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End-of-Life Nutrition: Dietitian Advancement Through Bioethics & Multidisciplinary Collaboration

Monday, October 13, 2025

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Proficiency: Advanced knowledge/expertise

Track: Aging, Long-Term Care & End-of-Life Nutrition

CPE: 1.0

Description

Let’s face it: all clinicians at some point in their career feel like they don’t have all the answers, second guess their work, or think about how they could have handled a clinical situation differently. As registered dietitians, we don’t always feel equipped to handle some of the complexities that come our way. The ambiguous nature of nutrition at the end of life is a dilemma that many dietitians and nutrition professionals face and has been reported to be a void in their learning. We are here to change the mindset and the confidence of dietitians who navigate these complex situations. We want to empower dietitians to bring their skills and passion for nutrition to all those who need nutrition interventions, including those whose prognosis may be guarded. In this presentation, attendees will hear about an interdisciplinary approach to managing the ethical dilemma dietitians experience when handling patients at the end of life. This presentation will educate attendees on Palliative Care by a Palliative Care physician, when to implement ethical feeding practices and interventions, and will provide coaching to empower dietitians to create successful partnerships and workgroups that improve patient care at the end of life.

Learning Objectives

  • Identify the role of Bioethics and Palliative Care in the setting of nutritional concerns.
  • Discuss nutrition and hydration options for patients nearing the end of life.
  • Identify the steps necessary to advocate for and implement improved ethical feeding practices at your organization.

Performance Indicators

  • 1.3.2 Uses an ethical framework to guide decisions.
  • 3.3.3 Identifies opportunities for mutually beneficial partnerships with individuals or organizations with shared visions.
  • 4.2.8 Challenges, encourages and supports others to take action to advance the profession.

Speakers

  • Kara Stromberg photo

    Kara Stromberg

    Director of Clinical Nutrition and Nutrition Research, Temple Univ. Health System

    Kara Stromberg earned her bachelor’s degree in dietetics at the University of Delaware and completed her master’s in clinical nutrition and dietetic internship at New York University. She currently serves as the Director of Clinical Nutrition and Nutrition Research at Temple University Health System. Kara’s passion lies in growing the role of the RDN while also ensuring that everyone in need of nutrition services has access to them. This passion led her to research which focuses on how nutrition and RDNs can play a key role in oncology patient outcomes. She currently serves as the State Regulatory Specialist in PA, advocating for dietitians in Pennsylvania. Kara has won numerous awards for her work including the 2017 Young Dietitian of the Year Award from the Connecticut AND, was an award recipient for her research studying MANNA’s medically tailored meals in colorectal cancer patients by the MANNA Research Institute, received the Emerging Research Grant Award from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, and was the 2024 Keystone Award winner from the Pennsylvania AND. She is involved in numerous research projects and has been published in peer-reviewed journals.
  • Jaylin Staunton photo

    Jaylin Staunton

    Lead Clinical Dietitian Specialist, Temple Univ. Health System: Fox Chase Cancer Center

    Jaylin Staunton is the Lead Clinical Dietitian Specialist at Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where she oversees all patients who are receiving parenteral nutrition. Jaylin is dedicated to developing and implementing tools and programs that help ensure safe and appropriate use of parenteral nutrition for patients with cancer, with an emphasis on improving quality of life. She spearheaded the interdisciplinary committee, Ethical Feeding Task Force at Fox Chase, that focuses on improving nutrition support practices to optimize clinical outcomes. She currently sits as chair-elect for the ASPEN International Clinical Ethics Section. At Fox Chase, she is currently co-investigator on a study researching the use of indirect calorimetry in oncology patients requiring parenteral nutrition which awarded her the 2024 Commission on Dietetic Registration Emerging Researcher Grant. She is also the recipient of the 2025 Recognized Young Dietitian of the Year Award from the Pennsylvania Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Jaylin has presented on nutrition support practices and clinical nutrition and ethics numerous times at local, state and national conferences.
  • Dylan Sherry photo

    Dylan Sherry

    Associate Professor; Director- Hospice and Palliative Medicine Fellowship, Temple Univ. Health System: Fox Chase Cancer Center

    Dr. Sherry received his M.D. from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Cleveland, OH in 2015. He then completed an Internal Medicine Residency and Hospice and Palliative Medicine Fellowship at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (Harvard Medical School) in Boston, MA. He is board-certified in internal medicine and hospice/palliative medicine. He is an Associate Professor in the Supportive Oncology and Palliative Care Program at Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia, PA. At Fox Chase, Dr. Sherry is the chair of the Medical Ethics Committee and the Program Director for the Temple University Hospital/Fox Chase Cancer Center Hospice and Palliative Medicine Fellowship. His research and clinical interests focus on treatment of neuropathic pain, the use of buprenorphine for cancer-related pain, and the ethical use of artificial feeding. Dr. Sherry is a member of the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine and the American College of Physicians.

Moderator

  • Andrea Barnes photo

    Andrea Barnes

    Adjunct Faculty, Urban College of Boston

    Dr. Andrea Barnes, a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and Licensed Dietitian-Nutritionist in Pennsylvania and Fellow of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, is a dynamic leader in integrated healthcare, nutrition policy, and clinical research. She blends expertise in healthcare management, public policy, and global health innovation. With over 20 years in healthcare and seven years in health research and policy, she has become a driving force behind patient-centered care and health equity. Dr. Barnes earned her Doctorate of Behavioral Health in Integrated Healthcare Management from Arizona State University, where she also completed a graduate certificate in Clinical Integrated Healthcare. She holds a Master of Science in Clinical Nutrition from the New York Institute of Technology and a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition Science from Cedar Crest College. She is also certified as an Advanced Clinical Research Project Manager. Her leadership in developing a globally accessible integrated behavioral healthcare training program has advanced workforce development and interdisciplinary education across Asia and Africa. She currently serves as Chair-Elect of the Research DPG and Co-Editor of the 5th edition of Research: Successful Approaches in Nutrition and Dietetics. She is also an Editorial Fellow for Family, Systems, and Health, contributing to research dissemination in integrated care. Dr. Barnes teaches Clinical Research Coordination and Child Behavioral Health at Urban College of Boston. As Pennsylvania’s State Policy Representative, she advocates for improved licensure and access to whole-person-centered care. Her achievements have been recognized with the Keystone Award, Excellence in Advocacy Award, and Emerging Dietetic Leader Award.

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