Celebrating Excellence: Lilly Westphal, AdventHealth Shawnee Mission Outstanding Team Member

“My main inspiration for working in healthcare as a dietitian is to help people by promoting health and wellness”

Lilly Westphal is a registered dietitian with the Nutrition Services at AdventHealth Shawnee Mission, a role that has been a life-long calling.

“Growing up, I realized most of my family health history is unknown, so I got really interested in nutrition, health, and preventative medicine to avoid onset chronic disease,” said Westphal. “When I was in high school, I got the opportunity to travel to France which really sparked my interest in nutrition and health. Now, one of my favorite things is to try lots of different foods and experience different cultures. It has given me a greater appreciation of life and opportunities.”

She also spent time doing volunteer work serving in soup kitchens, building houses, and helping with community gardens.

“All of these moments inspired me to want to be an inpatient dietitian so I can work closely with patients to promote nutrition to help support their recovery.”

Westphal is a recipient of the 2024 Outstanding Team Member Award with AdventHealth Shawnee Mission because she is known to approach work with positivity, efficiency, and a determination to provide the highest level of patient care, consistently demonstrating strong productivity and generosity with her talents.

Her proactive approach, commitment to excellence, and ability to foster collaboration makes her an invaluable resource and an irreplaceable asset to the team.

“I chose to work at AdventHealth because of the strong team of dietitians we have working here and the opportunity for growth,” said Westphal. “I have learned that I thrive in environments where I can closely interact with others and have opportunities to expand my knowledge.”

Westphal has stated that the best day she has worked at AdventHealth Shawnee Mission is every day that a patient she follows up on shares how her nutrition recommendations made a difference in their recovery and lives.

“It is very fulfilling to see patients take charge of parts of their health care and strive to get better.”

Outside of inpatient care, you may find Westphal on an outdoor venture.

“One thing someone wouldn’t know by looking at me is that I am a huge fan of the outdoors. I really enjoy going on walks or hikes to explore new trails, beaches, and mountains.”