About Behavioral Health Nutrition
Awards
Congratulations to BHNs 2011 Award Recipients!
Distinguished Member: Ruth Ann Foiles Brunet, MPA, RD
Eating Disorders: Karen Wetherall, MS, RD, LDN
Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities: Joan Guthrie Medlen, M Ed, RD
Mental Illness: Marilyn Ricci, MS, RD
Addictions: Lisa Beckley-Barrett
Congratulations! 2011 BHN Award Recipients
at Member Reception in San Diego
Karen Wetherall, MS, RD, LDN, Eating Disorders (left), Marilyn Ricci, MS, RD, Mental Illness (center) and
Joan Guthrie Medlen, MEd, RD, LD, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (right)
Excellence In Practice Awardees
Distinguished Member: Ruth Ann Foiles Brunet, MPA, RD
Ruth Ann Foiles Brunet has been an active member in BHN (formerly DDPD) since 1979. She has served as chair of the practice group at least twice and has been active on various committees throughout her years in the group. Ruth Ann has spent her career and now her retirement as an advocate for persons with disability. She has worked in the areas of IDD and Mental Health. She spent several years as the Chief Dietetic Consultant for the Michigan Department of Mental Health where she was a mentor and resource for the other dietitians working throughout the state in psychiatric hospitals and centers for the developmentally disabled. While employed in Michigan, Ruth Ann developed and implemented nutrition and food service “Rules and Regulations in Community Based Facilities.” Her knowledge was also shared in the DDPD Toolbox of which she was co-editor. It is with much honor and respect that the Distinguished Member award is presented to Ruth Ann Foiles Brunet.
Eating Disorders: Karen Wetherall, MS, RD, LDN
Karen Wetherall has an extensive history in the area of Eating Disorders. She has been an active committee member developing the SOP/SOPP for eating disorders that was published in the August, 2011 JADA. She is currently the BHN Resource Professional for Eating Disorders and the Publications Chair. For the past 17 years Karen has been the Dietetic Internship Director at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville training over 130 dietetic interns about eating disorder assessment and treatment. Karen has a passion for educating others about enjoying food and movement. She supports self-care of a healthy mind, body, and spirit. She has made numerous contributions to the prevention and treatment of eating disorders and is very deserving of BHN’s Excellence in Practice award.
Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities: Joan Guthrie Medlen, M Ed, RD
To say that Joan Medlen works with passion in the area of IDD would be an understatement! Joan is currently self-employed as the owner of Phronesis Publishing and as a nutrition and lifestyle coach for persons with and without developmental disabilities. She has to her credit many publications, presentations, and awards. In 2009 she was the recipient of the Exceptional Meritorious Service Award from the National Down Syndrome Congress. Joan is a frequent poster on BHN’s e-mail forum and provides information that we can all use, regardless of our area of practice. Joan was also part of the team that developed the SOP/SOPP for Dietitians working in IDD and the BHN Resource Manual for IDD. The award for Excellence in Practice for Intellectual and Developmental Disability is given to a most deserving Joan Guthrie Medlen.
Mental Illness: Marilyn Ricci, MS, RD
Marilyn Ricci has made it her business to place emphasis on nutrition and mental illness. Throughout her career Marilyn’s work has included BHN’s areas of practice. She is currently working as a consultant dietitian and a SAMSHA Grant Consultant. She has developed and facilitated nutrition trainings with peer mentors, nurse case managers, and case clinicians for three mental health facilities. Marilyn is a volunteer on the NAMI National Board and has a long history with NAMI. To her credit are many publications and presentations regarding nutrition and mental illness. Marilyn is a true advocate for persons with mental illness and BHN recognizes her contributions with this award for Excellence in Practice.
Addictions: Lisa Beckley-Barrett
Addictions is an area that very few call their area of practice and yet we all deal with in some ways. Lisa Beckley-Barrett has devoted much of her career to working in the area of nutrition and addictions. Lisa is a long time member of BHN and has served our practice group in a variety of roles. Many of you may have completed the CE program that Lisa wrote: “Diet, Addiction, and Recovery.” For her contributions to both patients and professionals BHN awards Lisa Beckley-Barrett the Excellence in Practice award in addictions.
Award Applications (members area)
ADA Members - 50 years
Members of BHN extend their gratitude and congratulations to these BHN members who have been members of ADA for 50 years or more:
Laverne Anderson, Ret. RD
Thelma Anderson, RD, CD
Bettie Brigman, RD
Virginia, Casteen, MBA, BA
Harriet Cloud, MS, RD
Rita Connelly, Ret. RD
Ruth Cross, RD, LD
Barbara Emison-Gaffield, MS, RD
Patricia Hennessey, MS, RD
Dorothea Meagher, RD, LD
Carol Nealon, RD