Lara A. Valerio, MS, RD, LDN, is a clinical dietitian at the UNC Eastowne Infectious Diseases Clinic where she provides medical nutrition therapy, nutritional counseling, and education to HIV-positive patients with various health needs. She recently received a professional development grant that will help her pursue board certification in “Obesity and Weight Management” through the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR).
“I have helped manage a range of co-morbidities, but I have encountered more patients struggling with significant weight gain and thus, obesity. This credential will enhance my ability to deliver evidence-based, targeted care to our patients—many of whom face metabolic challenges related to HIV infection, antiretroviral therapy, and, critically, the impact of social determinants of health. It will also allow me lead our Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) initiative focused on obesity with confidence.”
In a setting where research and data-driven practice are strongly encouraged to serve the evolving needs of the clinic’s population, Valerio says she’ll be better equipped to construct interventions that address weight-related comorbidities in people with HIV, and be able to contribute to grant applications and potential academic publications. The certification will also support her aspiration to precept dietetic interns interested in complex, medical nutrition therapy care.