Kelly Prall, RD, LDN, CNSC – Clinical Oncology Dietitian
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Dietitian Kelly Prall
Listen to Kelly Prall explain the role that dietitians play in the lives of cancer patients and how CTCA is different than other cancer hospitals. "We treat every patient as we would treat our mother," says Prall.
A licensed, registered dietitian, Kelly Prall joined the CTCA family in June 2007 as a member of the Nutrition & Metabolic Support Department at Eastern Regional Medical Center. Prall says she is pleased to be part of an organization like CTCA, where she has the ability to deliver the Mother Standard® of care to her patients each day.
Before joining CTCA, Prall practiced oncology nutrition in several different healthcare settings, including the Joan Karnell Cancer Center at Pennsylvania Hospital in Philadelphia and the Holy Redeemer Medical Center in Meadowbrook, Pennsylvania. Prall earned a Bachelor of Science degree in nutrition (part of the Coordinated Program in Dietetics) from La Salle University in Philadelphia. She is board certified in nutrition support.
Additionally, in March 2007, Prall participated in a “Nutrition and Cancer Prevention Research Practicum” at the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland.
At CTCA, Prall is pleased to be able to provide comprehensive nutrition therapy for patients throughout the entire care process. She says that she and the other dietitians meet with every patient to provide an individualized nutrition plan. They make specific nutritional recommendations based on the patient’s cancer type and treatment regime. They also follow up with patients after their treatment is complete.
“We strive to be available for patients at home who may have nutrition-related questions and/or concerns before, during and after their treatment,” Prall says.
Prall says the nutrition team also collaborates regularly with the other CTCA departments to discuss patients’ treatment plans. Most frequently, they work with the naturopathic medicine, oncology rehabilitation and mind-body medicine departments to provide patients with individualized, integrated care.
In addition, Prall says the nutrition team prides itself on keeping up-to-date with the most current nutrition research available through such credible sources as the American Institute for Cancer Research, the National Cancer Institute, and the American Cancer Society. She says the nutrition team helps patients differentiate among the various health claims out there. “It is important that patients can fully understand which claims are legitimate through evidence-based data, and which are inaccurate,” she says.
Prall appreciates the fact that CTCA provides patients with a formal nutrition therapy program as they undergo cancer treatment. According to Prall, research demonstrates that a patient’s nutrition status can directly reflect how he or she will respond to cancer treatment.
The nutrition team, Prall says, has two essential goals. The first is to help prevent or reverse malnutrition. They try to accomplish this by helping patients find ways to meet their calorie and protein needs daily, and to help reduce any side effects they may experience from treatment. The second goal, she says, is to help patients make diet changes by motivating them to incorporate certain foods into their everyday lifestyle.
Other Nutritionists/Dietitians at Eastern
- Nhu Huynh, RD, LDN, CNSC, CSO
Director of Nutrition - Jen Koffs, RD, LDN
Dietitian/Nutritionist - Karen Marr, MS, RD, LDN, CSO
Dietitian/Nutritionist - Danielle Schopf, RD, LDN
Dietitian/Nutritionist - Megan Whitaker, RD, LDN
Dietitian/Nutritionist
