Gina
Drobena,
MD, DipABLM, CCMS
Program Director, Culinary Medicine; Division Director, Transfusion Medicine
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Gina Drobena, MD, DipABLM, CCMS, is an Associate Professor of Pathology at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) where she obtained her MD degree. She subsequently completed a residency in clinical pathology, fellowship in transfusion medicine and joined the faculty. Dr. Drobena is currently the Division Director for Transfusion Medicine, Program Director for Culinary Medicine, and the course director for the culinary medicine elective at UAMS.
Presenting at the Nexus Summit:
Background: Food insecurity (FI) is a lack of consistent access to enough food for an active, healthy lifestyle. In 2023, 13.5% of U.S. households met criteria for FI. Arkansas ranks worst at 18.9%. Assistance benefits provide $2.06/person/meal, but the average meal costs $3.55/person. Aside from economics, many individuals in rural areas experience FI due to living in food deserts with limited access to affordable, nutritious food. Healthcare providers are often unaware of patients’/families’ FI, and evidence-based recommendations (DASH, Mediterranean diet) can seem overwhelming for FI…