Well, it’s time to hang up my nutrition series editor spurs this December 2022. To say it has been an honor and a privilege to be the nutrition series editor for Practical Gastroenterology the past 20 years would be quite an understatement.
First, I must thank Dr. David Peura for suggesting me for the position so many years ago, as well as encouraging me to take it on. Second, it was my very good fortune to have had Dorine Kitay as the editor above me for many years, who also became my very dear friend. After Dorine retired, Vivian Mahl and her sister Adrien took over, and along with James Green, these three have been a fun, supportive, and professional team to work with. The series has not only enriched my professional career, but also enhanced my own clinical practice immeasurably; I learned something from each author that I could take back to the bedside. It has been a pleasure to work with so many gifted clinicians and writers over the years from around the globe, generously sharing their clinical and intellectual expertise with the readers of this series.
Many doors were opened to me following publication of articles in the series. The articles led to invitations to present at the regional, state, national, and international levels. I have been an expert witness more than once because of an article written for this series (although I must admit, it is not something I enjoy, as someone invariably loses, and the “Pollyanna” in me is saddened by that). Desperate patients or their families and friends have contacted me (usually calling me at home on a Friday night or weekend afternoon), frantic for help for a loved one suffering from a particular condition that was covered in a published article – it has been very humbling to say the least.
To the authors who have written for me, I thank you for making this series such a success; it would not have been possible without you! The same goes for the many various clinicians who have given of their time and sage advice in reviewing the articles over the years. And I would be remiss if I did not mention my wonderful husband, a gifted writer in his profession as an attorney, who has proofed more than one paragraph or two over these many years. Finally, I want to thank the readers of this series, and the clinicians who have contacted me, or approached me at conferences, just to express their gratitude for the nutrition series and to tell me that the articles have been helpful in the care of their patients—that is what kept me going for so long. A compilation of the entire series from January 2003 to December 2022 can be found on-line for the time being at: ginutrition.virginia.edu (see titles of entire series below in Table 1); the series from 2014 onward can also be found at the Practical Gastroenterology website at: practicalgastro.com.
Changing of the Guard
I am delighted to introduce the two incoming nutrition series co-editors who will begin the new nutrition series in the journal, “Nutrition Reviews in Gastroenterology.”
Please welcome:
Elizabeth Wall, MS, RDN-AP, CNSC, LDN
Elizabeth Wall has been an Advanced Clinical Specialist on the Adult GI/Nutrition Support Service at The University of Chicago Medicine for the past 35 years. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Dietetics from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, a Master of Science degree in Human Nutrition and Nutritional Biology from the University of Chicago and completed a dietetic internship at the Massachusetts General Hospital. Elizabeth’s scope of clinical practice includes management of patients who require short and long term enteral and parenteral nutrition support, as well as the provision of medical nutrition therapies for patients with inflammatory bowel disease, malabsorptive disorders, and short bowel syndrome/intestinal failure. In addition to her clinical responsibilities, Elizabeth is an active participant in human research protocols and has served as a faculty member at DePaul University and the Dietitians in Nutrition Support’s Advance Practice Residency. She is a member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition, and is active in national and international professional workgroups related to short bowel syndrome/intestinal failure. Elizabeth is the author of many book chapters, peer reviewed articles, and has presented on many GI/ nutrition support related topics at local, national, and international symposia.
Neha D. Shah MPH, RD, CNSC, CHES
Neha has been specializing in nutrition for GI disorders for over 15 years. She started her career as an inpatient dietitian at Stanford Health Care, counseling patients at the bedside while they recovered from gastrointestinal surgery. She later joined the Stanford Digestive Health Center to inaugurate and build Nutrition Services for the GI and Liver Clinics. There, she co-led the development of the outpatient Nutrition Support and Intestinal Rehabilitation programs to streamline specialized care to those on home nutrition support and those with short bowel syndrome. She also served as the Intestinal Transplant dietitian to provide pre-and post-transplant care. She is now at the University of California, San Francisco, specializing in GI, IBD, and intestinal rehabilitation. Neha also owns a GI and liver nutrition private practice, Neha Shah Nutrition, to bring specialized nutrition care to the community. In addition to patient care, Neha has authored over 20 articles in reputable journals related to GI nutrition. To highlight some of her roles in professional organizations, she is Director of Operations and Treasurer of the International South Asian IBD Alliance and is a member of the Crohn’s and Colitis Medical Advisory Committee of Northern California. Her goal is to continue to be involved with GI initiatives, including writing and publishing articles to move nutrition care forward in this patient population. As you can see, the new nutrition series will be in good and capable hands.