Outgoing HFM President Bruce Thomas (l.) and Past President Marge Beasley (r.) present the Angelo Gagliano award to Mary Angela Miller (center).

Healthcare foodservice professionals celebrated the final Leadership Conference of the National Society for Healthcare Foodservice Management (HFM) in Indian Wells, CA in August when the group met for one last time before it becomes part of the new Association for Healthcare Foodservice (AHF).

Nearly 400 on-staff operators and industry suppliersgathered for the five-day conference, which featured an array of speakers, including Celebrity Chef and winner of Food Network's “The Next Food Network Star,” Aaron McCargo, Jr., and former NFL Football greats Brian Holloway and Tom Flick. During the course of the week, HFM members had an opportunity to explore cutting-edge developments in healthcare foodservice, discuss best practices, network, share ideas and build relationships.

The Conference Planning Committee was led by co-chairs Joyce Scott-Smith of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, and Maureen Leugers of Gordon Food Service.

(clockwise from top l.) President Bruce Thomas presents Cindy Parker with the President’s Award; Thomas and Parker recognize Marty Rothschild with the John Cabot ‘Making a Difference’ Award; Doris Davis of Culinary Competition sponsor Tyson Foods (l.) congratulates winners Daniel Skay and Lisa Poggas of Parker Adventist Hospital.

Those honored at the annual Awards Banquet included…

Mary Angela Miller of Ohio State University Hospital (Angelo Gagliano Operator of the Year Award)

Cindy Parker of Basic American Foods (President's Award)

Marty Rothschild of Aladdin Temp-Rite (John M. Cabot ‘Making a Difference' Award)

Steve Cerullo of Geissinger Health System and Gretchen Hilbrandt of NY Presbyterian, University Hospital of Columbia and Cornell (Future Horizon Awards)

View a video clip of Ohio State Medical Center Administrative Director Mary Angela Miller’s acceptance speech of the Angelo Gagliano Award at the recent HFM Leadership Conference here.

Steven Hiatt of Oregon Health and Science University (Spotlight on Innovation Award)

Diane Imrie and Dr. Melinda Estes of Fletcher Allen Health Care (Partnership in Leadership Award).

Lisa Poggas and Daniel Skay of Parker (CO) Adventist Hospital won the Gold Medal in the Culinary Competition.