Dietary Manager and Team

What does being a CDM, CFPP mean to you?

Lisa Stokes, CDM, CFPP

Henryetta, OK

"Being a CDM, CFPP has provided me with the skills needed to educate patients on managing their nutritional needs for better health. This role gives me a feeling of purpose and accomplishment that allows me the opportunity to touch lives for the better.

I feel blessed to work as a CDM, CFPP at Hillcrest Hospital in Henryetta, OK, one of Modern Healthcare's 2019 Best Places to Work in Healthcare. This makes my job even more rewarding because I get to work in a culture where we all take pride int he services we offer as a team."

Amanda Shirley, CDM, CFPP

Indiana, PA

"Being a CDM means being ready and knowledgeable to take on a higher standard in the ever-changing foodservice industry. With regulations and trends changing and updating constantly, being a CDM gives me the skill and leadership to guide our department to the next level when it comes to patient care and overall satisfaction."

Robin Kalinowski, CDM, CFPP

Bismarck, ND

"Becoming a CDM, CFPP has allowed me to move forward in my career goals. I am an expert in foodservice and food safety. I have met so many new people at the Annual Conference & Expo and on the Open Forum."

Terri McGhee, CDM, CFPP

Mobile, AL

“Being a CDM, CFPP is a great personal accomplishment. Being in the food industry for over 30 years has given me a feeling of great success. I love this industry, and this made it all came together!”

Janet Derrickson, CDM, CFPP

Batesville, AR

“Being a CDM, CFPP means more than just food to me; it’s a career to help me get my family the things they need and want, and to help my residents get the best nutrition they can possibly get. I get to make it more than a meal and make it a family gathering.”

Sallea Marble, CDM, CFPP

Peoria, IL

“Being a member of ANFP not only gives me the credentials for my job, but also the tools and resources to continually improve and bring value to the organization I work for.”

Andrea Whitegon, CDM, CFPP

Warren, IN

"To me, being a CDM, CFPP is a full circle life changer. I have always worked in this industry. I started at entry level and have worked most every job in my facility's department. Now, I can see it all from a different perspective and am always looking for ways to improve my own performance. I try to apply all that I learned to my daily routine and make the lives of our clients a little bit easier. Someone said to me during my time in the course, 'you have three chances a day to either delight or disappoint your clients,' and I keep that in my mind all the time. I think about things (especially the meals) from their perspective first, and I adapt where it is possible. Thankfully, I have had great role models to set my standards against for anything I may face in the future. I am an analytical person by nature but being a CDM, CFPP has made me more mindful of the choices I make and the example I may be setting for others in the same industry. I am proud of the work I do."

Renee Taylor, CDM, CFPP

Stoughton, WI

"Holding the title of CDM is not just a career, but a collaborative effort by all those in our industry to uphold the reputation, standards, and ethics of what the certification stands for. I appreciate all that we do independently, as well as together as an organization. Within ANFP, I have the feeling that I really belong to a group, and this sets the CDM certification apart from that in other organizations."

Heather Clark, CDM, CFPP

Port St. Joe, FL

"I finally have a career with purpose. To be able to meet the needs of others and give them something to look forward to is the most meaningful thing I have ever done. When my monthly weights come back with little to no weight loss, there is not better sense of pride."

JoAnn McClanahan, CDM, CFPP

Atkinson, NE

"As a CDM, CFPP, I feel confident that by being certified I can educate cooks and dietary staff to serve nourishing meals to our residents, patients, and families."

Shannon Diemart, CDM, CFPP

Andover, KS

"I have been a CDM, CFPP for 18 years. I started out in a hospital but shifted my focus to long-term care in 2006. For me, being a CDM, CFPP means making a difference in someone's life. For most nursing home residents, a lot of choices have been taken away from them due to age and health. However, at our facility, we have open dining, meaning they can order what they want, when they want. I have an incredible team of dietary staff who go above and beyond to make them what they want to eat. My staff members take time to get to know the residents and even prepare residents' old family recipes, if requested. Knowing that our department brings joy to the residents' lives makes me feel like what I do matters."

Megan Griffith, CDM, CFPP

Cincinnati, OH

"As a CDM, CFPP, I care, and I can make the best decisions for our elderly in their nursing homes! I couldn't be prouder to be a CDM, CFPP. My job has a meaning, and my residents are my world!"

Margaret Rowlands, CDM, CFPP

Winamac, IN

"Being a CDM, CFPP gives me the opportunity to grow in my profession, volunteer, and network with others. We all have best practices that will make a difference in our customers' lives. We touch so many different fields and show compassion by being our best."

Julia Ann-Fowler Anderson, CDM, CFPP

Springfield, MO

“Being a CDM, CFPP provides a sense of commitment, loyalty, and respect for my residents and my staff in being the leader and role model to inspire each and every individual I encounter in my workplace.”

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