2026 Symposium

2026 DNS Virtual Symposium Agenda

Two 45-minute sessions/night (7:00-8:30PM ET)

 

Join us April 19-23, 2026 from 7:00-8:30PM ET nightly for the 2026 Dietitians in Nutrition Support DPG’s Virtual Symposium. The Symposium is a 5-night program offering an engaging lineup of 10 sessions (two per night) designed for nutrition support dietitians across the continuum of care- from the NICU/ICU to home nutrition support. Expert speakers will share evidence-based insights on topics such as:

  • refeeding syndrome management

  • indirect calorimetry

  • neonatal intestinal failure

  • graft-versus-host disease

  • feeding on vasopressors, and 

  • malnutrition screening

Attendees will explore practical strategies for optimizing nutrition support provision, improving continuity of care, and integrating emerging research into clinical practice. Whether supporting pre-term infants or critically ill adults, participants will gain tools to enhance patient outcomes through expert-driven, case-based learning.

Register Here! 

Performance Indicators:

11.1.3 Compares nutrition screening results with normative references in order to determine nutrition risks to individuals.

11.3.9 Leads the implementation of nutrition interventions in collaboration with clients/patients and the interprofessional team. 

11.5.1 Reevaluates and adjusts plans of care to support client/patient health goals.  

Ethics: 1.1.5 Integrates new knowledge and skills into practice.

Date

Speakers

Session Title

Objectives

4/19

Susy Cohen

“From Depletion to Repletion: Safe Refeeding Syndrome Practices in the ICU”

  1. Define the importance of preventing refeeding syndrome in critically ill patients. 

  2. Summarize the latest evidence and practice-based guidelines for appropriately feeding critically ill patients at risk for refeeding syndrome.

  3. Apply ASPEN’s recommendations when prescribing enteral and parenteral nutrition for critically ill patients.

Stacey Pelekahty

“Metabolic Mayhem: Case-Based Adventures in Indirect Calorimetry”

  1. Summarize recent critical care research demonstrating that early, aggressive nutrition guided by accepted predictive equations is non-superior or inferior to low-calorie or trophic nutrition support.

  2. Describe clinical considerations which may impact indirect calorimetry and how to incorporate these into patient assessments. 

  3. Apply indirect calorimetry assessments through clinical case studies.

4/20

Alyson Lawrence

“Gut Instincts: Optimizing Nutrition Management for Neonatal Patients with Intestinal Failure”

  1. Review common causes of short bowel syndrome/intestinal failure (SBS/IF) in the neonatal patient population. 

  2. Identify growth and nutritional goals for neonates with SBS/IF in the preoperative, perioperative and postoperative setting. 

  3. Discuss total parenteral nutrition (TPN) and enteral nutrition (EN) strategies for mitigation of intestinal failure associated liver disease (IFALD) and achievement of bowel adaptation and enteral autonomy. 

  4. Review common challenges in the transition from inpatient to outpatient care for neonatal patients with IF discharged from the NICU.

Maggie Jerome

“Tiny Volumes for Mighty Patients: Nutrition Support 101 for Preterm Infants”

  1. Calculate estimated nutrition needs for preterm infants and describe how they differ from infants born full-term.

  2. Describe best practices for nutrition support for preterm infants during the first 2 weeks of life, including the transition from parenteral to enteral nutrition.

  3. Summarize recommendations for enteral nutrition support, including the importance of breast milk and breast milk fortification for preterm infants.

4/21

Kalee Eichelberger

“Optimizing Malnutrition Screening for Nutrition Support Patients”

  1. Identify evidence-based risk factors for malnutrition in patients on enteral or parenteral nutrition.

  2. Recognize gaps and safety issues in current malnutrition screening practices.

  3. Apply inclusive, evidence-based strategies to improve screening accuracy and patient outcomes.

Hannah Santoro

“Beyond the Criteria: How GLIM Transforms Nutrition Practice and Reimbursement”

  1. Differentiate GLIM from existing malnutrition diagnostic frameworks.

  2. Implement strategies to integrate GLIM into clinical workflows and documentation.

  3. Evaluate practical examples and solutions for successful GLIM adoption.

4/22

Arielle Belove RD,
Sarah Lackowski RD 

“Discharge with Dignity: Nutrition-Focused Strategies for Continuity of Care for Patients on Home Nutrition Support”

  1. Identify criteria and processes for safe discharge on home nutrition support. 

  2. Understand the importance of interprofessional collaboration and standardized workflows.

  3. Apply case-based learning to recognize gaps and implement solutions.

Nikki Spurgeon RD,
Jana Ponce RD

“Fueling Recovery: The Role of Enteral Nutrition in GvHD Outcomes”

  1. Summarize literature on the rationale for early enteral nutrition initiation in allogeneic transplant patients.

  2. Describe protocol development for day +1 tube feeding initiation in allogeneic transplant patients.

  3. Analyze and compare GvHD data on pre- and post-protocol enteral nutrition groups.

4/23

Madiha Ajaz

“Recent Advances in Nutrition in Critical Care: Evidence-Based Insights”

  1. Summarize recent evidence on protein, energy, and micronutrient strategies in critically ill patients. 

  2. Interpret clinical implications of early enteral feeding and immuno-nutrition interventions. 

  3. Apply evidence from recent studies to guide individualized nutrition care in ICU settings.

Misbah Ajaz

“Balancing Hemodynamics and Nutrition: Evidence-Based Feeding in Patients on Vasopressor Therapy”

  1. Define the physiological effects of vasopressors on gastrointestinal function and their implications for nutrition support. 

  2. Apply evidence-based guidelines for initiating and advancing enteral or parenteral nutrition in patients on vasopressor therapy. 

  3. Develop clinical decision-making skills for optimizing nutrition care in hemodynamically unstable patients while minimizing feeding-related risks.