After an incredible 42-year career with Morrison, we bid a fond farewell to Maureen Janowski. As corporate director of malnutrition, she will present at an invitation-only event sponsored by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics as her final act.
Her work has been transformative. Since taking over the malnutrition program in 2020, Maureen has achieved remarkable results:
-Increased patient malnutrition coding from 2.3% to 6.6%
– Developed MyMalnutritionTools©, Morrison’s Malnutrition program used by over 140 health systems
-Helped hospitals increase malnutrition-related reimbursements from $1.7 million to $3.9 million in fiscal 2024
“Maureen’s accomplishments have set Morrison apart from the competition,” says Peggy O’Neill, Vice President of Nutrition and Wellness. “She has improved patient care, educated hospitals about treatment benefits, and elevated Morrison into a national leader.”
Maureen’s passion for helping older adults began early. During high school, she frequently visited her grandmother in a nursing home, witnessing the dedicated care residents received. This experience inspired her lifelong commitment to senior wellness, leading her to a 30-year career in Morrison Senior Living.
As a certified Gerontological Nutrition specialist, one of her first significant achievements was redesigning the Webtrition website. By transforming Menu Cycles to Menu Collections, she enabled dietitians to plan menus for senior living facilities more effectively. “In long-term care, people live at the facility, and dietitians need four-week diet plans to be truly effective,” she explained. This experience proved instrumental in her later work developing the MyMalnutritionTools© resources.
Throughout her career, Maureen demonstrated remarkable adaptability. When her position was discontinued four times over four decades, she leveraged her professional network to find new opportunities. One memorable stint included writing specialized diets for inmates at Chicago’s Cook County Jail, an experience that ultimately led to a regional director role.
Her commitment to her profession extends beyond her daily work. Maureen has become an accomplished public speaker, delivering presentations at prestigious events like the American Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition’s Malnutrition Awareness Week. Her effectiveness as a speaker stems from her genuine passion: “I care so much about the work we are doing and how much the company has supported me.”
Maureen’s impact reaches beyond her immediate responsibilities. She has been instrumental in raising the clinical value of dietitians. “We only see these patients for a short period, so we need to know what and how they eat in their homes,” she says.
Her most cherished career advice comes from her first boss: “You can come to me with any problem. But I want you to have at least one solution in mind.” This lesson taught her to approach challenges proactively, a skill that has defined her professional journey.
As Maureen prepares to retire in April, her legacy is clear. She has not just performed a job but has fundamentally improved patient care, elevated the role of nutritionists, and created tools that will continue to benefit healthcare systems long after her retirement.
