Member Spotlight: Justine M. Turner, MD, PhD

This video features Dr. Justine M. Turner, MD, PhD, Professor of Pediatrics and Divisional Director of Gastroenterology and Nutrition at the University of Alberta in Canada. Dr. Turner’s interest in nutrition stemmed from her original interest in Gastroenterology. Looking back, she felt there was a lack of nutrition education in her medical training, which she only realized once she began to pursue her PhD in nutrition. She notes there are too few physicians with PhDs in nutrition. Dr. Turner spends 40% of her time on research and 35% on clinical practice. Currently, she runs a translational animal lab looking at growth factors for adaptation, TPN lipids, and enteral nutrition in short bowel syndrome. In her clinical practice, Dr. Turner deals mostly with Celiac disease and gluten free diet while her inpatient service looks after solid organ and intestinal transplant patients. She highlights that nutrition is integrated in everything that she does. She also shares her insights on the differences between the delivery of healthcare in Australia and Canada and how each were affected during the Covid-19 pandemic. She insists that there is no better home for her interests than ASPEN. It has provided her with incredible opportunities to collaborate, present her data, and receive recognition for her work. ASPEN is also a reliable place for her students to learn and grow. She has served on the ASPEN research committee and currently serves as the Chair of the Publication Education Committee. Dr. Turner has three pieces of advice for junior faculty: find multiple mentors, be adaptable, and to say “yes” to be on committees or societies. Physician Spotlight is a forum for outstanding Senior Leaders, Young Rising Stars, and International Colleagues in the field of nutrition to discuss important topics and ideas that impact patient care. Visit the ASPEN Physician Community at www.nutritioncare.org/physicians

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