Nutrition Therapy: Team
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The nutrition & metabolic support team
The Nutrition & Metabolic Support Department at CTCA at Eastern Regional Medical Center currently includes three registered and licensed oncology dietitians.
The entire nutrition team is specially trained to focus on the impact of nutrition in your cancer care. And, with several dietitians on staff, you will receive the individualized care you need and deserve.
Sharon Walker serves as Eastern’s Director of Nutrition & Metabolic Support. A registered and licensed dietitian with credentials in metabolic nutrition support, Walker is committed to bringing you evidence-based, proactive nutrition therapy.
Other members of the nutrition team include Kelly Minnich and Nhu Huynh, both registered and licensed dietitians with extensive experience in oncology nutrition.
Collaboration among your care team
In addition to meeting with each other each day to discuss your care, the nutrition team collaborates regularly with your oncologist and the other members of your care team at Eastern. Since all clinical departments are located under one roof, everyone is in close proximity to one another. This accessibility allows your care team to share knowledge and resources regarding your care. During off-hours, the nutrition team is on-call for clinicians.
The nutrition team also participates in “Comfort Rounds” two times a week for inpatients. During these visits, dietitians join with other clinicians and support staff to discuss physical, emotional, spiritual, financial, or other concerns.
Additionally, three times a week, the nutrition team attends "endorsement" meetings with all the clinical disciplines. During these meetings, your dietitian is able to share any specific nutrition challenges that may be related to other aspects of your care.
For example, in this meeting, your dietitian may mention to your medical oncologist that you are having difficulty eating due to nausea related to the chemotherapy treatments. In sharing this information, they may agree to add an additional medication for nausea for better symptom control.
Likewise, your naturopathic clinician may hear this and decide to recommend a specific naturopathic therapy to help curb your nausea. If pain is also interfering with your oral intake, your pain specialist may intervene with appropriate modifications to your pain medications.
At CTCA, it’s truly a team effort, with you and your family at the center.