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A Mission Shaped by the A.S.P.E.N. CommunityAs I embark on my journey as the 33rd A.S.P.E.N. President, I seek to engage in real conversations with each of you—the A.S.P.E.N. members who have shaped our community and will determine our future. So this new column—`On My Mind: An Opportunity to Dialogue With A.S.P.E.N. President Kelly A. Tappenden'—will appear in NCP and JPEN each month as a forum to share my thoughts and perspectives on important issues that we collectively face. My hope is this effort will further open the lines of communication among us and provide a stimulus for significant shared conversations. I would be remiss to begin with anything other than strong recognition for the tireless leadership contributions made by Past-President Vincent Vanek, and a heartfelt `thank-you' for this important opportunity I have been given to serve our society and discipline as A.S.P.E.N. President. The beginning of this tremendous honor and responsibility has caused me to pause and reflect on what A.S.P.E.N. has meant to me over the years. Thus, by way of introduction, please indulge me in this first conversation to share my experience and rationale for why A.S.P.E.N. is the professional society has shaped me personally and guided my professional mission. I recall sending off my A.S.P.E.N. membership application many years ago. As an international dietitian and graduate student, I worried whether or not I would be granted membership! But despite the apprehension, as I attended my first A.S.P.E.N. Clinical Congress, the Washington, D.C. blizzard and the welcoming new colleagues made me somehow feel very much at home. As a young dietitian finding my way in science, I yearned to answer questions relating to nutrition support that we faced in clinical practice daily, while arming my approach with a strong basis in physiology and metabolism. It seemed like a worthy goal, but to be honest, I didn't really know how to get started. I truly believe that my integration into the A.S.P.E.N. community—conversations with others struggling to find their way combined with the advice and encouragement of the giants who created our field—was essential for shaping my thoughts and efforts. From my first abstract submission to my first funded grant proposal, the A.S.P.E.N. community was pivotal in validating my research interests, introducing me to the founders of our field (including Drs Rhoads and Dudrick!) and providing me with the confidence and determination to dedicate my professional future to nutrition support research and education. Like many of you, I belong to several professional societies and value different attributes of each. But it is in the sense of community and unequaled mentorship within A.S.P.E.N., that A.S.P.E.N. is the one that remains `home.' As we look to the future, and discuss how best to foster A.S.P.E.N. as a strong interdisciplinary society, I believe that this aspect of community—complete with strong friendships, varying perspectives, and a priority for mentorship—is central to this conversation. As each one of us continues to be mentored by the strength of our shared knowledge and wisdom, let me challenge you to engage in a conversation of how best to build and strengthen our strategies to mentor the next generation of nutrition support experts. I am certain my experience is not unique. Have you contemplated how the A.S.P.E.N. community has, or could, shape your professional growth lately? The opportunity exists for each one of us. As you contemplate this issue, I'd love to hear what's on your mind—please send your comments, suggestions, concerns, and thoughts to me at spncp{at}aspen.nutr.org.
Nutrition in Clinical Practice, Vol. 23, No. 3,
260 (2008)
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