2026 Silver Plate Winner
Executive Director, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
Bryant has dedicated more than 30 years to advancing healthcare and senior dining as a respected leader, innovator, and advocate for excellence. In her current role, she leads a department of 400+ FTE’s, oversees 18 operational units and manages a budget of $60M.
The Food and Nutrition Department at UTMD Anderson provides comprehensive, patient-centered, and financially sustainable services designed to enhance clinical outcomes, patient satisfaction, and organizational success. Bryant’s leadership philosophy—rooted in integrity, authenticity, and respect for employees as an organization’s greatest asset—has shaped success across both acute and long-term care.
Bryant was an Adjunct Lecturer at Brooklyn College and seizes every opportunity to generously share her knowledge as well as learn from her colleagues and industry experts. She was the 2024 President of the Association for Healthcare Foodservice (AHF), is an active member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND) and the American College for Healthcare Executives (ACHE).
“Leisa Bryant is an outstanding candidate for this award. Her successful leadership style is both collaborative and solution oriented. She has long championed “finding the sweet spot” for quality patient care, patient and employee satisfaction and efficient business operations. Leisa is recognized as a transformational leader in the healthcare industry for her numerous strategic and business initiatives as well as leading her teams to achieve operational excellence.”
— Shayne Varnum, Director, Consultant Services & Government Sales, ITW Food Equipment Group
Antoinette “Toni” Watkins
System Food Nutrition & Environmental Service Director Riverside Health System
Antoinette “Toni” Watkins, IFMA’s 2021 Gold Plate Award recipient, has served as the System Food Nutrition and Environmental Service director for Riverside Health System since 2015. Before that, she was director of Food, Nutrition and Conference Services for Texas Health Resources. She holds degrees from UT Southwestern Medical Center and Boston University. Read Toni's Full Profile