Dr Judy New

Judy is Comanche, First Nation. While earning her first degree, she was inducted into the home economics honours fraternity. Judy holds a triple masters degree in Nutrition, Education and Biology. She was the first Aboriginal in her area to earn her PhD at Texas A & M University. Her dissertation, "Dietitians as Counselors" is on file in the US Library of Congress. Judy was the first dietitian to go into private practice in her hometown of San Antonio, Texas, and cared for private patients, institutional patients, as well as marginalized populations. She quickly expanded her business to include allied health providers. She was the first dietitian in San Antonio to promote nutrition in health club environments.

Judy has received many awards and commendations for her volunteer community work including Woman of the Year, US Army commendation, and Alumni of the year award from Incarnate Word University for "Highest Achievement Since Graduation". Judy also found time for volunteer work-she worked with other dietitians and lawmakers to help enact dietetic licensure in the state of Texas, which allowed dietitians to begin billing insurance-and worked with local and national organizations in the area of graves repatriation, culminating in the passage of the Native American Graves Protection Act in the US.

Other volunteer work included designing the first kitchen and menus for the San Antonio Meals on Wheels program, and helping to resolve prison riot conditions by assisting with revision of their menus. She is the official dietitian to "Heloise", the syndicated household hints columnist, writing the nutrition section of her beauty book and later collaborating on her recipe book.

She is a highly sought expert by the media and dispenses information on radio, and TV on topics ranging from the newest weight loss pill to the fat content of buffalo meat.

When Dr Judy arrived in Canada, she was concerned to find no Aboriginal nutrition programs were in existence. After years of volunteering and lobbying, she was able to initiate the first heart health education, and currently teaches traditional nutrition at Anishnawbe Health Toronto. She presently serves on the Food Policy Council of Toronto, and is on the Aboriginal Garden committee. Dr Judy has worked with national Aboriginal organizations to increase health scholarship and career funding for Aboriginal youth. She currently manages the scholarship program, Foundation for the Advancement of Aboriginal Youth, and has helped secure its first scholarship directed to chef training and nutrition. Dr Judy also served as co-chair of the economic development conference "Vision Quest 2000".