The Rhoads Research Lecture is the highest and most prestigious of ASPEN’s annual research honors.
This tribute to Dr. Jonathan Rhoads recognizes his pivotal role in the field of specialized nutrition support. The lecturer is someone who is recognized internationally for major contributions to the field of nutrition and metabolic support, and who has demonstrated a career-long commitment to the improvement of the nutritional status of the patient.
Congratulations to the 2026 Jonathan E. Rhoads Lecturer!
Dr. Tanis Fenton is a Registered Dietitian, Epidemiologist and Adjunct Professor at the University of Calgary’s Cumming School of Medicine. Dr. Fenton is the Dietitians of Canada Liaison for the Canadian Pediatric Society’s Nutrition Committee. She is best known for the growth chart she developed based on a need she saw for better growth charts for preterm infants when working clinically as a neonatal dietitian. Dr. Fenton is considered a thought leader for child growth assessments and has been invited to speak about growth and nutrition care around the world.
| Annual Meeting | Lecturer | Title |
| ASPEN 2026 Nutrition Science & Practice Conference | Tanis R. Fenton, MHSc, PhD, RD, FDC | Dispelling Myths About Child Growth |
| ASPEN 2025 Nutrition Science & Practice Conference | Douglas G. Burrin, PhD | Advancements in Pediatric Parenteral Lipid Nutrition and Impact on Hepatic Function Using the Neonatal Pig Model |
| ASPEN 2024 Nutrition Science & Practice Conference | Kelly A. Tappenden, PhD, RD, FASPEN | Mission Nutrition: Redefining the Human Health Span |
| ASPEN 2023 Nutrition Science & Practice Conference | Rose Ann DiMaria-Ghalili, PhD, RN, FASPEN, FAAN, FGSA | Living Well: Interdisciplinary Research at the Intersection of Nutrition and Aging |
| ASPEN 2022 Nutrition Science & Practice Conference | Marion Winkler, PhD, RD, LDN, CNSC | Reflections from a Clinician Scientist: The Power of Patient Voice |
| ASPEN 2021 Nutrition Science & Practice Conference | Thomas R. Ziegler, MD, MS | Nutritional Metabolomics: Back to the Future of Nutrition and Metabolic Support |
| ASPEN 2020 Nutrition Science & Practice Conference | Mette Berger, MD, PhD | The Role of Individualized Nutrition and Micronutrient Therapy in Outcome After Critical Illness |
| ASPEN 2019 Nutrition Science & Practice Conference | David N. Herndon, MD | Modulation of Hypercatabolic Response to Burns and Trauma: The Interaction of Environment, Diet, Surgery, and Exercise |
| ASPEN 2018 Nutrition Science & Practice Conference | Michael D. Jensen, MD | How Understanding Inter-Organ Energy Flow Facilitates Nutrition Support |
| Clinical Nutrition Week 2017 | Daren Heyland, MD, MSc | Clinical Research in an Age of Collaboration – Together We Can do Bigger and Better! |
| Clinical Nutrition Week 2016 | David F. Driscoll, BS, MS, PhD | Pharmaceutical and Clinical Aspects of Lipid Injectable Emulsions |
| Clinical Nutrition Week 2015 | Dan Linetzky Waitzberg, MD, PhD, FASPEN | High Quality Nutritional Care: The Brazilian Experience |
| Clinical Nutrition Week 2014 | Gordon Jensen, MD, PhD, FASPEN | Malnutrition and Inflammation: Where Have We Been? Where Are We Now? Where Are We Going? |
| Clinical Nutrition Week 2013 | Dennis Bier, MD | Dragged Kicking and Screaming into the Evidence-based Century |
| Clinical Nutrition Week 2012 | Roland N. Dickerson, PharmD, BCNSP | Improving Patient Care with Practice-Based Research |
| Clinical Nutrition Week 2011 | Olle Ljungqvist, MD | The ERAS Bundle. Enhanced Recovery After Surgery Optimizing return of GI function |
| Clinical Nutrition Week 2010 | John C. Alverdy, MD | Nutrients, Microbes and the Intestinal Bioreactor |
| Clinical Nutrition Week 2009 | John L. Rombeau, MD | Mentoring and Nutritional Care |
| Clinical Nutrition Week 2008 | Kenneth A. Kudsk, MD | The Role of Nutrition on Intestinal and Respiratory Immune Defenses and the Inflammatory Response to Injury |
| Clinical Nutrition Week 2007 | Ezra Steiger, MD, CNSP | Experiences and Observations in the Management of Patients With Short Bowel Syndrome |
| Clinical Nutrition Week 2006 | Samuel Klein, MD | Use of Stable Isotope Tracers to Study the Regulation of Substrate Metabolism in Humans in vivo |
| Clinical Nutrition Week 2005 | Stanley J. Dudrick, MD | A 45-year Obsession and Passionate Pursuit of Optimal Nutrition Support: Puppies, Pediatrics, Surgery, Geriatrics, Home TPN, ASPEN, et cetera |
| Nutrition Week 2004 | Stephen Lowry, MD | Surgical Oncology and Specialized Nutrition Support of Surgical Patients |
| Nutrition Week 2003 | Bruce R. Bistrian, MD, PhD | Clinical Aspects of Essential Fatty Acid Metabolism |
| Nutrition Week 2002 | Steven B. Heymsfield, MD | Heat and Life: The Ongoing Scientific Odyssey |
| 25th Clinical Congress—2001 | Roland L. Weinsier, MD, DrPH | Etiology of Obesity: Metholological Examination of the Set-Point Theory |
| 24th Clinical Congress—2000 | Peter Fürst, MD, PhD | A Thirty Year Odyssey in Nitrogen Metabolism: From Ammonium to Dipeptides |
| 23rd Clinical Congress—1999 | VR Young | Isotopic metaprobes, nutrition, and the roads ahead |
| 22nd Clinical Congress—1998 | Jonathan L. Meakins, MD | Host Defense: Infection and Nutrition—Yesterday and Today |
| 21st Clinical Congress—1997 | J Hirsch | Understanding Obesity: The Unfinished Business |
| 20th Clinical Congress—1996 | JE Fischer | Mechanism, Mechanism, Mechanism |
| 19th Clinical Congress— 1995 | Joel Kopple, MD | Nutritional Management of Acute Renal Failure: Does it Make a Difference? |
| 18th Clinical Congress—1994 | Eleanor Young, PhD, RD | A Panoramic View: Medicine, Nutrition, and Patient Care |
| 17th Clinical Congress—1993 | Irwin H. Rosenberg, MD | New Vitamins in Aging Bottles: The Role of Vitamins in Disease Prevention |
| 16th Clinical Congress—1992 | Graham L. Hill, MD | Body Composition Research: Implications for the Practice of Clinical Nutrition |
| 15th Clinical Congress—1991 | Anthony Cerami, PhD | The Role of Cachectin/TNF in Cachexia, Shock and Inflammation |
| 14th Clinical Congress—1990 | Nevin Scrimshaw, MD, PhD | The Effect of Infections on Nutrient Needs |
| 13th Clinical Congress—1989 | Douglas Wilmore, MD | The Practice of Clinical Nutrition: How to Prepare for the Future |
| 12th Clinical Congress—1988 | Khursheed Jeejeebhoy, MD | Bulk or Bounce: Objectives of Nutritional Support |
| 11th Clinical Congress—1987 | Maurice Shils, MD, ScD | Trace Elements in Nutrition Support |
| 10th Clinical Congress—1986 | Edward Copeland, MD | Intravenous Hyperalimentation and Cancer: A Historical Perspective |
| 9th Clinical Congress—1985 | Stanley J. Dudrick, MD | Reflections on the Basic & Clinical Background and Potential of Total Parenteral Nutrition |
| 8th Clinical Congress—1984 | John M. Kinney, MD | Ancient Man and Modern Medicine-an Uncertain Marriage |
| 7th Clinical Congress—1983 | Henry T. Randall, MD | Enteral Nutrition: Tube Feeding in Acute and Chronic Illness |
| 6th Clinical Congress—1982 | Hamish N. Munro, MB, DSc | Metabolic Interaction Between Organs in Health and Disease |
| 5th Clinical Congress—1981 | George F. Cahill, MD | Ketosis |
| 4th Clinical Congress—1980 | Frances D. Moore, MD | Energy and the Maintenance of the Body Cell Mass |
| 3rd Clinical Congress—1979 | Sir David P. Cuthbertson | Metabolic Response to Injury and Its Nutritional Implications: Retrospect and Prospect |
| 2nd Clinical Congress—1978 | Stanley M. Levenson, MD | The Influence of the Indigenous Microflora on Mammalian Metabolism and Nutrition |