PA-C, RD
Physician Assistant
“Few other institutions provide whole-person care the way we do here,” says Kristen Trukova, Physician Assistant at City of Hope Chicago since 2004.
Trukova works on a close-knit, multidisciplinary team that tailors treatment to meet patients’ unique needs. “Each of our contributions is important to help achieve the optimal outcome for our patients,” she says of the team.
While working at the hospital, Trukova completed a thesis as part of a master’s degree program. She conducted a study to see if screening for vitamin D deficiency and aggressive vitamin D repletion benefited breast cancer patients.
Trukova earned a master’s degree in nutritional sciences from Eastern Michigan University. Prior to her graduate studies, she received a bachelor’s degree in dietetics from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. In 2015, Trukova received the Oncology Dietetic Practice (ON DPG) Distinguished Practice Award, which recognizes an ON DPG member who has promoted nutrition as a vital component of oncology patient care through various opportunities, including presentations and publications, involvement in oncology-related organizations, and active involvement in patient activities.
After earning a Master of Science degree in physician assistant studies at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science in North Chicago, Illinois, Trukova transitioned from her role as registered dietitian and now works as a Physician Assistant at City of Hope Chicago.
"I truly enjoyed my work as a dietitian but wanted to further my knowledge and provide more comprehensive care," Trukova says. "I took time off to attend full-time physician assistant graduate school. I was lucky to have an opportunity to come back to City of Hope as a PA, where I have seen firsthand how patients receive high quality, whole person care."