A 40-plus year career in one field is quite the accomplishment, and doing so with only a handful of job changes is rare in this day and age. That’s what Sharon Smalling (DI, 1980) has managed to do though, and she takes a lot of pride and joy in that.

She is retired now, but for over four decades, Smalling dedicated her life to the noble cause of nutrition. She worked as a Clinical Dietitian Specialist at two hospitals and one university during that time, focusing on providing medical nutrition therapy in the outpatient setting to those referred to her and those attending their cardiac/pulmonary rehabilitation programs.

“I had such a great career because I had such a great foundation to start with,” says Smalling who credits her first job to UAB and its reputation. “UAB challenged me, which helped because all the positions I was hired for were newly created and I was able to make into my own.”

She loved helping patients reach their goals, stating “it always filled my heart with happiness” when she saw them be successful in completing the plan they had laid out together.

Smalling, who is originally from Texas, fondly reflects on her time in Birmingham – even a snowstorm in early 1980 that left her stranded in Auburn at the time and needing to get back to the Magic City for work. Most importantly though, she remembers the mentors she had and how they truly cared for her, and she keeps that with her today as she mentors students and interns finishing their degrees.

“The students are another vital relationship to build and maintain,” said Smalling. “My goal was to always get them to the point of being independent – interviewing the patient and together developing a plan which empowered them to have the best outcomes and meet their goals.”

Her original preceptors took her “by the hand, but didn’t hover over me,” and that was the same approach Smalling took. She mentored well over 200 students, helping to guide the next generation of nutritionists along their path.

Her journey, which began with a passion for healthy living, soon evolved into something much greater — a mission to nourish not just bodies, but souls.

She serves as a mentor to current dietitians and serves on committees in the profession. The mentees are from all over the country and range regarding their experience level, which Smalling appreciates as she can continue to learn and grow more herself, despite now being in retirement.

Smalling is also known for her charitable work in the community in addition to her time as a nutritionist. She serves with the Barbara Bush Foundation for Literacy in Houston, reading to a second-grade class once a month.

Each week she volunteers with Belong Kitchen in Houston. It is a nonprofit restaurant that employs those with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), providing them with paid employment as adults, which can be a struggle without establishments like this one.

There is a natural connection between a lifelong nutritionist and a restaurant providing jobs to those that otherwise may not have them.

“They use food to empower these people,” says Smalling empathetically. “It gives them a sense of purpose, they love working, and I love working with them.”

Everything though circles back to her time as a Blazer and developing that commitment to service.

“UAB really showed me the importance of helping students,” she says. “Somebody helped you, and you need to help somebody else. There is nothing better than that. I feel like I must give back and that is what you have to do, pay it forward.”