Meet Patient Corporate R&D Chef: Carlene Walker

Carlene Walker is a chef and loving mother and wife who is passionate about hospital food. She joined the Culinary Strategy & Innovation team as their newest Patient Corporate Research & Development Chef in October 2022. Before joining the corporate team, Carlene was the REC for the Kansas City market as well as the System Executive Chef and Associate Director at Truman Medical Center. With her background working in the field she brings extensive knowledge to the role.

Read on to learn more about what Carlene is excited for with the future of patient dining.

What are you most excited about in your role as the Patient Corporate R&D Chef?

I am most excited about evaluating the dining experience for our patients, from our food being flavor forward to the presentation of our food on a plate. Why can’t food that a patient receives be presented like it is in a restaurant?

What’s the importance of incorporating regional favorites in the patient menu?

Regional favorites are absolutely an important piece of the patient menu, because they offer comfort to the patient. It’s important to bring that comfort to patients to help heal their bodies during their stays in the hospital.

What else is important to the patient culinary experience besides the food?

Also, of course, the joined partnership with the marketing team is helping the food come alive with fun new patient marketing kits, cart wraps, and much, much more!

Are there any trends you’re excited to bring to the patient dining experience?

I’m really excited about bringing bold flavors to the patient menu. Our patient population is continue to change. No longer is it mainly Baby Boomers in the hospitals; we’re seeing more Gen Xers and Millennial. These younger generations’ taste palates and expectations crave adventure, even while in a hospital.

Can you expand on what you mean by bold flavors?

Authenticity is critical in what we put on our menus. For example, if they’re getting Chicken Mole, then they are expecting an authentic version packed with flavor featuring chili peppers, nuts, fruit, chocolate, and spices. There is a growing demand for multicultural cuisine in our country as more cultures continue to intertwine. From a trend standpoint, experimenting with bold flavors continues to explode in popularity, fueled by social media and cultural exposure via travel and increased movement.