For more than 20 years, Department of Nutrition and Food Studies Teaching Professor and Graduate Program Director Sudha Raj in the Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics has been providing support, guidance and inspiration to generations of students who aspire to become dietetic professionals.
Sudha Raj (right) accepts her Lifetime Achievement Award from Manju Karkare, a registered dietitian nutritionist and nutrition coach who nominated Raj for the award.
In early October, Raj was recognized for her impactful career in dietetics when she received the Lifetime Achievement Award from Dietitians in Integrative and Functional Medicine (DIFM), a subgroup of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
“Sudha brings a whole-person approach to her teaching and mentoring of students and colleagues,” says Lynn Brann, associate professor and chair of the Department of Nutrition and Food Studies. “She willingly shares her time and knowledge with anyone who is curious to learn more about the benefits of nutrition.”
Raj, a fellow of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, received the award during the 2024 Food and Nutrition Conference in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
“I am honored and humbled to receive the DIFM Lifetime Achievement award,” Raj says. “My deepest gratitude to those who nominated me, my colleagues, students who continue to inspire me every day and my family who have always supported me in all my endeavors.
“This incredible honor as a recognition of my work is inspiring and motivating to me,” she says. “It encourages me to continue making a positive impact in the field of nutrition and dietetics.”
According to the DIFM website, the purpose of the Lifetime Achievement Award is to “recognize a DIFM member whose contributions over their lifetime have advanced the principles and practices of integrative and functional medicine and nutrition. This award will honor one who has ‘made a difference’ in education and professional development, furthered professional opportunities and advancement for nutrition and dietetics practitioners, and has demonstrated excellence as evidenced by work that is innovative, creative and recognized as exemplary by professional peers.”
Raj has been a difference-maker on the Syracuse University campus and worldwide. She was instrumental in developing and implementing one of the first pilot studies to investigate dietary acculturation patterns in Asian Indian immigrants in the United States, and more recently she was one of two Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics members responsible for the inception of the member interest group for Asian Indians in Dietetics.
“Sudha has been a leader in the department and the nutrition and dietetics profession around integrative and functional nutrition for many years,” Brann says. “Due to her leadership and encouragement, several faculty attended a multi-day training to integrate these concepts into our courses and curriculum.
“Sudha has continuously supported the advancement of dietetic professionals practicing integrative and functional medical nutrition therapy by acting as an educator, scholar and through her public service,” Brann says.
The eligibility criteria for the Lifetime Achievement Award included two letters of recommendation. Brann wrote one letter, and the other came from Monique Richard, MS, RDN, LDN, FAND, IFNCP, RYT, owner of Nutrition-In-Sight in Johnson City, Tennessee.
Sudha Raj
Richard says Raj’s vast and varied portfolio showcases her generous contributions to the profession, her students, and all those who benefit from her service.
“Sudha’s skills and attributes are not only admirable, but the lives she has touched with her contributions, advocacy, wisdom and dedication to the profession are immeasurable,” Richard says. “She teaches with thoughtfulness, depth and precision while using the Nutrition Care Process in addition to applying integrative and functional nutrition principles.
“In addition, her work ethic and commitment are further illustrated by her roles in her family and community, all while advocating for nutrition as an RDN, researcher, author, educator, leader and contributor in a variety of settings,” Richard says. “It is an honor and pleasure to call her colleague, mentor and friend and to serve our profession alongside her.”
While the Lifetime Achievement Award signals a milestone in Raj’s career, it does not mark the end of it as she continues her mentorship of students and unique contributions to the practice of integrative and functional nutrition.
“My deepest thank you to my nutrition colleagues for their unwavering support and encouragement as I navigated the field of integrative and functional medicine as a specialty within the broad nutrition space over two decades,” Raj says. “They have helped me develop professional resources and curriculum for education and training.
“My DIFM colleagues have been wonderful mentors; they have educated and provided me several opportunities to share my knowledge in the form of professional development offerings for dietetic professionals,” she says. “I also want to acknowledge Syracuse University and Falk College for supporting my teaching and research interests and fostering my academic interests. I hope I can continue to provide support and inspiration for the next generation of dietetic professionals.”