EFAD at ESPEN 2024: Celebrating Contributions and Continuing Collaboration

EFAD had the pleasure of participating in the well-attended and highly engaging ESPEN 2024 Congress in Milan, where dietitians were among many experts making significant contributions alongside scientists, physicians, and pharmacists.

A special highlight was Marian de van der Schueren, EFAD Honorary Fellow, being named an Honorary Member of ESPEN in recognition of her pivotal role in the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM). Marian also presented groundbreaking preliminary results from a session focused on developing a new conceptual definition for the risk of malnutrition—a key issue in nutrition and healthcare.

The Importance of Family Involvement in Shared Decision-Making

Another significant presentation came from Dr. Nicole Erickson, EFAD’s ESDN Oncology Lead, who emphasized the critical role of including family members in shared decision-making during patient care. As shown in her presentation, family involvement is a vital component of patient-centred care, providing support, advocacy, and continuity of care. Nicole highlighted that respectful and effective communication with family members enhances clinical outcomes and improves the quality of care, as illustrated by the quote from Dr. Donald Berwick:

“Family involvement in care is a powerful reminder that healing is not just about medicine, but about the connections that sustain us.”

MNI Grant 2024: Recognizing Innovation in Nutritional Care

The 16th edition of the MNI Grant was awarded to an initiative titled “Taking the GLIM Framework from Research into Clinical Practice: A Swedish Initiative,” led by Sandra Einarsson from Umeå University, Sweden (EFAD’s Education Associate Member). This project focuses on developing a blended physical-online program aimed at promoting the use of muscle mass assessments in clinical practice by dietitians.

Announcing the MNI Grant winner during the ESPEN Congress underscores the importance of this initiative in advancing medical nutrition.

Looking Ahead: Continuing EFAD’s Collaboration with ESPEN

EFAD greatly values its collaboration with ESPEN and extends a heartfelt thanks to Rocco Barazzoni for his leadership over the past years. As we look toward the future, EFAD is excited to continue this important partnership under the guidance of ESPEN’s new chairman, Stanislaw Klerk.