Nutrition Services Clinic at ISU-Meridian
Idaho State University is set to start advancing health care for two specific groups of people through federally funded grants focused on nutrition: those suffering from chronic bladder conditions and women who are pregnant. A new Nutrition Services Clinic at ISU's Meridian campus will be the home for both programs.
The first, a clinical trial, is the Anti-Inflammatory Diet for Interstitial Cystitis (AID-IC). Interstitial Cystitis is a painful bladder condition with no known cause and no cure. The study is evaluating the impact of a primarily plant-based diet on the severity of symptoms.
The second is a training grant through the Family Medical Residency Program called the Idaho Frontiers of Maternal Health Project. The nutrition clinic team will provide tele-nutrition services (individual and group counseling) for pregnant women.
“Both of the current grant programs benefit our community members,” said Barb Gordon, assistant professor and director of the Masters in Nutrition Program. “Participants in the AID-IC study hail from the Treasure Valley and have been so grateful for the opportunity to be part of the study. The ability to control their chronic bladder condition through dietary modifications is attractive to many with this painful syndrome.”
The Idaho Frontiers of Maternal Health Project reaches throughout the state of Idaho, said Char Byington, chair of the Nutrition and Dietetics Department. “This is an Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA, a branch of the Health and Human Services department of the U.S. government) training grant aimed at educating students and residents on the delivery of healthcare to individuals residing in rural communities,” Gordon said.
Gordon says both initiatives stand to help raise the visibility of the university as a leader in advancing medicine. Gordon will be presenting the protocol of the AID-IC study at the Global Interstitial Cystitis Society’s annual meeting in late August 2021. “This also appeals to future students, adding to the number of health professionals as the demand for them increases.”
“We’re very excited,” said Gordon. “The clinic offers an opportunity for interprofessional practice experiences, which has been found to produce better patient outcomes. We hope to engage with the other clinics and collaborate on the delivery of optimal patient care.”
To make an appointment with the clinic, visit isu.edu/clinics or call 208-373-1734.
