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Deputy Associate Chief of Staff for Research
Phoenix VA Health Care System
I started in research in 1991, while working as a VA clinical dietitian in long-term care. I was inspired by a physician studying hypocholesterolemia in the elderly. It intrigued me that hypocholesterolemia was detrimental, yet we were changing diets to be lower in fat and cholesterol. [Parrington, D.J., Rousseau, P., Fuentevilla-Clifton, A. (1996). A liberalized fat and cholesterol diet does not reverse hypocholesterolemia in elderly institutionalized veterans. Age and Nutrition, 7, (1) 30 – 35]. I was initially inspired by Dr. Paul Rousseau, Chief of Geriatrics and then by Dr. Mary Ann Kight, PhD, RD. Professor, University of Arizona. Dr. Rousseau encouraged me to include research in my practice, and mentored me in VA research. Dr. Kight inspired me to advance the practice of clinical nutrition by studying broadly, questioning dogma, developing theories, following the data, and always starting with the classic articles. She was a true scholar. Over time my area of study has included micronutrient palliative nutrition therapies in patients with COPD and CHF and has expanded to whole-food, plant-based diets.
The goal of my research continues to be to improve clinical care. My current research is focused on disease prevention, slowing disease progression and disease reversal. That is my goal for the future.