Phoowanai Ektheerachaisakul BS, RDN

Reflection of my experience

 

Jey Hwang is the director of the Food and Nutrition Department of Elmhurst Hospital Center. Jey and his managers work under the management company Sodexo. He is very adamant, demanding and candid as a preceptor. I was pushed to perform tasks that were not in my comfort zone such as communicating with nursing staffs. By the end of the rotation I overcome those barriers. Jey was able to tailor my goals within this food service rotation. One of my objectives is to be able to obtain exposure in the managerial aspects of food service establishment. I worked closely with the food purchasing manager and food safety manager, as well as the food service supervisors. This rotation has prepared me very well to understand the ins and outs of a food service setting under a management company. Jey included me in his weekly management meetings. In this meeting, I shared my findings within the numerous assignments I had to do. All of the managers and supervisors are very supportive. Overall, Jey is an exceptional mentor. He likes to share his knowledge with students not only as a food service director but as a clinical nutrition manager and the position he serves in the AND as a board member.