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Dr. Jamie Odrezin, with Children's of Alabama, Greenvale, won Health Care Professional of the Year in the pediatrician category at the Greater Shelby County Chamber of Commerce’s luncheon on Wednesday, Aug. 29. (Reporter photo/Keith McCoy)

PELHAM – Several Shelby County health care providers were recognized by the Greater Shelby County Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday, Aug. 29, at the Health Care Professionals of the Year luncheon.

In its fourth year, this year’s luncheon was a bit different from years past. The GSCCC awarded winners in several categories instead of choosing one overall Health Care Professional of the Year.

The chamber named winners in seven categories: dentistry, medical support, nurses, optometrists, pediatricians, physicians and veterinarians. GSCCC President and CEO Kirk Mancer said a panel of health care professionals selected the winner in each category.

The winners are:

Dentistry – Dr. Bobby Shunnarah, Montevallo Family Dentistry

Medical support – Ramie Wesley, Grandview Medical Center

Nurses – James Helms, Shelby Baptist Medical Center

Optometry – Dr. Stancil Handley, Columbiana Eye Care

Pediatrician – Dr. Jamie Odrezin, Children’s of Alabama, Greenvale

Physician – Dr. Jose Osorio, Grandview Medical Center

Veterinarian – Dr. Jay Crisman, 280 Animal Clinic

But before the winners were announced, Grandview Medical Center dietitian Karen Johnson spoke the audience about healthy eating and provided tips on portion control.

For those looking to drop a few pounds, Johnson offered some tips that might help. She said portion control is a good step in the right direction. When eating, use smaller plates, she said. When plating food, Johnson said people often feel the need to fill their entire plates, so using a smaller would mean less food being eaten. And after finishing a plate of food, don’t go back for seconds, she added.

Avoiding sugary drinks, such as soda, juice and coffee drinks, and limiting eating out per week are also key factors.

Johnson also talked about appropriate portion sizes. A piece of meat should roughly be the size of a deck of cards. A baked potato should be about the size of a computer mouse and an ice cream scooper should be used to measure one portion of uncooked pasta.

Although it takes more time and effort, Johnson said packed lunches offer a much better way for residents to control caloric, sodium and fat intake. For example, a sandwich, carrot sticks and a cookie, or nuts, string cheese and grapes or an apple would make a good lunch, Johnson said.

Johnson’s suggestions were based a 2,000 calorie per day diet.

More photos from the luncheon are available at Shelbycountyphotos.com.

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