John F. Gilmore, Jr., Symposium for Excellence in Nutrition

This think tank symposium is designed to bring together local and national leaders in clinical nutrition, gastroenterology, and cystic fibrosis to present and discuss the current state of patient care in the areas of difficulties in enteral nutrition support and gastrointestinal manifestations of cystic fibrosis. The presentations and brainstorming sessions will explore clinical research questions and effective pathways to train future and emerging practitioners to care for increasing numbers of complex patients requiring advanced nutrition support.

After this educational activity, participants will be able to:

• Identify current gaps in the care of patients dependent on enteral nutrition support;
• Recognize the value of maintaining interdisciplinary nutrition support teams in medical centers;
• Recommend the appropriate enteral feeding tube based on a patient’s unique clinical condition;
• Describe techniques for managing physiologic intolerances to enteral nutrition support and mechanical complications of enteral access devices (e.g., leaking, clogged, and connection incompatibilities);
• State the current scientific knowledge and clinical implications of the CFTR gene;
• Explain how to assess adult patients for gastrointestinal manifestations of cystic fibrosis;
• Discuss the role of novel medications that target mutations of the CFTR gene in the gastrointestinal tract;
• Illustrate how to provide nutrition support to those with cystic fibrosis and a sick gut.