This was a feature article of me in the So Connected quarterly magazine published by The Association of Healthcare Food Management

1. director and fellow AHF member Jim McGrody. “He has
provided me with numerous opportunities to showcase
the passion of re-inventing healthcare cuisine,” he said
He is also thankful for the support the team at Rex gets
from Chad Lefteris, the vice president of support services,
who not only supported his team entering the AHF Culinary
“I’m proud of the success we’ve had since taking over after a in order to see them presented with their gold medals.
contractor. We have all worked hard to build the program to
where it is. The amazing part is, I think we still have plenty of Now that his career has taken the path of healthcare
juice left in the tank to drive further.” foodservice, Ryan would advice others to do the same, noting
that it is possible to be innovative and follow culinary trends
even outside the traditional restaurant route.
group goal of excellence that is shared by everyone, from the
sous chefs, cooks, dietitians, pot washers, cashiers and line “My advice is to never have the mentality that your goal can’t
be achieved because you are in a hospital, instead aspire to be
Chef Ryan Conklin Ryan and his teammate Tyran Lawson brought home the gold
a “New School” Culinary Champion in this year’s AHF Culinary Competition, but competitions of
this style are not new for him. He was part of the silver-winning
Ryan said he thinks it is the responsibility of all in healthcare
foodservice to stay up to date with industry trade magazines,
team at the AHF competition in 2011 and also participated in
an American Culinary Federation competition in 2010. In that some of those ideas into the operations.
competition — the Cut to the Core Culinary Competition —
Ryan teamed up with UNC Hospitals to win. In addition to his other duties, Ryan writes a
Not that there are any truly traditional paths to healthcare together to maximize your potential for success.” Ryan has a
hospital food blog — newschoolhospitalfood.
foodservice, but Ryan Conklin’s path may have been more particular passion for the retail side of healthcare foodservice.
“We were presented gold medals from Alton Brown of wordpress.com — which is dedicated to showcasing
circuitous than most. The chef member of the winning 2012
the Food Network, but more importantly, were able to win
Culinary Competition graduated from the Culinary Institute of
ACF Gold medals, as we competed against three separate of “Hospital Food.”
satisfaction,” he said. “Working as a retail manager for both UNC
contract management teams including Aramark, Sodexo,
the move to healthcare foodservice.
and Morrison,” he said. On his bookshelf: White Heat, Chef Marco Pierre White,
programs that have been built from the ground up that I’m proud
The Complete Food Lover’s Companion and What We Feed
Since moving to healthcare, Ryan has taken on the roles to be a part of. If your customers are excited about your food, the
Ryan credits a good part of his success today to someone who Our Patients, Jim McGrody (Rex Healthcare.)
of foodservice manager, retail manager and his current role patients will be excited as well, because the ‘buzz’ will be passed
had faith in him early on.
of executive chef.
Ryan is married with two children; Aidan, 6, and Keira,
“I’m especially thankful to Cindy Irwin, who was my director 1. As a family they enjoy trips to beaches, aquariums and various
In his current position as executive chef at Rex Healthcare in
at St. Luke’s Cornwall Hospital in New York. She enabled sporting events. Being avid hockey fans, they frequently go to
because I understand the importance of each facet of the Raleigh, Ryan says that his team is poised for even more success.
me to make crucial decisions at her facility during my early see the Carolina Hurricanes play. In the winter months, Ryan’s
operation,” Ryan said. “To truly be great, all pieces have to work
healthcare management career.” Sundays usually revolve around The New York Jets schedule,
although he says they usually wind up breaking his heart.
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