The ASPEN Rhoads Research Foundation is pleased to announce that Charlene Compher, PhD, RD, LDN, FASPEN, will serve as its president for the next two years. Dr. Compher assumes the role from M. Molly McMahon, MD, FASPEN, who has successfully led the Foundation since 2020.
The Foundation’s mission is to raise money to fund clinical andmetabolic research that will translate into safe and effective nutrition care. Many of its grant recipients go on to become leaders of ASPEN, including Dr. Compher, who served as ASPEN president from 2016 to 2017.
Dr. Compher is currently Shearer Chair of Healthy Community Practices, professor of nutrition science, and director of nutrition programs at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing in Philadelphia. She is an advanced practice clinical dietitian specialist with the Clinical Nutrition Support Service at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, where she works with the home parenteral nutrition team and leads dietetics research.
Dr. Compher’s work has been widely recognized, and her many awards include the American Dietetic Association Excellence in Practice Award for Dietetic Research and the Association’s Distinguished Service Award, ASPEN’s Distinguished Nutrition Support Dietitian Award and Dietitians Research Award, and the Oley Foundation Home Parenteral Nutrition Consumer Research Prize.
“When I think about the goals and values of the Rhoads Research Foundation, I cannot think of anyone who personifies these more than Dr. Compher,” said her University of Pennsylvania colleague and newly elected ASPEN Vice President, Sharon Irving, PhD, RN, CRNP, FCCM, FAAN, FASPEN. “Throughout her distinguished career, Dr. Compher has furthered nutrition research by collaborating with teams of diverse scientists from multidisciplinary specialties and shares her enthusiasm and clinical acumen with Penn students. She is renowned and respected for her knowledge, teaching, and supportive mentorship. We look forward to her leadership as the President of the Rhoads Research Foundation for ASPEN.”
“The Foundation will be in very skilled hands,” said ASPEN Clinical Practice Specialist Ainsley Malone, MS, RDN, LD, CNSC, FAND, FASPEN. “There are numerous examples of Dr. Compher’s leadership, including the six years she served as editor-in-chief of ASPEN’s Clinical Guidelines. While ASPEN president, Dr. Compher inspired global efforts to standardize the diagnosis of malnutrition in adults. She is a core leader with the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) and led a systematic review of validation of the Academy-ASPEN Indicators of Malnutrition (AAIM).”
To date, the Rhoads Research Foundation has awarded $2.78 million in funding dollars to 139 investigators, clinicians, trainees, and graduate students whose research includes both basic investigations aimed at improving our understanding of the science of nutrient regulation in different disease states, as well as clinical and translational research to determine how the practice of nutrition support can continue to be refined and individualized to optimize clinical outcomes.
“The dedication I feel for the Foundation stems in part from the pivotal role it has played in my own academic career,” said Dr. Compher. “My doctoral research was funded in part by a dietitian’s research grant from the Foundation. Applying for and being awarded this grant was my first experience with grantsmanship and a source of great satisfaction and skill development.”
“My research enabled me to enter the academy at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing while maintaining a clinical practice at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. I have had many opportunities in these roles to conduct research and collaborate with and mentor promising young investigators.”
“Clinical nutrition has historically been fueled by the vision, energy, and passion of young clinicians and research scientists at the beginning of their careers, and so the importance of the Rhoads Research Foundation cannot be overstated,” said ASPEN Chief Executive Officer Wanda Johnson, CMP, CAE, FACEHP. “Dr. Compher has clearly shown that she has that special touch as a teacher and mentor to reach and inspire our future leaders.”
“My personal experience speaks to the impact of the Foundation’s grants on careers in science,” Dr. Compher remarked. “I hope you will each give as you can to this worthy Foundation.”