American Dietetic Association Presents 2005 Medallion Awards to Five ADA Members for Service to Dietetics Profession

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SEPTEMBER 7, 2005

CHICAGO - The American Dietetic Association will present its prestigious Medallion Award October 23 to five ADA members in recognition of their outstanding service and leadership to ADA and the dietetics profession.

The winners will receive their awards during ADA’s Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo in St. Louis, Mo., which runs October 22-25. ADA Board members will present the Medallion Awards during the conference’s Honors Breakfast. Thousands of the nation’s top nutrition researchers, registered dietitians and other industry leaders will attend ADA’s Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo.

ADA’s Medallion Awards, given each year since 1976, honor individuals who have shown dedication to the high standards of the dietetics profession through active participation, leadership and devotion to serving others in dietetics and allied health fields.

With nearly 65,000 members, the Chicago-based American Dietetic Association is the nation’s largest organization of food and nutrition professionals. ADA serves the public by promoting optimal nutrition, health and well-being. Visit ADA at www.eatright.org.

Virginia M. Corcoran, EdD, MS, RD, LDN, Wilkes-Barre, Pa., a nutrition consultant and educator known nationally for her innovative approaches to dietetics education. She has taught for more than 25 years at institutions including Marywood University, Pennsylvania State University, Luzerne County Community College, University of Scranton and College Misericordia. Corcoran has served in ADA’s House of Delegates and in numerous positions in the Pennsylvania Dietetic Association including president. She received ADA’s Outstanding Dietetic Educator Award in 2000.

Rebecca A. Dowling, PhD, RD, FADA, Chicago, Ill., vice president for support services at Rush University Medical Center. Dowling has published dozens of papers and abstracts on nutrition, foodservice and health-care management. She has served on the board of editors of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association and on ADA’s Nominating and Publications committees, among many other positions. Dowling received ADA’s Outstanding Service Award each year from 1986 to 1996 and in 1998.

Roberta L. Duyff, MS, RD, FADA, CFCS, St. Louis, Mo., a nutrition consultant and author. Duyff is the author of ADA’s Complete Food & Nutrition Guide and 365 Days of Healthy Eating from the American Dietetic Association. She has written or contributed to consumer publications, textbooks, publications for government, food industry and public-private partnerships and news media articles. Duyff has served in leadership roles in ADA’s Food and Culinary Professionals dietetic practice group and held many positions in the St. Louis Dietetic Association.

Anita L. Owen, MA, RD, Scottsdale, Ariz., a public health nutritionist and educator with nearly a half-century of service to ADA and the dietetics profession. Owen is a former president of the American Dietetic Association and the ADA Foundation; former speaker of ADA’s House of Delegates; past-recipient of ADA’s highest honor, the Marjorie Hulsizer Copher Award; and former president of the Arizona Dietetic Association. Owen has taught at the University of Arizona, University of Michigan, New York University, New York Medical College and the University of Hawaii. ADA’s annual award for excellence in nutrition education programs is named in Owen’s honor.

Nancy H. Woolridge, MS, RD, LD, Birmingham, Ala., co-director of the Pediatric Pulmonary Center,  director of nutrition and assistant professor in the department of pediatrics at the University of Alabama-Birmingham, where she has taught since 1981. Woolridge’s lengthy involvement with ADA includes service as a member of the Leadership Development and Dietetics Outcomes task forces; member of the Association Positions, Nominating (chair in 2004-05) and Educational Grants committees; member of ADA’s House of Delegates; board member of the Alabama Dietetic Association; and member and past-chair of ADA’s Pediatric Nutrition dietetic practice group.


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