Cicely Thomas, Doctor of Clinical Nutrition, registered dietitian, will receive the 2026 Excellence in Practice award for Community and Public Health Practice from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. The honor recognizes outstanding contributions and commitment to the advancement of the field of nutrition and dietetics.

Dr. Thomas has been with the Georgia Department of Public Health for 26 years and currently serves as nutrition service director of the Rome District. Dr. Thomas is an alumnus of both Georgia Southern University (1999) and the University of Georgia (2006), and was the first registered dietitian to ever be elected as president of the Georgia Public Health Association. She is currently serving as vice president in her three-year term.

Dr. Thomas, past president of the Georgia Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, is a public speaker, nutrition consultant, mentor and policy advocate well known in the community nutrition public health arena. She began her leadership role in GPHA as nutrition section leader in 2019-20.

Dr. Thomas will be presenting in October 2026 at the Food and Nutrition Conference and Exhibition in San Antonio, Texas, as well as the National WIC Association in November 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia.