FEATURED ARTICLEServing Those Who Served Our Country: How RDs Are Meeting Veterans’ Nutrition NeedsAs the saying goes, “If you appreciate freedom, thank a veteran.” That gratitude reaches a pinnacle every November 11 as Americans honor the men and women who have served their country. And if you ask them, you may find that many veterans put RDs at the top of their own “to thank” lists.“An RD saved my life when I didn’t want to save it,” says Larry Peterson, a Vietnam vet who says he owes his 300- pound weight loss to the compassion of Heidi Hoover, RD, whom he met at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Minneapolis. Peterson is not alone. Regardless of the reason for their visit, nearly every veteran who enters one of the 158 VAMCs across the country meets with a registered dietitian. And with RDs supporting health disciplines ranging from geriatrics and rehabilitation to head injuries and post traumatic stress disorder, they see a diverse group of patients. Florinda Romero-Vagedes, RD, clinical dietitian at the Southern Arizona Geriatric Extended Care Unit and Rehab Center at the VAMC in Tucson, encounters a challenging range of health issues that extends from cancer and renal failure to surgical wounds. After completing a nutritional assessment, she – with a medical team, the patient and family – helps set rehabilitation... Current subscribersLogin to download this issue as a PDF |