Our Officers
New officers are elected annually. Contact us if you are interested in becoming a board member of PRONA!
Chris Nelms, MS, RDN, LMNT
Chair 2022-2023
Christina Nelms is a pediatric renal consultant, training practitioners on the art of pediatric nutrition care. She also teaches nutrition classes through the University of Nebraska. She worked previously at Children’s hospitals in Omaha, Nebraska, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and most notably at Children’s Mercy in Kansas City, Missouri as a senior staff member. While there she enjoyed working with a variety of pediatric renal conditions, dialysis patients, and acute-care patients as well as involvement with research and speaking. She has authored textbook chapters and is involved in research and the Pediatric Renal Nutrition Taskforce. Chris was the first recipient of the PRONA Pediatric Renal Dietitian of the Year award (2022).
She is the past chair of PRONA and is passionate about PRONA's work continuing and thus is happy to serve as chair for the 2022-23 year.
Vicki Vitale, MS, RDN/LD
Secretary
Victoria Vitale, MS, RDN/LD is a pediatric clinical dietitian at Akron Children’s Hospital. She has been a pediatric dietitian for over 21 years covering multiple areas and has been involved in renal nutrition for about 14 years. She works with a variety of renal patients in both the inpatient and outpatient settings. With her passion for education and furthering the field, she is the intern/student coordinator for the nutrition department. She has been a member of PRONA since the beginning and is looking forward to serving a more active role on the board in the position of secretary. Outside of work she enjoys spending time with her husband, 2 children and her dog, running and cooking/baking.
Morgan Bily, MPH, RDN, LD
Treasurer
: Morgan Bily, MPH, RDN, LD is a pediatric clinical dietitian at Texas Children’s Hospital. Morgan works with children diagnosed with various of renal disorders primarily in the outpatient setting. Morgan has served as PRONA treasurer for a year and is looking forward to continuing to serve this organization. She is looking forward to seeing how PRONA advances pediatric renal nutrition care.
Vishal Bagchi
Member at Large
Vishal has over 16 years of clinical, research and speaking experience in nephrology and has devoted his career to the field of kidney failure. He currently works with Danone North America as a Dialysis Account Manager.
Vishal worked as a Pediatric Renal Dietitian at Children's Hospital Dallas/Davita and was the recipient of 2020 Susan Knapp Excellence in Education Award from NKF and is credited for his work in Clinical Guide to Nutrition Care in Kidney Disease 3rd edition.
Vishal and his wife reside in Dallas, TX, with their two cats, Harry and Kumar, and they are all avid Dallas Cowboys fans. Vishal has traveled to over 40 countries, speaks five languages and is a history buff.
Christine Benedetti, MS, RDN, CSR, LD
Chair Elect for 2023-2024
Christine is a pediatric renal dietitian at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta and has over 14 years experience in the nephrology field, including adults and pediatrics. With a passion for education, she leads the Clinical Nutrition Internship Program at her facility, offering general pediatric nutrition and renal-specific rotations. She has held several positions on non-profit Executive Boards in the nephrology field, including the Georgia Council on Renal Nutrition, the NKF Council on Renal Nutrition, the NKF Spring Clinical Meeting Program Committee, the Georgia Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, and PRONA. Christine continues as the lead organizer for an annual 2-day Pediatric Nutrition Conference at Children's. In 2020, she was awarded the AND RPG Outstanding Service Award, and in 2021, the NKF's Recognized Renal Dietitian of the Year. Christine loves the opportunity to promote the pediatric nephrology field and the incredible dietitians within it. Outside of work, she cherishes time with her husband and three little girls, cooking, traveling and playing tennis.
Mary Ann McMaster, BSc, RD
Past Chair 2021-2022
Mary Ann McMaster is a pediatric renal dietitian with over 10 years of experience. She works at the Stollery Children’s Hospital in Edmonton Alberta and cares for pediatric inpatients and outpatients with kidney disease. She is also a part of the Metabolic Cart team at the Stollery. She has a Bachelor of Science degree with a focus in biochemistry (dietetics) from Memorial University of Newfoundland. Mary Ann has presented at several conferences and operates the Pedsrenal listserv.
Mary Ann has been on the PRONA board since the beginning. She has a strong belief that to benefit our patients we need to collaborate and learn from our peers as well as the families and children we provide care for. PRONA creates an outlet for clinicians to come together to share knowledge.
