How A Clinical Nutrition Fellowship is Supporting and Shaping Global Healthcare Leaders

For patients who are critically ill, recovering from major surgery or unable to consume or absorb nutrition through traditional means, parenteral nutrition (PN), a form of delivering nutrition intravenously, can be lifesaving. Despite its importance, clinical nutrition remains an underrepresented field in many healthcare systems worldwide.

To help address this global need, the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (ASPEN) launched an international fellowship program. Now in its fifth year, the program selects early-career physicians, providing them with advanced training, expert mentorship and a global network of peers – all with the goal of empowering the next generation of leaders in clinical nutrition. Baxter has proudly supported this program since its inception.

In honor of the five-year anniversary of the fellowship, we spoke with doctors who participated in the program to shed light on the importance of clinical nutrition and the impact of the program.  

Dr. Lindsey Russell:  

"I discovered the ASPEN fellowship program during the COVD-19 pandemic. I was working with a mentor who pushed me to apply and believed in my potential – this encouragement made all the difference. I was a part of the inaugural class and it’s been incredible to have access to a well-connected network. This program opened huge doors for me – from mentorship to professional development – one opportunity has led to the next, and it’s all fallen into place.  

"What makes this fellowship program unique is that it’s not just about training, it’s about joining a global community of early-career professionals. Even though it’s been five years, we all stay in touch and continue to do meaningful work in clinical nutrition and are continuing to push this field forward together. The relationships built through this program are ongoing, and the support from ASPEN and Baxter has made a lasting impact on my career."

Dr. Valentina Da Prat:  

"I was working as an internal medicine doctor when I made the transition to clinical nutrition. I’ve always been curious about the full patient journey, so this was a natural progression. The ASPEN fellowship helped me broaden my perspective further. It gave me the chance to exchange ideas and learn from people around the world who are doing amazing things in nutrition.  

"The fellowship helped me to see how clinical practices differ across countries and healthcare systems. It was eye-opening to compare those differences and to recognize that, even with varied approaches, we’re all working toward the same goal – improving patient care through better nutrition. This global connection has pushed me to innovate and to continually look for ways to bring ideas into my own practice."

Dr. Dylan Sherry: 

"My entry into clinical nutrition was serendipitous. I am trained in internal medicine and palliative care and now work at a cancer center. A few years ago, one of our dietitians reached out to me with ethical concerns around feeding patients at the end of their lives. This partnership blossomed into collaborations including research projects and educational initiatives, which eventually led me to the ASPEN fellowship.  

This fellowship gave me exposure to clinical nutrition in a much deeper way and brought to light the limited nutrition education most doctors receive in school. In my case, there were maybe two hours total dedicated to clinical nutrition. Being part of ASPEN has given me a community, a mentor, and connections with people who think the same way. The fellowship is more than a one-year experience, it’s a long-term investment in your growth as a clinician."