Steubenville, Ohio—April 29, 2024– Trinity Health System is pleased to announce that Jessica Rea, MS, RDN, LD, Clinical Dietitian II, Trinity Health System, has been selected as the recipient of the 2024 Pennsylvania Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics (PAND) Emerging Dietetic Leader Award.

The Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics (AND) is the world’s largest organization of nutrition and dietetics practitioners. The Emerging Dietetics Leader Award recognizes the competence and activities of members, regardless of their age, who are at the beginning of their dietetics careers.

“I want to extend a special thank you to Emily Richters Fasciana, MS, RDN, LDN, and the entire PAND Nominating Committee for bestowing me with this recognition,” Rea said. “I am most grateful for the support of our PAND Board of Directors for continually fostering a growth environment for me as a leader.”

Rea began her service with AND while completing her didactic education by serving in the Academy’s House of Delegates as Student Delegate-At-Large. She is the past recipient of the Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics Foundation’s Leadership Development Award and the PAND Outstanding Graduate Student Award.

Delegates, including Rea (first on the right), at Pennsylvania Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Annual Meeting and Expo 2023

Rea currently serves the Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics House of Delegates as a Pennsylvania delegate and is a recent graduate of the Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics Leadership Institute.

“This is an absolutely outstanding accomplishment at any stage of a career, much less as early in her career as Jessica has achieved it,” Paul F. Wheeler, Vice President of Operations, Chief Operating Officer, Trinity Health System, said. “This speaks volumes to Jessica’s commitment to her patients, her emerging career, and her leadership ability. I see only positive and great things for Jessica as she continues to grow moving forward. I am looking forward to what comes next from her.”

In her clinical role with THS, Rea works to identify patients at risk for malnutrition and develops nutrition care plans that optimize their nutrition status and mitigate treatment breaks.

“Helping patients transform their relationship(s) with food is the highlight of my career,” Rea said. “Watching my patients reclaim peace with progress has been life-changing.”

“Jessica Rea is passionate and enthusiastic about improving the health of her patients through nutrition,” Aaron Provenzano, DO, Hematology/Oncology, Trinity Health System Teramana Cancer Center, said. “All who work with her can see why she is so deserving of this honor and award. She not only educates her patients on why it is important to optimize their nutrition, but also works one-on-one with them to achieve sustainable dietary changes that holistically complement their medications to combat disease and promote health.”

“Nutrition is a team sport,” Rea added. “I am most grateful for the outpouring of support that I have received from my interprofessional colleagues and teammates, mentors, educators, and fellow dietitians.

“This recognition would never have been possible without this army of leaders who continually supports and challenges my professional growth. I am very blessed to participate in CommonSpirit Health’s mission to make the healing presence of God known in our world by improving the health of those that we, together, serve and I am honored to serve these patients alongside such integrous leaders.”

To learn more about the Pennsylvania Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics, please follow this link: https://www.eatrightpa.org/

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Thumbnail Photo Caption: Clinical Dietitian Jessica Rea leading a continuing education course

Photos and captions courtesy of the University of Pittsburgh.