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What does being a CDM, CFPP mean to you?

Shelby Pirtle, CDM, CFPP

Decatur, IL

"Never in the world did I ever think being a CDM, CFPP would be so fulfilling! I love providing nutrition to my residents in any form, from purée to a mechanical soft diet! I love that we as CDMs give our residents, patients, and second family members the food they want, crave and NEED! I love the smiles on their face when a surprise ice cream treat shows up on their bedside table, and they were not expecting it. Giving them a choice at what they want to eat is priceless in its own. The food we serve is what they want, and they have a say so in it and they love that. Most don’t have a say in their medical care, where they are, and most don’t remember. To give them food is a treasure!"

Thomas Fox, CDM, CFPP

Holland, PA

“To me, being a CDM, CFPP is a once in a lifetime experience. Having passed the exam and received the certification allows me to explore and learn new options in the nutrition and food services department. Not only has receiving continuing education allowed me to grow in this profession, but it has allowed me to meet new vendors and form relationships with them. During my time, I had the opportunity to attend an event at a local hotel where I received many lessons on food allergies, becoming an effective leader, and meeting new vendors from Gordon Food Service, Sysco, and Ecolab. I always enjoy helping others and learning new things. I can’t thank my boss enough for bringing this up to me. It is a lot of work, but at the end, providing your residents quality care and having support from all of your staff and faculty members makes it worth it.”

Trish De Leo, CDM, CFPP

St. Petersburg, FL

“My primary goal has always been to teach and develop the next generation of CDMs. Giving a person the opportunity to practice quality food service skills is a requirement, but to understand that there is much more than putting the best meal together for their clients is where they face their biggest challenge. Balancing management, production, clinical and now COVID concerns will test the best let alone a new student or recent graduate just starting their first assignment. We have an obligation to educate our successors so they can continue to improve our vocation.”

Jenni Matz, CDM, CFPP

Hudson, WI

“I have worked at my facility for 19 years and have been the CDM for the last 8 years. In the next year, our current Director is retiring, and I am hoping to take that position then. I have done many positions since coming to this facility. I started out as a Dietary Server, then a Line Cook, then was an office assistant, then CDM, and hopefully to be director come fall. Being in each of these past positions has really helped me in my current position. Even though not every day is rosy, as you all well know, I think the impact we make on the lives of our residents is important and the reason I still enjoy my job as a CDM.

These last few months dealing with the daily changes and challenges due to COVID-19 has shown me how resilient and strong my team is here. We have employees with varying degrees of panic about what these next few months will bring as our cases increase around our community. However, even the ones that feel that the apocalypse is coming are still showing up every day and working hard. Our management team has been trying to alleviate as much fear as possible and I think just that fact that our building was one of the first in our area to not allow visitors, make every staff take their temperature when they come in, and wear a mask makes people feel better. Also, our maintenance staff are busy making one of our halls a negative pressure isolation area so if we do get COVID-19 in our building those residents can be in that hall. We have daily meetings to address the concerns of our staff and to update them on any changes that has been made (which is almost daily). I am very proud of everyone that works here and how well they have been willing to pitch in wherever they see a need.”

Amy Lou Inez Clark, CDM, CFPP

Montesano, WA

"I have been in Nutrition for the past 30 years and a member of ANFP for the past 19 years. I have seen several changes along the way. This position is always a challenge and I learn every day. That is what makes this a great position for myself, as I am always willing to learn and enjoy challenges to the fullest."

Kim Judy, CDM, CFPP, NDTR, RDN, LDN

Keyser, WV

"I have been a CDM, CFPP for most of my adult life! I continued on with my education and became a DT, then onward to a DTR. I went forward with obtaining the status of RDN, LDN, and am licensed in two states. All along my career, I have always kept my status as a CDM, CFPP. Why, you ask? Keeping my status keeps me informed as well as up to date on our ever-changing career field. Thank you all for everything you do day in and day out for our patients and staff. Stay safe!"

Philip Decker, CDM, CFPP

Burlington, KS

"I have always been drawn to working with food. There was nothing more satisfying than to provide someone a great tasting meal that they could not provide for themselves. I started working in an assisted living dietary department in January of 2016. I became a CDM, CFPP in 2018 and I am in charge of the dietary department. The training that I received while studying for the exam was beneficial on many levels. Nutrition, scheduling, receiving products, and even dealing with staff. This is the best job for me because like I said when I started, there is nothing more satisfying than providing someone a great tasting meal that they cannot provide for themselves."

Donna Ynostrosa, CDM, CFPP

Brownwood, TX

"When I first started long-term care, I didn’t have a clue! I went to school, earned my CDM, CFPP certification, and have grown from there. My CDM, CFPP certification has taught me so very much and I can’t imagine experiencing this pandemic without it. I was lost when I started, but now I am found! The learning opportunities are abundant. Thanks to everyone who has helped me on my journey."

Dan Chenault, CDM, CFPP

Columbus, OH

"Since I became a CDM, CFPP almost 5 years ago, I have garnered so much information & knowledge about food service, especially in a clinical setting. I managed restaurants for 11 years before I decided to make a career change, and I thought I knew a lot about food service in general, but boy was I wrong. To this day, I am still continuing to learn new and exciting things pertaining to our industry, especially because of the current circumstances we are dealing with. There are many things that will forever change becasue of our current situation, but the one thing I believe is most important, that more poeple should and will pay more attention to and understand the importance of, is infection control."

Delia Rogers, CDM, CFPP

Amarillo, TX

"Being a CDM, CFPP means I am making a difference. I am bringing my expertise and fullest potential to the table. It means that I am expecting the best through gaining the wealth of knowledge that so many CDMs achieve through hard work and dedication."

Stephen Slicis, CDM, CFPP

Hingham, MA

"I am so proud of being a CDM and being a member of ANFP. I thought I knew about food, being in the restaurant business for so long, but I was mistaken. A few years back I decided to change my job and work for Erickson Living. At Linden Ponds I was encouraged to reach for the stars and grow my knowledge. So I challenged myself to dig deeper and learn more about food and how I could help people with their choices. I am so happy to stand in front of residents and talk about food and understanding the health benefits, flavor profiles, program systems we use, and feel really confident. Being a member of ANFP and a CDM, CFPP has really made such a positive feeling when people ask what those initials beside my name stand for - now I simply smile and say 'Let's talk about food!' Hands down one of the best things I have done to improve myself and be better at my job is become a CDM, CFPP. I was very lucky to have a great instructor, a great director to push me, and a great company to support me on my path."

Paul L. Lee, CDM, CFPP

Philadelphia, PA

“I have been in the food business for many years, and in the healthcare business for the last seven years. I always want to be the very best at what I do and be in the forefront of the new regs and new thinking in the healthcare business. I believe along with hard work and engaging with teams, the next most important role for leaders is continuous learning, so in the end we can give our stakeholders the best experience for their investments, whether they be residents, owners, or team members. If we succeed in our quest, it will ultimately be good for the industry and the association we belong to. I believe in it so much that I started a consulting firm, CDM for Hire, and it has been a very rewarding experience.”

Gloria Spottswood, CDM, CFPP

Alexandria, VA

“CDM, CFPP means explicitly to me, being a professional. It means I’ve walked the line, taken the courses, continued my education, advanced my knowledge, honed my skills, and enhanced my qualifications in the Food Services, Hospitality, Culinary Arts, and Food Safety and Sanitation industries. This directly means that every customer, whether a patient, resident, guest, family member, team member, or patron is to have the benefit of my extensive experience, which in great part includes my years of being a CDM, CFPP. This is the premiere certification that asserts me as capable, and an expert in many categories, to ensure a job well done in institutional healthcare food service operations, but also extends to all other facets of a fabulous plethora of choices in the entire industry on a whole. My CDM, CFPP credential is everything. It opens doors, grants me access, puts me in the lead, and assures that I am on the forefront of an ever-changing industry, helping me to maintain a high level of expertise.”

Angie Paxton, CDM, CFPP

Marseilles, IL

"I love being a CDM because it is a pleasure to give back to our older generation and people who can’t take care of themselves. I love learning something new every day. I love nutrition. My job is very satisfying to me. I have been blessed to have touched so many lives. I would never want to do anything else.”

Read more personal stories of what being a CDM, CFPP means.