This month during Diabetes Awareness Month we are featuring one of our Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialists, Lizz Hanna, MS, RDN, CDCES. Lizz was born and raised in New Jersey. She completed her undergraduate studies at Monclair State University and obtained her Master’s degree from Rutgers University in New Brunswick. Lizz is now in the process of finishing up her PhD in Nutritional Sciences at Rutgers.
Since the age of 14 Lizz knew that food and nutrition were her passion. She was exposed to the concept of Medical Nutrition Therapy when she was young as her close family members were being treated for their chronic diseases. Lizz also struggled keeping off excess weight herself. These experiences inspired her to explore the connection between balanced nutrition and preventative health. After discussing her future with her high school counselor, Lizz was directed to a career in Dietetics. Her journey started there and continues!
Currently Lizz works as the Clinical Nutrition Manager at Hackensack University Medical Center, where she manages a team of almost 45 RDN’s and Nutrition Assistants in providing inpatient and outpatient Medical Nutrition Therapy. She serves as the Nutrition Resource Expert on various committees and spearheads various nutrition initiatives with the purpose of improving and providing optimal nutrition care to the patients of Hackensack University Medical Center.
Lizz is an active member of the NJAND. She is a past president and has served on the NJAND board in various capacities. She volunteers at her local church and as an orphaned child herself, gives back to those who have been orphaned through her volunteer work with an International Organization near and dear to her heart, Coptic Orphans. This organization focuses on improving the lives of orphaned children most likely to face poverty and social injustice.
The biggest challenge Lizz has faced in her career is an ongoing one; finding ways to elevate the role of the RDN among the interdisciplinary team and empowering RDN’s to find creative and innovative ways to provide the best nutrition care to patients.
Lizz advises students entering the field of dietetics that, “every experience is an opportunity to connect and create relationships that will lead to opportunities you never imagined would be available to you. Network, network, network and build and maintain good and positive relationships with everyone you encounter.”
As a lifelong resident of NJ, Lizz loves her memories growing up in NJ as well as the diversity of people and cuisine you can experience, the beautiful parks, trails, and the shore. Lizz cooks and exercises for fun and she likes to explore and experience new restaurants/cuisine with her loved ones.
Facebook: Lizz Hanna
Instagram: lizzhannardn
Twitter: lizziefizzie55
LinkedIn: Lizz Hanna
