RPG Leadership

Officers

Rory Pace, MPH, RD, CSR, FAND
Chair

chair@renalnutrition.org

Rory Pace has dedicated her career to Nephrology Nutrition. A graduate of UC Davis (B.S. Dietetics), the
West LA VA Dietetic Internship, and UCLA (MPH), she has developed expertise in malnutrition, CKD-
MBD, peritoneal dialysis, dialysis adequacy, quality improvement, and fluid balance has published
and presented on these and numerous other nephrology nutrition topics. Rory helped to shape practice
by authoring the Academy/NKF 2020 SOP/SOPP for Nephrology Nutrition. As Director of Nutrition at
Satellite Healthcare, Rory leads clinical practice for over 100 RDs and ensures that nutrition is
represented in company initiatives. Rory is a lifelong learner and an active volunteer leader who enjoys
collaborating with others.

Melissa_Young.jpg

Melissa Young, MS, RDN, CSR, LD
Immediate Past Chair

pastchair@renalnutrition.org

Melissa Young has been a renal dietitian for almost 10 years. She completed her B.S., master's, and dietetic internship at Georgia State University in Atlanta, GA. Mel currently owns her own private practice in the mountains of North Carolina, serving primarily the CKD population.  Her goal is to always promote our profession to the best of her ability and to stay abreast of current topics in renal nutrition. In her free time, Mel likes to hike with her family and play tennis. 


Michele Cook
Chair-Elect

chairelect@renalnutrition.org

Michele Cook, RD, LD,  has been dedicated to the field of nutrition and dietetics for over 30 years. She spent several years as a volunteer for the California Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Central Valley District, as an Executive Board member and as a California Delegate.  She is currently on the Renal Practice Group Executive Council, as an Education Committee member.  She has served as Secretary and is now the Chair Elect. Michele’s desire to continuously grow as a dietitian is noted in her job history and volunteerism choices. Michele obtained her Certificate of Nutrition Support early in her career as an acute care clinical dietitian, she used that experience to successfully transition to a Nutrition Support Dietitian position in the home care setting. Michele worked for Brooks Healthcare as a homecare dietitian for several years in Central California. Her thirst for knowledge enabled her to seek work in a variety of settings, including nutrition support sales for Abbott Nutrition and out-patient nutrition counseling. She enjoys participating in community support projects, such as the NKF Kidney Race and Tour Davita. Michele is passionate about her profession and worked in the dialysis setting for 9 years as a Lead Dietitian and Preceptor at Davita, Inc.  She recently started working for Aramark at Christus Good Shepherd in Longview, TX and has enjoyed the transition back to acute care dietitian.  Her lifelong experiences and growth as a Renal Dietitian now enable her to put into practice: continuity of care, Nutrition Focused Physical Exam and motivational interviewing as an acute care dietitian. Her leadership goals include becoming a Clinical Nutrition Manager and expanding Medical Nutrition Therapy programs for chronic kidney disease in her community.

     

Position

Name

Email

Chair

Rory Pace

chair@renalnutrition.org

Immediate Past Chair

Melissa Young

pastchair@renalnutrition.org

Chair-Elect

Michele Cook

chairelect@renalnutrition.org

Treasurer

Tammy Nijmeh

treasurer@renalnutrition.org

Secretary

Melanie Betz

secretary@renalnutrition.org

Nominating Chair

Marta Livingstone

nominating@renalnutrition.org

     

Membership Services

Position

Name

Email

Membership Services Chair

Brooke Nakashima

memberservices@renalnutrition.org

Volunteer Coordinator

Jian Li

Volunteer@renalnutrition.org

Awards/Scholarships Chair

Lynn Oehler

Awards@renalnutrition.org

Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access Liasion

Lisa Huang

     

Marketing/Communications

Position

Name

Email

Marketing/Communications Chair

Melissa (Mel) Young

marketing@renalnutrition.org

Assistant Marketing/Communications Chair 

Lindsey Stahl

marketing@renalnutrition.org

Patient Education Chair

Heather Lochmann

patiented@renalnutrition.org

Patient Ed Committee Members

Girija Vijaykumar
Rachael Majorowicz
Jessica Fink
Michele Cook
Jen Bishara
Susanna Slukinsky
Jessica Prohn
Sarah Odom

patiented@renalnutrition.org

Professional Education Chair

Sarah Cunningham

profed@renalnutrition.org

Webinar Chair

Open profed@renalnutrition.org

     

HOD Delegate

Position

Name

Email

HOD Member

Mary Kay Hensley

hod@renalnutrition.org

     

Editorial Board/Advertising-Sponsorship

Position

Name

Email

RNF Managing Editor

Lynda March

forum@renalnutrition.org

RNF Lead Editor

Jackie Hankins

forum@renalnutrition.org

RNF Co-Editor

Jessica (Jess) Tower

forum@renalnutrition.org

RNF Co-Editor

Vanessa Voltolina

forum@renalnutrition.org

RNF Co-Editor

Dr. Tracy Ryan-Borchers

forum@renalnutrition.org

Advertising/Sponsorship

Meagan Owen

sponsorship@renalnutrition.org

     

Website/Electronic and Social Media

Position

Name

Email

Webmaster

Melissa Ann Prest

mediamanager@renalnutrition.org

Social Media Chair

Katherine Schury

socialmedia@renalnutrition.org

Podcast Committee Members

Victoria Newman
Melissa Ann Prest
Melissa Young

mediamanager@renalnutrition.org

     

Public Policy

Position

Name

Email

Policy & Advocacy Leader (PAL)

Lois Hill

policy@renalnutrition.org

Policy and Advocacy Leader (PAL) - committee member

Catherine Rhodes

policy@renalnutrition.org

Nutrition Services Payment Specialist (NSPS)

Jessie Pavlinac

policy@renalnutrition.org

Nutrition Services Payment Specialist (NSPS) - committee member

Edith Yang

policy@renalnutrition.org

     

The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics

Position

Name

Email

Academy DPG Relations Manager

Martha Huizar, MS, RDN, CLC mhuizar@eatright.org

     

Past Chairs