After 37 years of service, Janet Levihn, assistant director for Porter Health Care System’s Food and Nutrition Services, has announced her retirement.
Levihn began her career at Porter Health Care System as a Clinical Dietitian, providing diet instruction for patients and teaching a nutrition class for diabetics. She came to Porter after receiving her Bachelor’s Degree from Ball State University in Munice, Ind., and completing a dietetic internship at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, Mo.
“I’ve always lived in Indiana. I was born in Fort Wayne and went to high school just outside of Munice,” she said. “When I saw this opportunity open at Porter, a chance to work and serve near the region where I grew up, I knew it would be a good fit for me.”
After 20 years as a dietitian at Porter, Levihn’s role continued to develop with more managerial responsibilities, including serving as Interim Director of Food and Nutrition Services for two years, and finally stepping into the Assistant Director position.
“Porter has been a great place to work,” she continued. “I’ve always been very happy here. Working with patients and alongside a hardworking staff has given me the drive to continue over the past 37 years. I never had a desire to work elsewhere.”
Retirement will be a change for Levihn but she aspires to continue putting her skills to good use. “I will be using part of my time to volunteer, most likely with the food pantry at my church. That way, I can still use my background in food to do good for someone else,” she said.
Along with volunteering, Levihn plans to use her time to attend to elderly relatives that need attention and finish a few uncompleted projects. “I’ve been a quilter for a long time,” she said. “I have enough ‘UFO’s’ – unfinished objects that could keep me busy for at least 10 years.”
