Prehabilition: a dietician every step of the way

Thomas Whalen was devastated to be battling cancer for the second time, but a nutritional intervention would change his life. The new program, made possible through philanthropic support by the Victoria Buffum Foundation, was envisioned by UVM Cancer Center member Conor O’Neill, MD. Dr. O’Neill, a surgical oncologist at the University of Vermont Medical Center, saw too many of his patients experiencing nutritional challenges which interfered with their course of treatment and quality of life. With funding provided by the Buffum Foundation, O’Neill set out to test his theory that incorporating a dietician into every aspect of patient care could reduce these challenges. With the one-year grant, Alison Jones, RD, joined the team as a full-time dietician. This meant that when Whalen first saw Dr. O’Neill, Jones was there to support him from the beginning. Jones provided more than just one-time nutritional support, she served as an integral part of Whalen’s journey, connecting his nutritional needs with his medical care during both his course of treatment and his recovery. Reflecting on having Jones on his team, Whalen said, “I would not be here if I didn’t have a dietician that worked with my team of doctors. Through her expertise, Ali played several critical roles in my journey, and her impact was astounding”.