Steering Committee

This is the group that holds the vision, sets priorities, and ensures alignment with the mission.

Primary responsibilities:

  • Set annual priorities and strategic direction

  • Approve policy positions and public statements

  • Oversee working groups

  • Manage relationships with state agencies and legislators

  • Ensure equity and community voice remain central

  • Guide funding strategy and sustainability

Regular attendance is expected at established Full Steering Committee  Meetings (timing to be determined; Steering Committee meetings in the first year expected to be monthly or bi-monthly.)

Ideal composition: The goal is for this group to be diverse yet small and nimble (7–10 people). Below are potential categories for committee composition. Members may represent more than one category.

  • 2-3 medically tailored meals, medically tailored groceries, produce prescription providers (Healing Meals, Wholesome Wave, Hartford FAM Clinic, etc.) 

  • 1 clinician     

  • 1 CBO (community-based organization) 

  • 1 policy/public health representative

  • 1 research/evaluation partner     

  • 1 Registered Dietitian

  • 1-2 representatives with lived experience 

  • 1 local grower/local food aggregator

  • 1 backbone/administrative coordinator

Members serve renewable one to two year terms. Co-chairs selected annually.

Co-chair Sarah Leathers

a;ldkfj adfl;ja sdflasdfj al;sdfj alsdfj asldfj asld;f jasdlfj asdlf;j asdflasj dfl;asfj lasf jadsf

Heather Peracchio MS, RDN

Heather Peracchio is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, and UConn Extension educator specializing in community nutrition, food security, and chronic disease prevention. Rooted in Connecticut's agriculture heritage, she brings a unique perspective connecting food, agriculture, healthcare, and community well-being.

Through her work, Heather collaborates with community organizations, healthcare providers, farmers, and policymakers to advance food as medicine initiatives that improve access to nutritious foods, promote health equity, and empower individuals and families to make informed food choices.

Heather currently serves as President of the Connecticut Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. She was previously recognized as a Fairfield County 40 Under 40 honoree for her professional leadership and community impact.

Heather holds a BS in Nutritional Sciences and an MS in Allied Health Sciences from the University of Connecticut and completed her dietetic internship at Yale New Haven Hospital.

Katina Gionteris

Katina is Assistant Director of Research at Wholesome Wave, where she has worked in the Food Is Medicine space for 5 years. She serves as Project Director for the Food4Moms Produce Prescription (PRx) Program, which provides fresh produce to low-income pregnant women in Connecticut with support from federal and foundation funders. She has also served as data manager and program manager on various PRx programs serving people with diabetes in collaboration with Yale School of Public Health and Tufts Food is Medicine Institute.

Katina brings over 30 years of research experience to this work, including 27 years at the Yale School of Medicine on projects spanning HIV/AIDs, chronic disease, and criminal justice projects focused on underserved populations. She has deep expertise in every stage of research data collection and in data management systems. She holds a BA in Mathematics from the University of New Haven.

As a founding member of the Connecticut Food as Medicine Alliance, Katina collaborates with partners across the state to advocate for produce prescription and other Food Is Medicine programs. She has a long history of volunteer service with community-based organizations.

David Juros

 David Juros is currently the Operations Manager – Food4Health at Hartford Hospital, and previously was the Founder & Principal of DWJ Food Systems Consulting, launched in 2021 after 10 years of Food Is Medicine work across the US.  At Hartford Hospital, David helped to launch the Food4Health Program and has helped to expand the program to additional locations across Hartford Healthcare.  David has also worked on a maternal health nutrition research pilot project with Tufts University and has worked with the Legacy Foundation of Hartford, Zipongo and SNAP2SAVE in consulting capacities.  Prior to launching his consulting firm, David worked for Wholesome Wave, a national non-profit where he was responsible for designing, refining and expanding Produce Prescription programs with healthcare partners across the US and successfully completed a USDA FINI Research project.  Prior to joining Wholesome Wave, David created a regional non-profit organization, with his son Devin, the Pleasantville Community Garden, which in 8 years has grown, gathered and donated over 175,000 pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables to area food sharing organizations in Westchester County, NY. In prior years, David led sales and marketing strategies for American Express and other companies. David holds a BSBA from the University of Richmond in Virginia and lives in NY and CT with his wife Margot and has 2 adult children, Owen and Devin.

Co-chair Kathleen O’Conner Duffany

…..a;ldkfj adfl;ja sdflasdfj al;sdfj alsdfj asldfj asld;f jasdlfj asdlf;j asdflasj dfl;asfj lasf jadsf

Douglas Ordonez

…..a;ldkfj adfl;ja sdflasdfj al;sdfj alsdfj asldfj asld;f jasdlfj asdlf;j asdflasj dfl;asfj lasf jadsf

Have a question?

Contact the Alliance.

Submit the inquiry form to …