. Managing the business, counseling, speaking engagements, writing monthly newsletters for physicians, TV and newspaper interviews can all be in a day's work. Carol is a certified diabetes educator (CDE) and a certified insulin pump trainer. She has been recognized by Kansas State University for her entrepreneurial business and the Oklahoma Dietetic Association for her years of service on the board. Currently she serves on the alumni board for the College of Human Ecology at Kansas State University and the Internship board at Oklahoma State University. If you can't find Carol engaged in one of the above activities, you just might find her enjoying freedom and relaxation on her road bike.
About Us
Banister and Associates LLC, Nutrition Consulting and Management is entering it's 30th year in practice. In September 1981 Carol Banister pioneered the field for a dietitian to be in private practice in Oklahoma by opening her office in Mercy Tower. Banister and Associates has enjoyed successful growth through the years increasing patient services, having a very strong physician referral base from all over the metro area and expanding offices to south Oklahoma City and Shawnee. What you will notice from your very first contact with our office is we all love our nutrition business. Each day is a new adventure. Each patient is a new friend. Each challenging case is a new opportunity to research and learn. And each experience of success we celebrate alongside our patients.
Who We Are
Paula Partlow, RD/LD, MS
Paula is a registered/licensed dietitian with 22 years of experience in nutrition counseling. She has worked in a variety of clinical, community and private healthcare settings developing strong skills in all areas of counseling. Paula is gifted with thinking outside the box and creative problem solving. If you present her with a scenario which seems unsolvable, she can come up with a novel approach worth trying. Coaching for meal management and cooking skills is frequently incorporated into patient counseling sessions to assist with getting dinner on your table. She enjoys preparing the unusual food item, trying new recipes and including foods she became familiar with while living in Ecuador and the Philippines. In her free time you may find Paula running for exercise or running one of her three children to various activities.
Dawn Jacobson
Dawn is a fitness fan. She loves to be active running, swimming, biking, weight work outs, tennis, and boot camp. Dawn is certified in personal training by the Cooper Aerobics Institute. She will come to your home to complete a fitness evaluation and design a fitness plan you can accomplish in your home. She taught physical education at ORU for several years. Dawn has completed 8 marathons and 5 triathlons. Recently she participated in the 'Monster 2 Sprint Tri' in Denton, Tx and won "Grand Master" which was first in her age group.
Barbara Cunningham, RD/LD, MS
Barbara is a registered/licensed dietitian with 30 years of experience. She is a native of Oklahoma with her degree from Oklahoma State University. Barbara schedules patients for medical nutrition counseling appointments at a clinic in south Oklahoma City and Shawnee to be more convenient for patients in these areas. Because Barbara sees patients in the physicians' office, she has a unique opportunity to work closely with your physician and nurses in these clinics. When you meet Barbara you will immediately notice her compassion for you and your unique health situation. You will experience her care and concern as you work on changing life long habits, and she will be celebrating along with you when you arrive at your nutrition goals. Barbara is a very active volunteer at her church and in the Moore public schools, where she has two teenagers.
Beverley Sims
Beverley has been the office manager for Banister and Associates since 2005. If you wonder who Beverley is when you come in, she is the one with the constant genuine smile. Beverley has a servant's heart and desires to make life easier for each of us and you as our patient. Whatever needs to be done, followed up on, resolved, or improved to make the office run more efficiently, she very eagerly takes care of it. Beverley spends a great deal of her free time with activities at her church.
WELLNESS I MINDFUL I REALISTIC
Betsy Bergin
Betsy joined Banister and Associates in March 2010. Her main duties are to help Beverley, our office manager, in all that is involved in running a busy office. Her main goal is to make sure that one of the first contacts our patients have with Banister and Associates is to hear a kind and understanding voice on the phone. Betsy is a perfect fit for her job as she is kind and understanding and her willingness to assist our patients and staff are her genuine nature. She has been involved with Bible Study Fellowship for 28 year, and with youth activities at her church.
Christa Carretero
Christa Carretero is the Founder and Chef of “Cooking Girl” in Oklahoma City. She is a graduate of the California Culinary Academy in San Francisco. Christa spent several years in Washington D.C. and worked for Chef Jose Andres with the “Think Food Group” restaurants. She traveled to Spain to learn the craft of cheese making.
Christa is a native of Oklahoma City and returned in 2008 to start her own personal chef business "Cooking Girl". Christa provides many services including preparing tailored meals in your home or in her kitchen for you to pick up. Catering and cooking lessons are also part of her repertoire. Banister and Associates provides the nutrition parameters to Christa for her to work with when preparing your great tasting health-conscious meals.
