Welcome to Defender Profiles. Here you’ll learn about one of our amazing defenders of childhood – everything from what they do for CHOC to what they do for fun – and gain insight into a different department in our health system.
After taking a leap of faith to apply for a position in food services at CHOC, Ana Martinez’s dream of working at the pediatric hospital became a reality after years of driving by the hospital. Almost nine years later, Ana works in CHOC’s clinical nutrition & lactation department as a nutrition lab supply technician.
How long have you worked at CHOC?
I started in food service as a dietary aide. I worked in food services for almost six years before I transitioned to the clinical nutrition and lactation department in August of 2021. I’ve been at CHOC for nearly nine years.
Can you describe your current role?
As the nutrition lab supply technician, I am responsible for supplying all the formula for our department and stocking all the floors in the hospital with formulas for our patients. I provide a little over 100 different types of formulas. I also supply our nutrition lab, where they prepare and mix the milk for our pediatric patients.
Each child has different nutritional requirements, whether they are premature or have specific metabolic conditions, which dictates the type of formula or fortification they receive. For some families, we mix human milk from mothers or provide specialized formulas based on the patient’s health needs.
What do you love about your current role?
I love everything about my role! I come to work every day feeling like I have the opportunity to make a difference for the babies and children we care for. Our team has a great culture and shared goals, which makes it fulfilling to work together to ensure our patients stay healthy.
What do you love about working at CHOC?
I enjoy being able to help our patients succeed and thrive. When I am on the floors in our small baby unit or the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), I see how fragile our babies are. Being a part of the collaborative effort among teams at CHOC to help our patients is why I love working here. I love being a part of such a great team.
How has CHOC changed and progressed in your time here?
CHOC has grown significantly, with new departments and facilities. A notable change was the opening of the new fourth-floor nutrition lab in 2017, which has improved our efficiency and capabilities.
Our technology has also advanced. For instance, we transitioned from using an older system for food orders to a more streamlined program that made it easier to manage patient food choices and dietary needs when I was working in the food service department. CHOC continues to evolve and grow.
How do the clinical nutrition & lactation and food service departments collaborate?
We work closely together, especially when it comes to meeting patients’ dietary needs. Our inpatient dietitians collaborate with the dining office to create menus tailored to patients’ specific restrictions and requirements.
What do you wish associates knew about the clinical & lactation department?
We are a hardworking team that puts a lot of dedication into our roles at CHOC. The dietetic technicians, dietitians, lactation consultants and our administrative assistant play a vital role in ensuring our patients receive the proper nutrition, which is crucial for their health.
People often think that mixing formulas is simple, but it’s a complex process. We prepare formulas for over 60 babies in the morning and additional batches throughout the day, which requires a great deal of coordination and effort.
We have several nationally recognized dietitians who are considered experts in their specialty field of practice.
Do you have any favorite moments or stories about working at CHOC that you can share?
Christmas is my favorite time of year at CHOC. I love seeing the holiday decorations and the joy it brings to our patients and families. It truly feels magical.
What do you think makes someone a great Defender of Childhood?
I believe it involves coming to work with a positive attitude and a sense of responsibility to ensure that children receive the proper care and nutrition they need to thrive.
What are your hobbies and interests outside of work?
I’m a huge baseball fan, particularly of the Dodgers. I also enjoy spending time with my 18-month-old daughter and spending time with my family.
What is one thing on your bucket list?
I would love to visit all 30 baseball parks across the country. I’ve only been to the ones in California so far, so it’s a goal of mine to explore more.
