Gina Drobena is an Arkansas native who is board certified in clinical pathology and transfusion medicine as well as lifestyle medicine. Dr. Drobena began her training at UAMS in 2000 and then joined the faculty as an attending physician and Associate Professor in the Department of Pathology. After becoming aware of the impact food was having on her own health, Dr. Drobena became passionate about sharing knowledge of plant-based nutrition and pursued board certification through the American College of Lifestyle Medicine.
In 2018 the Culinary Medicine program at UAMS began as a working group to teach medical students about nutrition and its role in healthcare. Dr. Drobena co-chairs the medical education subcommittee and teaches a culinary medicine elective as well as instructing interprofessional students in experiential workshops using the culinary medicine curriculum. Whether it is through training future providers or personal consultations with her patients, Dr. Drobena is enthusiastically spreading the message of culinary medicine throughout the state to improve the health of her fellow Arkansans.