Recognized Renal Dietitian Award

Desiree de Waal, MS, RD, CD, FAND


Renal Dietitian/Research Coordinator, University of Vermont Medical Center


Desiree is a Renal Dietitian and Research Coordinator at University of Vermont Medical Center. She has published articles and book chapters on the value of Medical Nutrition Therapy in Kidney Failure; hyperlipidemia; potential harms of high protein diets for athletes; bariatric surgery; and Kidney Stones and metabolic syndrome. She is working on publishing a study regarding laboratory dissonance. She also hopes to complete her research on magnesium and write a couple more case studies involving herbal supplements and another on an unusual food allergy. 

She has spoken at multiple conferences on a variety of subjects including sodium, magnesium, home dialysis, obesity, adherence, and time constraints. In 2013, she was awarded Vermont's Dietitian of the Year Award. She has volunteered as part of the Academy's Nutrition Care Manual as Renal Expert and Evidence Analysis Library (Sodium Project, Medical Nutrition Therapy, Heart Failure, Hyperlipidemia). She previously was Managing Editor for Renal Nutrition Forum of the Renal Practice Group and the National Kidney Foundation Renal Dietitian Planning Committee. She currently volunteers as the Delegate representing Vermont for the Academy and she is the Treasurer for the Vermont Kidney Association. She is the Alternate Representative for the CRN Region 1.