Colleen Lindholz, president of Kroger Health, is transforming the health and wellness industry, and the world is noticing.

Forbes recently recognized her as one of the Powerful Women Shaping the Future of Food, and EatingWell named her one of 2019’s American Food Heroes, joining nine other extraordinary people who are taking actions to make food better in our country.

Colleen leads a team of more than 22,000 healthcare professionals who provide an extensive suite of health and wellness solutions to 13 million people each year. Her team is comprised of pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, nurse practitioners, patient care technicians, dietitians, nutrition technicians, and others who are helping to transform the industry one customer at a time. As cited by Forbes, “She’s a passionate believer in Kroger Health’s vision to help people live healthier lives. She is the lead architect of the company’s ‘Food as Medicine’ strategy, connecting customers’ grocery experience with their healthcare needs through innovations in recruiting, training, and technology.”

Backed by her team, the article describes her steadfast belief in a more holistic approach to health, one that begins with the food we eat. It may seem odd, but make no mistake, Colleen, a registered pharmacist, actually wants fewer prescriptions written and advocates for innovative, food-based solutions to health problems.

EatingWell’s annual list of American Food Heroes celebrates people who are making food better in America. Colleen is joined on the list by talented food authorities like Anthony Bourdain, celebrity chef and author, and Rebecca Zimmer, global director of environment for Starbucks. In the profile, “How the Country’s Largest Grocery Store Is Helping Hundreds of Thousands of People Eat Healthier,” Colleen and her team are highlighted for their creative approach to healthcare. This strategy marries what pharmacies have always done, with The Little Clinic, and technology, like OptUP – a free and easy-to-use app that assigns a nutrition score to food items in the grocery store.

“The goal, says Colleen, is to provide science to back up what we all should know: ‘that food truly is medicine’.”