Julie Meddles is no stranger to the hospital food service industry. Since age 16, her first job was at Memorial Hospital in Marysville, OH. She got a taste for the industry through various positions in trayline, dishroom, food preparation, grill cook, cashier and more. “It was during my time as a Food Service Worker that my interest in nutrition started due to the influence of the dietitians I worked for.” She pursued an undergraduate and additionally a Masters degree from The Ohio State University. She has been with the hospital for 20 years now in various nutrition services roles at main and also at East Hospital. She began her director position this past January. “People give me the most energy and happiness every day. It’s why I enjoy my job. I value our staff and being an advocate for them and developing leaders in all of them. Additionally, I value how we can make a difference for our patients, because ultimately that is who we are here for.” Julie also noted, “Not many people realize how hard food service operation is, how we feed 3500 patient meals and over 5000 café meals a day.”

Outside of work Julie is married to her high school sweetheart and they have two sons. She enjoys OSU football and Columbus Blue Jackets hockey, Star Wars and Marvel movies. Reading, taking walks and hiking are ways she likes to de-stress.

Julie credits her father and mentors for helping guide her throughout her career. “My father instilled in me a strong work ethic and integrity. My first boss, Jennifer Guy, taught me so much about healthcare, clinical care and patient care. Three strong women, Carol Deringer, Mary Angela Miller and Julie Jones, helped develop me into the leader I am today. Diane Gordon at East Hospital, many friends, peers and leaders at OSU, I value and look to for support still to this day.”

Learn more about Julie Meddles and her staff.