UAMS’ Tonya Johnson Named Dietitian of the Year
| May 4, 2018 | Nutrition and Food Services Director Tonya Johnson was named the Arkansas Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics’ 2018 Outstanding Dietitian of the Year.
The award recognizes demonstrated leadership in legislation, education, research, management or other areas.
“I was humbled and honored that people in my profession could see the difference we’re trying to make at UAMS,” said Johnson.
Johnson has been director of Nutrition and Food Services since 2016. She oversees and manages clinical dietitians, patient food services, catering and the eight retail outlets on campus. Working with the Get Healthy UAMS initiative, Johnson said she has been focused on improving nutritional choices for employees and students.
“We have incorporated new fresh, grab-and-go salads focusing on using superfoods, or nutrient-rich foods, heart-healthy options and 500-calorie daily specials,” said Johnson. “We have also incorporated more whole-grain ingredients and added light-portion options in the cafeteria.”
There’s been a campuswide effort to use fresh food instead of processed foods to increase nutritional value, she said. Recently, the cafeteria has offered made-to-order noodle bowls and pasta bars, all with fresh ingredients.
“Gone are the days of canned veggies and other convenience items,” said Johnson. “Most everything we cook is from scratch.”
The changes are not done, either, said Johnson. Employees can expect to see a renovated salad bar in the cafeteria and a revamped Lobby Café menu in the near future.
Johnson has been at UAMS since 1995 when she began as a clinical nutritionist. She held the position for 11 years before becoming director of clinical nutrition for 10 years. She was an Arkansas Business Health Care Hero nominee in 2018 in Workplace Wellness.