Guidelines: The nomination must reflect cooperation with other agencies and groups; public health advocacy; and all other activities that demonstrate support for public health through effective organizational skills.
2022 Recipient: Jennifer Bowman, RD, LD, CLCWIC and Healthy Start Administrator
Louisville Metro Department of Public Health & Wellness
As a Registered Dietitian, food and nutrition have always been passions of this year’s awardee. She has implemented many beneficial changes and built partnerships to improve health and health equity in Louisville.
Through her work with WIC, she found a passion for working with women and babies and has risen in the ranks to administrator of both our WIC and Healthy Start programs. Every day she gives her all to improve the services and policies surrounding women and infants.
When administrative inefficiencies and potential COVID exposure issues in a busy clinic were identified due to the physical presence requirement for 10-day old infants, she developed an innovative solution and partnered with UofL Hospital to allow WIC certification for their moms and babies. She also expanded LMDPHW’s WIC program by adding a nutritionist at UofL hospital and is in the process of adding a second nutritionist at Baptist Hospital. These partnerships have enabled the enrollment of babies right in the hospital, limiting exposure for the infant and improving clinic wait times.
She is also building and strengthening relationships with other community partners and other government agencies. One such example is her current work with Louisville Metro Department of Corrections to link incarcerated pregnant women to WIC and Healthy Start upon their release. She serves on the Neighborhood Place Operations Committee, works with the State Fair to implement the Rock N Relax space, and supports both Mamma to Mamma and Healthy Babies Louisville (which has over 100 organization members).
When the pandemic arrived, she spearheaded moving WIC and Healthy Start from in-person participation to telephonic visits for the duration of the pandemic. When the USDA issued a physical presence waiver at the start of the pandemic, she worked with her team to develop processes for her clinics to move their participation virtual telehealth visits. In addition to ensuring the safety of our clients, she also led the efforts to work with the IT department to allow staff to work remotely on a hybrid schedule. This limited the number of staff in the clinic at one time, reducing potential exposure for our staff.
2020 Recipient: Robin Gillespie, MS, RD, LD, CLSWIC Breastfeeding Promotion
Supervisor/Regional Breastfeeding Coordinator
Louisville Metro Department of Public Health & Wellness
Robin Gillespie has been with LMPHW WIC program for 19 years. She is said to be a dynamic and effective leader and integral to forging productive relationships in the breastfeeding advocacy community. Robin was recently voted President of Louisville's breastfeeding coalition, Kentuckiana Lactation Improvement Coalition (KLIC), which provides professional education, networking, communication, and mutual support among Lactation Consultants and other health professionals concerned with breastfeeding in Kentucky and Southeast Indiana.
For the past 1.5 years, Robin has been Acting WIC manager, in addition to her duties as our Lactation Supervisor. Her exceptional organizational skills and leadership have enabled her to be effective in both roles and even take on new projects. Recently she worked to reopen our WIC site in the South Jefferson Neighborhood Place to increase participation in that area. We anticipate that we will see an increase of 400 participants at the new site. She truly goes above and beyond to provide excellent quality services to participants in her program.
Over the past year, Robin has been able to build a collaborative environment for her team by incorporating all WIC staff into strategic planning and goal development. She has worked with each member of her team to develop individual goals and has set an example for staff by setting ambitious goals for herself, such as obtaining her International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners (IBLCE) Certification. She is an excellent supervisor. For all these reasons, she is most deserving of this award.
It is with great pleasure that we present the 2020 Peggy S. Kidd Nutrition award to Robin Gillespie, WIC Breastfeeding Promotion Supervisor & Regional Breastfeeding Coordinator at Louisville Metro Public Health & Wellness.
Past Winners
2019: Not Awarded2018: Nancy Merk, MS, RD, LD, IBCLC
2017: Karen Fallon
2016: Carolyn McGinn
2015: Cara O’Neill
2014: Brandi Gilley
2013: Connie Howell
2012: Debbie Lentz
2011: Paul Rudd
2010: Diane Sprowl
2009: Debbie Bell
2008: Paula H. White
2007: LaBerta White
2006:
2005: Dianna Colson
2004: Fran Hawkins
2003: Cynthia Sullivan
2002: Karen Riffe
2001: Carol A. Bryant
2000: Dr. Effie Creamer
1999: Emma S. Walters
1998: Sue Ann Wulf
1997: Oreida Whitaker
1996: Patricia M. Foxworthy
1995:
1994: Peggy Kidd Staley