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Ann Gallagher, National Leader in Nutrition and Geriatric Care, is 1999-2000 President of American Dietetic Association
Press Release
June 1, 1999
Contact: Tom Ryan, Doris Acosta or M. Johnna Thomas
E-mail: media@eatright.org
(Please do not publish/broadcast contact information)
ANN GALLAGHER, NATIONAL LEADER IN NUTRITION AND GERIATRIC CARE, IS 1999-2000 PRESIDENT OF AMERICAN DIETETIC ASSOCIATION
CHICAGO -- Ann Gallagher, a Ft. Wayne, Ind.-based registered dietitian and a national leader in the fields of long-term and geriatric health care, will become the 74th president of The American Dietetic Association June 1.
With more than 70,000 members, ADA is the world’s largest organization of food and nutrition professionals. Gallagher will serve as president until May 31, 2000. She has been the association's president-elect for the past year.
Gallagher is president of F.A. Gallagher and Associates, which provides dietetic consultation to long-term care facilities, retirement communities, group homes and other providers of geriatric care. She specializes in working with legislators and policymakers at the state and national levels on issues of nutrition and health care, including regulation of long-term care facilities.
During her year as ADA president, Gallagher said she plans to work closely with the association's members and board of directors to develop a strategic plan for ADA's future.
"We need to continue to build on the three pillars of the dietetics profession -- education, research and practice," she said.
"It's clear that registered dietitians have an even greater opportunity to serve the public, with today's emphasis on prevention of illness rather than treatment. We want to expand our reach and contribution, not only in the health-care sector but also in business and industry, the media and social services."
An ADA member since 1963, Gallagher has previously served as speaker of the association's House of Delegates; a member of the board of directors and the board's executive, finance, legislative and alliance development committees. She received ADA's 1990 Medallion Award and several ADA Outstanding Service Awards.
Gallagher chaired ADA's health-care reform task force and was instrumental in bringing the issue of Medicare reimbursement for dietitians' services -- or medical nutrition therapy -- to the attention of Congress and the federal government.
Since 1989, Gallagher has been ADA's representative to the federal Health Care Financing Administration. She served as the only dietitian on a HCFA advisory committee that developed, under Congress's direction, a resident assessment method to be used in all nursing facilities throughout the United States.
Gallagher is a former president of the Indiana Dietetic Association, and was the association's Honored Dietitian in 1989. She is a frequent lecturer on nutrition and long-term care at professional conferences and meetings.
A graduate of Marywood University, Scranton, Pa., Gallagher received the school's Professional and Business Award and the Indiana Association of Homes for the Aging's Meritorious Service Award, both in 1997.
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