Summer 2025 Newsletter
- VZhao
- Aug 14
- 3 min read
Released Date: July 24, 2025
President’s Welcome
It is both an honor and a privilege to step into the role of President of the Georgia Chapter of the American Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (GASPEN). During my dietetic internship, I had the opportunity to write an article for the GASPEN Newsletter on pancreatitis. That article opened an opportunity for my first job as a clinical dietitian. I was honored to join the chapter leadership team in 2016, and I am humbled to follow in the footsteps of the remarkable dietitians and nutrition professionals who have built and strengthened this chapter over the years.
Nutrition support professionals play a critical role on the multiprofessional team. We are advocates, problem-solvers, and leaders in the science of nutrition support. Our expertise improves patient outcomes, reduces complications, and supports the most vulnerable with dignity and evidence-based care.
Yet, we are living in a time when medical and scientific expertise faces increasing skepticism. The rise of misinformation and non-credentialed influencers has created a landscape where evidence-based recommendations are often overshadowed by viral trends and anecdotal claims. This environment not only undermines the value of our clinical training but also puts patients at risk. As nutrition support professionals, we have a responsibility to defend the integrity of our profession and the safety of those we serve. Our voices, grounded in science, compassion, and ethics, are needed now more than ever.
GASPEN is committed to supporting our members in this endeavor through our purpose which is, "To promote professional communication among and within professional disciplines in the broad field of clinical nutrition through national and regional meetings, local seminars, scientific, clinical, and educational exhibits and publications." We will continue to provide high-quality educational opportunities, including our Annual Hybrid Conference, to ensure our members stay at the forefront of clinical nutrition and nutrition support. We also recognize the power of social media as a platform to share evidence-based information, celebrate our profession, and counter misinformation. I look forward to increasing our digital presence, highlighting member achievements, promoting current research, and engaging with each of you!
Newsletter
Together, we will uphold the GOLD STANDARD of nutrition support and ensure that science and skilled care remain the foundation of practice.
Ashley DePriest, MS, RDN, LD, CNSC, FCCM
GASPEN President
Kudos!
Ashley DePriest, MS, RDN, LD, CNSC, FCCM; GASPEN President
Completed 2 years of service as the Chair of ASPEN’s Enteral Nutrition Education Sub-Committee.
Alison Evans, RD, LD, CNSC
Serves as Chair of the ASPEN International Clinical Ethics Section and as Section Leader for ASPEN’s Educational and Professional Development Committee.
Recently published a manuscript entitled, Applying ethical principles: Closing practice gaps between the literature and actual clinical practice in NCP, 2025
Developed a new ethics section for the ASPEN Nutrition Support Fundamentals Course
Presented two sessions at the 2025 National Home Infusion Association annual meeting in Washington D.C.:
Integration of Bioethics into Clinical Practice: Proactively Managing the Ethical Climate
Round Table (with Amirala S. Pasha, DO, JD): Quality of Life for the Patient on PN Transitioning to Hospice: A Focus on Ethical Principals
Rachel Leong, PharmD, BCNSP
Received her board certification in nutrition support pharmacy in January 2025!
Co-authored the manuscript, Incidence of catheter‐related bloodstream infections with sodium citrate lock therapy in adult patients receiving home parenteral nutrition: A descriptive cohort study, published in JPEN, 2025.
Vivian Zhao, PharmD, BCNSP, FASPEN
Serves as the Chair-Elect for ASPEN’s Drug-Nutrient Interaction Section 2025-2026
Serves as the Vice-Chair of the Board of Pharmacy Specialties (BPS) Nutrition Support Specialty Council 2025
Co-authored the manuscript, Incidence of catheter‐related bloodstream infections with sodium citrate lock therapy in adult patients receiving home parenteral nutrition: A descriptive cohort study, published in JPEN, 2025.
Read more in our full newsletter.
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