"The role of The Farm has become the heartbeat of the hospital," she said. "It's the concept that food is medicine, and we really are only as good as we feel."
As an innovative effort to improve health and wellness, The Farm exists to help grow a healthy community. In 2020, the partnership distributed roughly 11,000 boxes of fresh produce through its Farm Share program and raised nearly $140,000 to support local Michigan farmers.
"What we've attempted to do with our program is to take the education and lifestyle out of the hospital and into the community," McDowell said. "It's finding a way to arm the general community with a strategy to limit and avoid these addictive processed foods."
In addition to the Farm Share program, the partnership also hosts summer camps in July for children to learn about the science behind eating and growing fresh produce. Participants learn how to make healthy food choices for themselves and their family.
"We're bringing lifestyle messaging into the community," McDowell said. "This is important because when children are overweight, it's much more difficult preventing childhood obesity and ensuring access to food while reducing health disparity."
Guiding professional athletes to make smart dietary decisions is also part of McDowell's day-to-day responsibilities. She also works alongside chefs to create recipes that are intended to maximize human performance.
"I'm all for a well-timed cookie and there are certainly times where that is appropriate," McDowell said. "But if it's day after day, we know we're only as good as what we're putting in our bodies. There's only so much processed food you can really eat before you begin to not feel good."
According to McDowell, it's been rewarding to be part of the team behind the teams.
"I've never seen such a strong social support group, being the sports performance group, in a team because it's just built into the culture of the Red Wings and Tigers," McDowell said. "I feel there's somebody at work who cares, wants to help and we're then all connected."
Watch: The Farm at St Joseph Mercy Hospital
Ensuring individuals make the best food choices will ultimately help reduce and prevent obesity, a big part of what McDowell emphasizes must occur to strengthen the next generation.
"With more children becoming obese, we're going down a dangerous path," McDowell said. "We need to engage the youth. Encouraging kids to shop with their eyes and focus on the different colors of the rainbow is incredibly important."
While reflecting on her professional achievements, McDowell humbly struggled selecting a singular moment that stood out.
"I can't choose one because they're all different and all incredibly important," she said. "I am truly honored to be able to juggle my career and thereby translate the science across all these different venues."
To learn how to support The Farm at St. Joe's, please visit
st.joesfarm.org.
