Jackie Hankins MS, RDN, CSR, LDN, is a registered dietitian at Rush University Medical Center in the sections of Nephrology and Hypertension, Transplant, Cardiology and serves as a nutrition consultant at Sanderling Renal Services of Chicago. She holds a faculty appointment in the Department of Clinical Nutrition at Rush University and is an active member of the Professional Advisory Board for the National Kidney Foundation of Illinois (NKF-IL).

Jackie provides outpatient medical nutrition therapy and counseling to patients with cardiovascular disease, lipid disorders, chronic kidney disease, and those receiving dialysis and kidney transplant candidates. She is an active contributor to a variety of NKF-IL community outreach and professional programs, as well as the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Renal Practice Group, where she previously served as Lead Editor of the Renal Nutrition Forum.

Elizabeth Koustis is a registered dietitian with more than 23 years of experience serving veterans through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration. Throughout her career, she has been dedicated to providing evidence-based, patient-centered nutrition care that promotes health, improves clinical outcomes, and enhances quality of life. Her expertise includes the management of complex renal nutrition needs and interdisciplinary collaboration to optimize patient care.

In addition, Elizabeth holds the Commission on Dietetic Registration's Certificate of Training in Adult Weight Management. In this role, she facilitates both individual and group sessions as part of the VA MOVE! Weight Management Program, empowering Veterans to develop sustainable lifestyle behaviors that support long-term health and wellness.

She is also a certified diabetes care and education specialist (CDCES) and co-facilitate diabetes self-management education and support (DSMES) classes. Through this work, she helps Veterans gain the knowledge, skills, and confidence necessary to effectively manage diabetes and reduce the risk of complications.

Her professional interests include renal nutrition, diabetes care, weight management, chronic disease prevention, and patient education. Elizabeth remains committed to delivering compassionate, evidence-based nutrition care while supporting veterans in achieving their individual health goals through education, collaboration, and personalized treatment strategies.

Jessica Prohn is a registered dietitian with more than 17 years of experience across diverse clinical settings. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics from Florida State University and completed her dietetic internship through the Public Health Foundation’s Women, Infants, and Children Program in Los Angeles, Calif.

She went on to earn her Master's degree in Human Nutrition from the University of New Haven in Connecticut.

Throughout her career, Jessica has supported patients with chronic kidney disease at every stage and across a range of treatment modalities. She holds a specialty certification in Renal Nutrition and has been an active member of the Renal Practice Group and the National Kidney Foundation's Council on Renal Nutrition.

Jessica is passionate about preventing and managing chronic disease by helping people improve their cardiometabolic health. She currently works as a registered dietitian at Onsera Health, where she integrates evidence-based nutrition guidance with a patient-centered approach to care.

Joyce Marcley Vergili is a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN), certified specialist in renal nutrition (CSR), certified diabetes care and education specialist (CDCES), and New York State certified dietitian nutritionist (CDN). She has a B.S. in Nutritional Sciences, an M.S. in Clinical Nutrition, and an Ed.D. (Doctor of Education) in Nutrition Education, and is a Fellow of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (FAND).

Since 2001, Dr. Vergili has held clinical, research and academic positions in the field of nephrology nutrition. During her 12 years as a renal dietitian, she provided compassionate and evidence-based nutrition care to adult hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis patients.

Dr. Vergili's research experience includes conducting National Kidney Foundation-funded research on the practice patterns of renal dietitians working in dialysis centers and serving as an advisory group member to support the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics' sponsored AUGmeNt (Assessing Uptake and Impact of Guidelines for Clinical Practice in Renal Nutrition) study.

Dr Vergili is the lead author or co-author for many peer-reviewed articles, including a commentary on phosphorus management and an editorial urging dietitians and healthcare professionals to submit comments to the FDA on phosphate food additive safety.

A passionate educator, Dr Vergili enjoys writing continuing professional education courses; creating and presenting webinars; and teaching classes on medical nutrition therapy for chronic kidney disease to graduate nutrition students at Teachers College-Columbia University in New York City, which she has done annually since 2010. She is also a regularly invited guest panelist for the National Kidney Foundation's Kidney Commute podcast.

In service to the profession and those with chronic kidney disease, Dr Vergili is a peer reviewer for patient education materials for the Renal Dietetics Practice Group of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Since 2021, she has also been a volunteer advisor for a start-up company whose goal is to create a non-invasive anytime/anywhere serum potassium monitoring device for those with chronic kidney disease. Dr. Vergili is currently a research consultant for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and freelance nutrition writer, and educator.