Intermountain Health: Why I

The following article was written for Intermountain Health:

Why I want to be a part of the healthcare movement

By Jen Wilke, clinical nutrition manager, outpatient services at Intermountain Medical Center   

I want to empower people to find healing in nutrition and joy in food. I pursued a career as a dietitian because I truly believe food is medicine, food is fuel, food is healing. As an athlete, I see that in my own life. But I think the place I've seen it play out the most is certainly with my patients, and more specifically with those experiencing an eating disorder.  

A couple of years ago, I felt my scope, my influence, my 'net' was too small. I wanted to help more people, reach those in need, and truly make a difference in the lives of others.  

Enter Intermountain.  

Here, in a leadership role, I decided to take on a few of our more complex and higher acuity eating disorder patients. 

When you get a very malnourished patient, they're coming out of their shell, and you're using nutrition for them to do that. It's almost a rebirth for them.  

I work hard to create a safe space where patients feel secure and can trust me. Sometimes success is in little segments of improvement along the way. Every time they fuel themselves, that's a victory. The victory right now is in the process — leading slowly, step by step. I'm in it for the long haul because it's worth it. It is worth it to save one life.  

This has been the most rewarding career path for me to work with individuals with eating disorders, seeing their transformation and what food can do to a body, a mind, and a soul.  

Helping to make meaningful change in the lives of patients has helped me better understand and relate to the caregivers I work with, the challenges and frustrations they face and the victories they celebrate. What’s most impactful is learning to be patient, learning to listen actively — not just listen and formulate the next question in your head — having compassion, and meeting people where they're at. 

Those subtle, quiet moments of someone saying, “you made me feel psychologically safe” or “you made me feel comfortable talking about some of the things that I need to work on about myself” add up to my overwhelming feeling of gratitude. 

I want to be part of the healthcare movement. Not only am I able to work with a company that values the patient first but a company that helps the people (caregivers) who help the people (patients). The values, professionalism, and progressive approach of Intermountain has captivated me, and I’ve found my forever career and home.