Press Release
From Mission Health:
ASHEVILLE, N.C. (Jan. 20, 2014) – Helping people overcome challenges of a health-related restricted diet is the goal of a new collaboration between Mission Health and A-B Tech’s Culinary Arts program. Mission Health, in partnership with A-B Tech, introduces “Date Night,” an opportunity for members of the public to work with trained chefs and nutritionists.
“Our collaboration with A-B Tech’s Culinary Arts program, one of the nation’s premier culinary programs, allows a unique opportunity to innovate and educate patients and culinary students,” said Marc B. Westle, D.O., FACP, Senior Vice President of Innovation, Mission Health. “While seasoned professional chefs teach participants how to prepare chef inspired ’disease specific‘ meals, we’ll be adding valuable medical hospitality training to the A-B Tech culinary program. We are excited to be partnering with one our nation’s premier culinary schools, located right here in Asheville, N.C.”
“Date Night” will provide fresh ideas for integrating whole and healthy foods into a healthy meal routine for families. Class instructors will be Mission Health chefs and nutritionists with assistance from A-B Tech culinary students. Menus in the series of classes will focus on mitigating health problems through diet. Anyone interested is encouraged to bring a support person (spouse, partner, best friend, parent, etc.) for an evening of learning how to cook together and manage a loved one’s disease as a team.
“The partnership of A-B Tech’s Culinary Arts department with Mission Health is a ground breaking initiative focusing on the link between food and health, changing how to cook and what to eat,” said Sheila Tillman, Associate Dean, Hospitality Education, A-B Tech. “The main goal is education – providing a greater understanding of which foods make for a healthier lifestyle, but it is also about having some fun in the kitchen, trying new skills and techniques and preparing tasty recipes. It is a great opportunity for culinary students and faculty to learn firsthand the role that culinarians play in the health of our community.”
Date Night is a six-month-long series. Those wishing to participate may take one class or the entire series. Each “Date Night” menu has been specially planned to address hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia or chronic kidney disease. Registration is required and limited. For more information, go to http://store.mission-health.org/innovation/.
About Mission Health
Mission Health, based in Asheville, N.C., is the state’s sixth-largest health system and the region’s only not-for-profit, independent community hospital system governed and managed exclusively in western North Carolina. Mission Health was recognized as one of the nation’s Top 15 Health Systems in 2012 and 2013 by Thomson Reuters and Truven Health Analytics, respectively. Mission Health is one of only two medium-sized health systems to receive this recognition in 2012 and 2013, and the only health system in North Carolina to achieve that distinction.
Mission Health, which traces its roots in the region back to 1885, operates five hospitals, numerous outpatient and surgery centers and the region’s only dedicated Level II trauma center. Its medical staff consists of more than 1,000 physicians and is certified in more than 50 medical specialties and sub-specialties. Mission Health has seven Centers of Excellence: Cancer, Heart, Mission Children’s Hospital, Neurosciences, Orthopedics, Trauma and Women’s Health. Mission Hospital, located in Asheville, is the system’s flagship hospital and is licensed for 730 beds. It is the regional referral center for tertiary and quaternary care. It also includes Mission Children’s Hospital – the region’s only children’s hospital. Other Mission Health member hospitals include Angel Medical Center in Franklin, Blue Ridge Regional Hospital in Spruce Pine, McDowell Hospital in Marion and Transylvania Regional Hospital in Brevard. With approximately 9,500 employees and 700 volunteers, Mission Health is dedicated to improving the health and wellness of the people of western North Carolina. For more information, please visitmission-health.org.
Before you comment
The comments section is here to provide a platform for civil dialogue on the issues we face together as a local community. Xpress is committed to offering this platform for all voices, but when the tone of the discussion gets nasty or strays off topic, we believe many people choose not to participate. Xpress editors are determined to moderate comments to ensure a constructive interchange is maintained. All comments judged not to be in keeping with the spirit of civil discourse will be removed and repeat violators will be banned. See here for our terms of service. Thank you for being part of this effort to promote respectful discussion.