Adeline “Addy” Assani-Uva is a registered dietitian and certified diabetes education care specialist with more than 20 years of experience. As a health educator, her passion is to see the application of health literacy into behavior change with optimal and sustainable results. This must be the case whether dealing with acute or chronic medical conditions.

Addy translates wellness as a shared responsibility both at an individual and collective level, ultimately having a positive impact on the health of our communities. She is sensitive to the cultural background of individuals, as she knows this will impact preferences and the realistic approach to the plan of care. One size does not fit all.

Apart from running her private practice, she remains incredibly involved in community health programs like congregate feeding sites. Here, she provides nutrition and wellness counseling, meeting clients at their point of need. Much time is spent debunking the myth that healthy eating is expensive.

For her, this is not only a career but a mission field. She gives emphasis first on disease prevention and successful management of disease using food as a medicine model.