The important purpose for proposing this course is to understand complications of kidney disease and plan various nutritional managements for the different stages of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and various types of other kidney disease. The Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) course provides basic nutritional management of CKD and end stage of kidney disease (ESKD). However, CKD is very complicated and the most recent trend of medical and nutritional managements of CKD have been changing from renal replacement therapy for ESKD to prevention of progression of CKD. The National Kidney Foundation (NKF) encourages earlier intervention of CKD since 2019 to slow progression of CKD which is also cost effective compared to ESKD management. Tufts MS/DI program provide more ESKD rotations than other programs in the U.S.; however our MS/DI students should get more clinical courses to be in good standing as entry level dietitians. This course will cover updated knowledge of etiology of CKD which include diabetes, the major causes of CKD, hypertension, other kidney injury, medications, pediatric nutrition management, effects of current diet on CKD and kidney stones which many registered dietitian nutritionists (RDN) do not have enough knowledge for appropriate nutrition managements.
Instructor: Haewook Han