Madi Santella is an FPAC member working with Adagio Health in SNAP education (Adagio Health Power Up). Her job focuses on policy, systems, and environmental coordination to connect with groups of SNAP-eligible folks for sharing of nutrition education and making shopping on a budget a little easier. Her program engages people of all ages, preschool to senior citizens, aiming to destigmatize food assistance programs and make nutrition accessible, and when possible, fun!
Madi studied nutrition at The University of Alabama, and received her master’s degree at West Virginia University. She is now a registered dietitian. She first worked in a clinical setting, and has transitioned into a community-based role for the past two years at Adagio.
Personally, Madi is drawn to food because it’s a universal connector. “You never know what someone’s going to talk about when you begin a conversation about food,” she says, as she describes the ways that food can help build connections. She has also been curious for many years about what “healthy food” really is. She has found that “healthy food” is different for every person, and that “no food is intrinsically good or bad.” As a Pittsburgh native, she is located just outside the city she calls home and helps oversee Adagio’s policy, systems, and environment work in Western PA. This is where her connection with the FPAC was born, and she enjoys hearing what members of the FPAC have going on in Erie.
Thanks Madi!
You can contact Madi through email at msantella@adagiohealth.org or by phone: 412-639-0959