The Valley’s own Feeding Matters, a national advocacy organization for Pediatric Feeding Disorder, has announced the appointment of Jaclyn Pederson as the new chief executive officer. Pederson has already been an integral part of the Feeding Matters organization for seven years.
Phoenix-based Feeding Matters is the first organization in the world uniting the concerns of families dealing with Pediatric Feeding Disorder with the field’s leading advocates, experts and allied healthcare professionals to ignite change to the system of care through advocacy, education, support and research–and Pederson will continue its mission.
For seven years, Pederson has worked in the fund development and programs departments for Feeding Matters. Most recently, she served as Interim CEO while navigating the challenges that occurred for the families and professionals Feeding Matters serves during the COVID-19 pandemic. As the CEO, she will assume the responsibilities of Chris Linn, who has stepped down after 12 years of service in the role.
During her tenure with the organization, she grew a culture of innovation within the organization and expanded Feeding Matters reach to all 50 states and 143 countries supporting families and professionals around the globe. She worked closely with Feeding Matters’ founder and Emeritus Board Member, Shannon Goldwater, as well as her predecessor, Linn, and remains committed to supporting their vision as she partners with the Board of Directors on the strategic direction of the organization.
“On behalf of the board, I salute and acknowledge the accomplishments of Chris Linn throughout the last 12 years, which resulted in growing the organization from an Arizona start up to a reach of all 50 U.S. states and multiple countries. Additionally, her work in supporting the founder’s vision by facilitating the process to have PFD declared as a stand-alone diagnosis while collaborating with a multitude of partners from across the U.S. to advocate for a medical code for PFD have all been essential steps in our advocacy agenda,” says Rhonda Anderson, RN, DNSC(H), FAAN, FACHE, Board Chair, in a press release. “I am excited for Jaclyn Pederson to step up as the new CEO of Feeding Matters. Her leadership skills, tenure and previous performance make her an ideal candidate and fit to continue accomplishing our vision of creating a world in which children with pediatric feeding disorder thrive.”