Patricia Oliver, director of nutrition services for the UCLA Health System, received the 2014 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Association for Healthcare Foodservice, a national organization dedicated to advancing self-operated healthcare foodservice as an industry best practice. Oliver received the award June 5 at the association’s annual conference, held in Orlando, Florida.
The organization’s highest honor, the award recognizes members who best exemplify the leadership and spirit of the organization’s founders. The winner is selected each year by past award recipients.
Oliver and her team are responsible for nutrition operations and creating innovative, nutritious dining options for patients, visitors and staff. The UCLA Health System serves over 3.4 million meals a year at two hospitals: Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center in Westwood and UCLA Medical Center, Santa Monica. The health system’s in-patient meal service is called “Signature Dining,” an upscale hotel-style room service that offers over 40 entrees. The health system also has four retail outlets and an upscale catering unit.
Among her accomplishments, Oliver led an effort to add to the hospital menus burgers made from antibiotic-free, grass-fed beef and herb roasted potatoes, as well as antibiotic-free chicken breasts. With these changes, the hospitals are helping lead the trend toward serving healthier, antibiotic-free meats.
Oliver has served on the Association for Healthcare Food Service’s Board of Directors since 2007. She is also the Los Angeles Area organizer for the Healthy Food and Healthcare Program, through which hospitals statewide leverage their combined health expertise and purchasing power to promote healthier food systems.
