FARMINGTON – Franklin Memorial Hospital’s food and nutrition manager, Sharon Searles, recently earned the designation of certified dietary manager/certified food protection professional from the Certifying Board for Dietary Managers.

This is the highest level of professional achievement available from the Dietary Managers Association, which has more than 14,000 members representing nursing homes, hospitals and other facilities across the United States. Earning the dietary credentials affirms that the dietary manager has the nutrition and food safety knowledge, and management expertise to direct a busy food-service operation.

To achieve the credentials, Searles successfully completed a five-hour, two-part written examination. The 255-question exam covered dietary management with three major content areas: nutrition, systems management and administration/production management. The exam also covered five competency areas involving food safety and sanitation.

Searles lives in Jay and has been employed by Franklin Memorial Hospital for nine years.