With nearly 45 years of dedicated service in healthcare, Viola Woods, RDN, LDN, CDE, has built an extraordinary career rooted in advancing nutrition education and improving patient outcomes. Specializing in nutrition, dietetics, leadership, motivation, and behavior change, Ms. Woods has consistently demonstrated a passion for empowering individuals through personalized care and education.

Ms. Woods most recently served as an advanced-level nutritionist at the Department of Veterans Affairs from 2021 until her retirement in 2024. Working with the Blind Rehabilitation Center and the Hypertension Clinic, she played a pivotal role in developing individualized care plans, educating patients, and supporting veterans with complex health needs. Her earlier roles included a long tenure as a nutritionist for the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center for 37 years (1986–2024), where she also served as a Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES) from 2011 to 2024, clinical dietitian at the University of Alabama Hospital in Birmingham from 1983 to 1986, and service with the WIC program at the Alabama Department of Public Health, a governmental food assistance program for low-income families meeting nutritional deficiency criteria, from February 1981 to April 1983.

In February 2025, Ms. Woods began her current role as a Telehealth Nutritionist with Usenourish.com, where she provides virtual nutrition counseling across a wide range of states in the United States.

A graduate of the University of Alabama, Ms. Woods holds a Bachelor of Science in nutrition and institution management and is certified as a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, Licensed Dietitian Nutritionist, and Certified Diabetes Educator. Throughout her career, she extended her impact beyond clinical settings by volunteering at community health fairs, churches, and cancer centers, even authoring a booklet to support chemotherapy patients with nutritional strategies.

Looking ahead, Ms. Woods remains committed to advancing community health initiatives. She is a strong supporter of The General Grocery Store, a Black-owned business opening in downtown Fairfield, Alabama. Through this effort, she will help promote access to fresh, locally sourced produce, addressing high rates of diabetes, hypertension, and obesity while fostering economic revitalization. She plans to connect with senior centers, churches, and fitness centers to share presentations on the benefits of fresh nutrition and healthier living.

Ms. Woods’ lifelong dedication to nutrition and education stands as a testament to her vision for healthier communities and a stronger future.