Celebrating graduates who are helping to reverse the trend of preventable poor health

About the NTA Impact Award

The NTA Impact Award is given annually to graduates of the NTA's NTP or PHWC programs. Awards are given for two categories: Community and Clinical.

The Community Impact Award is given to 3 graduates who are using their skillset to make a difference in their community, while the Clinical Impact Award is given to 3 graduates who are excelling in their NTP or Coaching practice.

Meet our 2024 Community Award Recipients

Johanna Clark, NTP

Johanna is a Nutritional Therapy Practitioner with a passion for transforming women’s health through holistic and root-cause approaches. As the founder of Wild Muse Wellness, Johanna has dedicated the past three years to empowering women with hormonal, fertility, and gut health challenges to reclaim their vitality.

She blends her expertise with a deeply personal understanding of health struggles to deliver compassionate, results-driven care. Under her leadership, Wild Muse Wellness has grown into a thriving team of four, setting a standard for client-centered, sustainable wellness solutions.

You can connect with Johanna here:

Raelynn Torzone, NTP

As a Nutrition Therapy Practitioner (NTP), pending NANP Board Certification, and a proud member of the NTA and AADP, I have helped many people with our ministry in nutritional
healing. Recognizing the critical role of education, I recently launched The BeST Institute, a school focused on teaching bioenergetic techniques and empowering practitioners to guide members in regaining control over their nutritional and toxin imbalances in their body.

I am Retired from Western medicine as a Cytotechnologist and Physician Assistant, where I dedicated my career to microscopic cancer screening and patient care across hospitals, emergency rooms, urgent cares, primary care, and OB/GYN settings. However, my own health struggles—severe and undiagnosed—became the turning point that transformed my journey into true wellness.


Through Nutritional Therapy and bioenergetic healing techniques, I reclaimed my health and
discovered my passion for nutritional health. Eight years ago, I founded Natural Benefits PMA,
a private ministry dedicated to helping others heal through biblical principles of nutrition health.
At the heart of my work is a mission: to guide individuals in rediscovering how to nourish their
bodies and minimize toxic exposures for optimal health. My commitment to healing is deeply
rooted in ministry and service, with all my endeavors operating within the framework of private
and faith-based initiatives. I am honored to have turned personal adversity into a mission that inspires transformation in others.

You can connect with Raelynn here:

Kristen Files, FNTP

Kristen Files, FNTP, BCHN, MRWP, is the owner of Forest Creek Wellness, a boutique functional nutrition practice in Austin, Texas. With over 10 years of experience in the wellness space, Kristen is passionate about empowering women to reclaim their health and vitality through real food and personalized nutrition. As a certified Nutritional Therapy Practitioner, Master Restorative Wellness Practitioner, Board Certified in Holistic Nutrition, Kristen specializes in adrenal health, digestive wellness, and hormone optimization to help women overcome fatigue, brain fog, and stubborn weight.

Kristen’s journey into functional nutrition began after experiencing her own serious health struggles, which led her to dive deep into self-education and formal training. This path culminated in graduation from the NTA and the opening of her brick-and-mortar practice in 2017, where she blends lab testing and muscle testing into personalized protocols to help her clients tap into their body’s natural healing potential. Over the past year, she has expanded her impact into the corporate wellness space, helping companies optimize employee health through nutrition education and personalized wellness strategies.

Several years ago she created a whole foods co-op, fostering community connections between health conscious consumers and local farmers to support regenerative agriculture and ancestral foodways.

A classical educator and homeschooling mother of four, Kristen is dedicated to making holistic health accessible and sustainable. Her mission is simple but powerful: to help people, especially busy moms, reclaim their energy and clarity so they can thrive. Through one-on-one consultations, group programs, and educational initiatives, Kristen is committed to making America healthy again—one individual at a time. Kristen’s dedication to her community and clients earned her the title of #1 Nutritionist in Austin Texas by Austin Fit Magazine in 2023 and 2024 and Round Rock’s Best in Holistic Wellness in 2024, recognitions she considers both a privilege and a responsibility.

You can connect with Kristen here:

Meet our 2024 Clinical Award Recipients

Peta Harpas, FNTP

I learned early on the importance of eating nourishing foods. Thanks to my mum, I understood that veggies were better for me than cookies and that certain foods fueled my body, while others didn’t. Treats were allowed, but only after eating my fruit or vegetables. In my teens, I began cutting out added sugar and limiting processed foods. However, I eventually became underweight and lost my menstrual cycle due to overdoing cardio and obsessing over food. I even eliminated nutrient-dense foods such as healthy fats, depriving my body of essential nourishment. This led to nearly a year without my period. I consulted multiple GPs who recommended birth control to "regulate" my cycle, but I didn't feel comfortable with that approach.

Finally, I sought a women’s health practitioner who pointed out a simple truth: I was underweight. She suggested gaining weight to restore my cycle. Following her advice, I focused on eating high-quality, nutrient-dense whole foods, particularly healthy fats, to nourish my body and regain my period. When the body lacks proper nourishment, survival instincts take over, and reproduction becomes a low priority. Healing required me to gain weight and restore my body’s sense of safety. Once I nourished my body appropriately, I regained my cycle.

My upbringing instilled a passion for natural health, but my personal experience drove me to study Functional Nutrition and become an FNTP. Today as the founder of Thriving You, I primarily work with clients experiencing hormonal imbalances and gut health issues. I help individuals understand the root causes of their symptoms and empower them to restore balance through personalized, holistic approaches. By focusing on the body’s innate ability to heal and the power of nutrient-dense whole foods, I guide clients toward sustainable changes that improve their overall health. My mission is to share the idea of food as medicine and help others take control of their well-being so they can truly thrive.

You can connect with Peta here:

Kevin Rutherford, FNTP

Kevin Rutherford is a veteran, third generation owner-operator, co-owner of Let's Truck, and host of acclaimed radio shows Trucking Business & Beyond and Destination Health. Kevin's mission is to be the ultimate resource for trucking businesses of all sizes, providing solutions dedicated to their success.

Recognized for his expertise, Kevin has shared his invaluable insights as a featured speaker at numerous industry events and in esteemed publications like Overdrive Magazine, Over The Road, Driving Force, Big Rig Owner, Pro Trucker and the widely recognized Randall Publishing "Partners In Business" series.Beyond the world of business, Kevin has dedicated himself to improve the health and wellness of the trucking industry. He passionately delves into the realm of nutritional therapy, sharing his discoveries and insights on his popular show, Destination Health.

You can connect with Kevin here:

Nida Ghazanfar, NTP

I’m Nida, your friendly Neighborhood Nutritionist! I’m a boy mom to a 4 and 9 year old. Somewhere in between ‘mommy-ing’ my children, I birthed my practice, Apple Flavoured Oranges 6 years ago and have been working virtually with clients all over North America and the UK since then!

I have always been an inquisitive girl and when I experienced challenges with my own fertility, I started asking WHY? Although I am formally trained in business, I quickly found my heart and passion in the field of Holistic Nutrition. I started my journey with the Nutritional Therapy Association in 2017.

I absolutely loved the training I received and started my practice in 2018. In 2021, I wanted to address more complex health issues for both my clients and for my freshly diagnosed ASD son who struggled with chronic constipation almost all his life. I went to Restorative Wellness Solutions and got extra training in gut and hormone testing, completing my RWS Level 2 certification.


My biggest success story is my own son! After just 3 months of working on his gut, his chronic constipation of 6 years, which no naturopath or conventional doc could get down to the bottom of, resolved completely. His mental health was the next to improve. I had a brand-new boy!
My practice now revolves around helping people with complex and chronic gut, autoimmune and hormone issues.


When I am not ‘geeking out’ over the microbiome, I enjoy intimate conversations with close friends & family, exploring nature and experimenting with ‘better-for you’ bakes! I truly believe Functional Nutrition is the future and that addressing gut health is the foundation to almost everything!

You can connect with Nida here:

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Amanda Runnels

Student & Community Affairs

If you have lingering questions or concerns about membership benefits, your current membership status, or any other graduate-related matter, we'd love to hear from you!

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