Blog

For nearly fifteen years, Director of Wellness Jen Scharffer. MBA, RDN, LD, CD, has been a critical part of the TriState Family. As a registered dietitian and leader within our wellness and nutritional services, Jen has dedicated her career to helping individuals and families across the Lewis-Clark Valley live healthier, more empowered lives.

Jen’s ties to TriState Health run back to childhood. “I grew up in a small, rural community, and my family always came to TriState,” she shared. “Lewiston, Clarkston, the surrounding areas, we have it all. The mountains, the rivers, the woods, the farmland. But what I love most is the people. There’s a familiar, family feel here. It’s a wonderful place to live and to serve.”

That sense of belonging guided her decision to build her career at TriState Health, an organization she says has always believed in her. “When I started, a leader told me, ‘You’re going to do good things.’ I remember that every day. It still motivates me. Every project, every class, every patient interaction, I ask myself, ‘What good can we do for our community today?’”

Jen’s department reflects TriState Health’s commitment to addressing the healthcare needs of the community through guidance on nutrition and diabetes care management. Her team’s scope is wide, serving people of all ages and life stages. From inpatient room-service style meal support to outpatient medical nutrition therapy and free diabetes education, the Wellness Department focuses on both prevention and treatment. “Nutrition is a basic need,” Jen emphasized. “If you’re not meeting your nutritional needs, your body can’t heal. Our goal is to make sure patients are supported in the hospital and long after they go home.” This includes helping patients navigate insulin management, placing continuous glucose monitors, supporting pump therapy, and offering one-on-one or group education.

One of the programs Jen is most proud of is the department’s diabetes education seminars, designed as a hybrid learning and support-group experience. “It gives people a place to connect with others going through the same thing,” she said. “We cover new topics throughout the year, and we’re excited to continue expanding these offerings.”

Jen is especially passionate about reaching children through community outreach. “Kids are our future. It’s important that we’re teaching them what ‘healthy’ looks like,” she explained. Her department has visited schools across the region, providing hands-on workshops, cooking demonstrations, educational videos, and thousands of kid-friendly resources — aprons, cookbooks, and lunchboxes — to encourage lifelong healthy habits. “We want to make sure we’re present. That kids know we’re here for them. That their health matters,” Jen said.

TriState’s commitment to local health includes strong partnerships with community organizations. “We work with the food bank, the Lili GC Foundation, and several local groups,” Jen noted. “Nutrition plays a huge role in overall well-being, and we want to support every initiative that strengthens our community. It all comes full circle.”

Part of that commitment includes responding to community needs by studying local disease trends and strategically developing programs that address them. For Jen, it’s all about staying proactive and staying connected.

Over the years, Jen has met many surveyors, consultants, and visitors from across the country, and the feedback is consistent.

“They always say the same thing: TriState feels like a family. They feel welcomed the moment they walk through the door,” she said. “And they say it about our community, too. Friendly people, beautiful surroundings, we live in a really special place.”

That sense of belonging is central to why people from rural areas, from Winchester to Orofino to Grangeville, choose TriState Health for their care. “People have a choice,” Jen said. “And they choose TriState because

of our commitment to providing specialty services close to home. This hospital was created by the community, for the community, and that remains true today.”

For Jen, healthcare is a calling. “Most people who step into healthcare have a passion to care for others,” she reflected. “We get to nourish people, not just through nutrition, but through our words, education, and presence. That’s what makes this work meaningful.”

Through prevention, education, patient services, and community outreach, Jen and her team demonstrate what it means to provide care within our walls and throughout the community.