Memphis VA dietitian receives regional Outstanding Preceptor Award
By Bailey Breving, Public Affairs Specialist
Calla Ziegler, a registered dietitian nutritionist at the Lt. Col. Luke Weathers Jr. VA Medical Center, has been selected as the 2026 recipient of the Nutrition and Dietetic Educators and Preceptors Outstanding Preceptor Award for the North Central Region.
Presented by the Nutrition and Dietetic Educators and Preceptors group of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, the award recognizes excellence in teaching, mentoring, and leadership among preceptors in Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics-accredited education programs. Recipients are selected from six geographic regions across the United States: Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia, Kentucky, and Tennessee. Ziegler was one of only six dietetics professionals selected nationwide to receive the Outstanding Preceptor Award.
A preceptor is an experienced health care professional who provides hands-on instruction, mentorship, and supervision to students and interns as they complete clinical training requirements. In dietetics education, preceptors help bridge classroom education with real-world patient care experience.
Ziegler was nominated by dietetic interns who cited her commitment to professional development, individualized mentorship, and dedication to creating a supportive learning environment. Throughout her career, she has helped guide future registered dietitian nutritionists through clinical training experiences while promoting evidence-based nutrition care and patient-centered practice.
A 2017 alumnus of the Catherine Austin Dietetic Internship Program at the Lt. Col. Luke Weathers Jr. VA Medical Center, Ziegler chose to remain at the facility after completing her internship and joined VA in 2018 as an inpatient clinical dietitian. Today, she serves as a preceptor in the same program that helped her launch her career, mentoring future dietitians as they complete their clinical training.
“It’s a full circle moment,” said Ziegler. “I remember looking up to my preceptors during my internship, so having the opportunity to now mentor interns in the same program is both humbling and rewarding. It's especially meaningful to help shape the next generation of dietitians while reflecting on how much I've grown since completing the program myself.”
In addition to receiving the regional award, Ziegler has been recognized by multiple dietetic intern cohorts as Preceptor of the Quarter, reflecting her ongoing impact on students entering the profession.
Students interested in learning more about the Catherine Austin Dietetic Internship Program can find application requirements and program information online through VA Memphis Healthcare System.