MEET REGISTERED DIETITIAN TORI GARNER
As the dedicated dietitian for Harney County Health District, Registered Dietitian (RD) Tori Garner oversees inpatient nutrition at Harney District Hospital (HDH) and consults with outpatients at NewSun Energy & HDH Specialty Care Clinic.
Tori’s goal is to provide accessible nutrition education in a fun and engaging way to anyone and everyone!
Tori attended Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colo., obtaining her bachelor’s degree in community nutrition, with a specialization in geriatric care. She then completed the more than 1,500 hours of required training as well as the certification exam to become an RD while at Oregon State University.
Following her education, Tori worked in Medford, in long-term care and skilled nursing. From there, she moved to Portland and worked with a low-income, geriatric population, helping patients secure adequate and nutritious food.
Tori said her approach to working with patients is holistic and focused on “meeting them where they are.” She believes small changes can lead to big results, and food should be an enjoyable experience.
“Food is so much — it’s emotional, cultural, and social. I learned a lot from that and want to bring that here,” she explained. “I’m not the food police. There’s room for enjoyment of food, while still taking care of your health.”
Outside of work, Tori enjoys a variety of hobbies — one of which (unsurprisingly) is cooking. Additionally, she and her husband, Logan, like hiking, fishing, and spending a lot of time with their silver lab, Cooper.
Talk to your primary care provider to learn more about whether nutrition consultation might be right for you. You can also call the Specialty Care Clinic at 541-573-4099 to learn more about Tori and the services that she provides.