Christiane Meireles, PhD, RD, LD

A registered dietitian and assistant professor with 30 years of extensive experience in clinical, community and research settings. As a clinical dietitian my work is predominantly on primary care focusing on chronic diseases mainly diabetes, chronic kidney disease and obesity. Extensive research experience in kidney diseases focusing on the role of dietary protein and the mechanisms of protein degradation in renal disease.  In the last ten years, my work and research has been focusing on women’s health. I have developed extensive nutrition programs targeting pregnant women, children and adolescents in a diverse pool of underserved populations. In recognition of my expertise with children and women’s health, I received the Abbott Nutrition Award in Women’s Health by the Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation, which recognizes the best dietitians in the US in this field. With a background in clinical, research and teaching, I have a unique opportunity to be able to translate evidence-based science into my practice to better plan and implement nutrition-based programs at individual and population level. 

• Professional Background

  Education

  • 1999 - Doctor of Philosophy - Nutrition Science - Federal University of Sao Paulo-EPM
  • 1993 - Master of Science - Experimental Nutrition - Federal University of Pernambuco
  • 1986 - Bachelor of Science - Nutrition - Federal University of Pernambuco
  • 1986 - BS - Nutrition - Federal University of Pernambuco
  • Experimental Nutrition - Federal University of Pernambuco

  Highlights

  Licensures and Certifications

  • Texas state licensure
  • Commission on Dietetic Registration 

  Honors and Awards

  • 2020, Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation Abbott Nutrition Award in Women’s Health 
  • 2020, Educational Stipend award, National Kidney Foundation-Committee of Renal Nutrition, 2020 Spring Clinical Meetings.

  Appointments

  • 2018 - Clinical Assistant Professor - UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing
  • 2012 - Adjunct Instructor - University of the Incarnate Word
  • 2012 - Adjunct Instructor - Health and Kinesiology Department, University of Texas at San Antonio

• Instruction & Training

  • 2021 - 2022, NURS 7306 DNP Seminar, UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing
  • 2021, NURS 6453 FNP Diagnosis & Management: Concepts and Theory, UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing
  • 2020, NURS 3373 Care of the Family Course, UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing
  • 2017 - 2019, NURS 6452 FNP Diagnosis and Management: Aging Families, UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing
  • 2017, NURS 6423 PNP I: Primary Care Diagnosis and Management, UT Health San Antonio, School of Nursing

• Research & Grants

  Grants

  Currently Funded:  

  • 2020 – 2021, Funder: 80 20 Foundation. Dollars: $500,000.00. Title: Precision Metabolic and Molecular Mechanisms of Low Carbohydrate and Ketogenic Diet. Role: Co-Investigator (PI: Kuma Sharma) 
  • 2020 – 2021, Funder: Les Dames d’Escoffier International San Antonio Chapter, Grant # 168339. Dollars: $2,000.00.Title: Casa Mia Therapeutic vegetable garden. Role: PI 
  • 2020,  Funder: UT Health SA, Linking Interprofessional Networks for Collaboration, Linc Seed Grant Program. Dollars: $5,000.00. Title: Interprofessional Training with Advanced Practice Nurse, Dietetic, and Pharmacy Students using Nutrition- focused Case Studies. Role: Co-Investigator (PI: Wendy Lee).

  Submitted and Not Funded or Unfunded Research/Projects: 

  • 2020, Funder: Morrison Trust. Dollars: $ 67,000. Title: Impact of plant-based diet in conjunction with health technologies on improving diabetes outcomes. Role: PI.
  • 2020, Funder: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Dollars: $2,625,000. Title: Casa Mia: A supportive, Recovery Residence for Pregnant/Postpartum Women and their children. Role: Co-Investigator (PI: Lisa Cleveland) 
  • 2020, Funder: Baptist Foundation, Dollars: $ 501,000.00. Title: Evaluating a program addressing food insecurity, obesity & racial disparity in children/adolescents. Role: Lead Researcher (PI: Francesca Ratray, YMCA) 
  • 2016, Funder: San Antonio Area Foundation. Dollars: $ 15,000. Title: Promoting Healthful Eating for Vulnerable Children. Role: PI. Completed Research/Projects: 
  • 2018 – 2019,  Funder: IIMS Community Engagement Small Project Grants. Dollars: $4,050.00. Title:  Prevalence of Seasonal Affective Disorder in Green Monkeys. Role: Co-PI (PI: Kathryn Parke). 

  Completed Research/Projects: 

  • 2020 – 2021 Funder: Les Dames d’Escoffier International San Antonio Chapter. Grant # 168339. Dollars: $2,000.00. Title: Casa Mia Therapeutic vegetable garden. Role: PI 
  • 2018-2019 Funder: IIMS Community Engagement Small Project Grants. Dollars: $4,050.00. Title:  Prevalence of Seasonal Affective Disorder in Green Monkeys. Role: Co-PI (PI: Kathryn Parke) 

• Service

  School

  Student Mentees/Trainees 

  • 2021 Kylie Wallace, dietetic student, preceptor of community internship 
  • 2020, Kayla Tatum, dietetic student, preceptor of community internship 
  • 2020, Samantha Flores, dietetic student, preceptor of community internship  
  • 2020, Jose Luis Saenz, dietetic student, preceptor of community internship  
  • 2020, Interprofessional Education training. Preceptor of an interdisciplinary pilot with the dietetic, pharmacy and nursing disciplines. Graduate and Undergraduate students
  • 2020, Jessica Tupa, dietetic student, preceptor of community internship  
  • 2019, Stephanie Yanez, dietetic student, preceptor of community internship 
  • 2019, Emma Gorski, dietetic student, preceptor of community internship 
  • 2019, Stephanie DeLeon, PhD candidate, member of dissertation committee 

  Institutional

  • 2021-Present, UT Health SA Committee on International Programs, member 
  • 2021-Present, UT Health SA, Committee on Scholarship, member 
  • 2020 - present, UT Health SA Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee, Member 
  • 2020 - present, UT Health SA Graduate Studies for the Translational Science Program, Member  
  • 2020 - 2021, UT-Health San Antonio, 4th Annual Cardio Renal Connections, Long School of Medicine Planning Committee, Member 

  Service to the Profession

  • 2020 – Present,  Founder Member Brazilian International Consortium for research and implementation of the Nutrition Care Process Terminology, Federal University of Parana, Brazil 
  • 2020 – 2021, Scholarship Reviewer The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Committee Foundation 
  • 2020, Peer Reviewer for The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics the Chapter Nutrition Management of Diabetes In Chronic Disease, Clinical Guide to Nutrition Care in Kidney Disease, 3rd Ed 
  • 2019 – Present, Member Coordinate Program in Dietetics Advisory Board, The University of Texas at San Antonio 
  • 2019, Speaker, Growing a health and sustainable plate, Lunch & learn health workshop, Health and Wellness Committee, School of Nursing, School of Medicine UT-Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX  

  Professional Affiliations

  • 2021-Present American College of Lifestyle Medicine- ACLM 
  • 2021-Present The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics- Dietetic Practice Group: Renal  Dietitian & Vegetarian Nutrition

   

   

  Community Service

  • 2020, Panelist Education Lady Bird Wildflower Center, San Antonio Symposium: Natural Zilker Botanical Garden, Texas Connections: Building Bridges 
  • 2019, Nutrition Education  Prospera Community, SA, Texas Health Fair 
  • 2019, Nutrition Education President’s office, UT Health SA, Texas 
  • 2018, Ask the expert table Women’s Comprehension Health Institute, UT Health San Antonio & Medical Research Center, Texas 
  • 2018, Nutrition Education Wellness and professional formation at the Wellness Fair School of Medicine, UT Health SA, Texas 
  • 2018, Nutrition Education Edge ISD & Last Change Ministries, SA, Texas Preventative care to School Children 
  • 2018, Nutrition Education Children’s Coalitions of Aransas County, Texas Healthy Snacks for Children

• Publications

  Peer-reviewed Articles (*indicates data-based) 

  • Du Y, Dennis B, Ramirez V, Li C, Wang J, Meireles CL. Experiences and disease self-management in individuals living with chronic kidney disease: qualitative analysis of the National Kidney Foundation's online community. BMC Nephrol. 2022 Mar 4;23(1):88. 
  • Benavides H, Meireles CL, Benavente V, Mays MH, Wang  J. Decreasing Older Adult COVID-19 Risk Factors Using Digital Technology to Implement a Plant-Based-Diet: An Opinion Paper. Journal of Medical Internet Research Aging. 4(3):e25327, 2021  
  •  Vavruk AM, Saeki SL, do Nascimento MM, Meireles CL, Rabito EI, Schieferdecker MEM, Fidelix MSP, Hordonho AA, Klein MRST, Campos LF, Ceniccola GD, Gonçalves RC, Barreto PA, Martins C. Consensus on standardized terminology of the nutrition care process for adult patients with acute kidney injury. Brazilian Society of parenteral and enteral nutrition journal. 36(3):227-44, 2021 
  • Martins C, Saeki SL, Nascimento do MM, Junior FL, Vavruk AM, Meireles CL, Justino S, Mafra D, Rabito EI, Shieferdecker MEM, Campos LF, van Aanholt DPJ, Hordonho AA, Fidelix MS. Consenso sobre a Terminologia Padronizada do Processo de Cuidado em Nutrição para Pacientes Adultos com Doença Renal Crônica. “Consensus on Standardized Terminology of the Nutrition Care Process for Adult Patients with Chronic Renal Disease”. Brazilian Journal of Nephrology (In press)  
  • Parke KA, Meireles CL, Sickora C. A nurse-led model of care to address social and behavioral determinants of health at a school-based health center. Journal of School Health 89(5):423-426, 2019 
  • Lager S, Ramirez VI, Acosta, O, Meireles CL, Miller E, Gaccioli F, Rosario, FJ, Gelfond, JAL, Hakala K, Weintraub st, Krummel DA, Powell TL. Docosahexaenoic Acid Supplementation in Pregnancy Modulates Placental Cellular Signaling and Nutrient Transport Capacity in Obese Women. Journal Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism 102(12):4557-4567, 2017 

  Non-Peer-reviewed Articles (i. e. editorials, news articles, etc.)  

  • Meireles CL. Food for the soul. Recipe Book. Healy-Murphy Center and UT School of Nursing Health San Antonio, 2019 
  • Newton M, Cleveland ML, Soucy M, Parke K, Meireles CL. For Health and Hope. Mission Magazine. Dietitian mentioned in the article, 2018 
  • Parke K & Meireles CL. The model of care to address social and behavioral determinants of health. Newsletter for the Center for Nursing Practice, 2017 

  Abstracts  

  • Du Y, Dennis B, Ramirez V, Siddiqui N, Wang J, Meireles CL. Experience and perceived challenges in individuals living with chronic kidney disease: Qualitative Analysis of the National Kidney Foundation's Online Community. 5th Annual Cardio Renal Connections conference. January 2022  
  • Meireles CL, Martinez M, Cleveland L, Sickora C. Nutrition supporting recovery program for women with opioid use disorder in South Central Texas. Food&Nutrition Conference&Expo. October 2021. Journal of the academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.121(10): PA 149, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jand.2021.08.073 (published) 
  • Saeki SL, Rabito EI, Shieferdecker MEM, Nascimento do MM, Vavruk AM, Meireles CL, Fidelix M, S Martins C.  Selection of terms from the nutrition care process terminology of Brazilian renal dietitians. 4th annual Cardio Renal Connections Conference, January 2020. 
  • Wybenga L, Matos J, Meireles CL. NP Led Interdisciplinary Partnership to Bridge Gaps in Health Care Services. The American Association of Nurse Practitioners National Conference, June 2019.  
  • Meireles CL, Parke KA, Smith J, Sickora C. A model of healthcare including a nutrition program to promote well-being of high-risk teenager. Texas Academy Annual Conference and Exhibition. April 2019. 
  • Meireles CL, Parke KA, Smith J, Cleveland L, Price S, Graham B, Sickora C. Nutrition care: Promoting Well-Being and Nurturing Promising Futures for Underserved Youth. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 118(S9):A69, September 2018. Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo. October 2018.  
  • Parke KA, Meireles CL, Soucy M, Sisk L, Cleveland L, Smith J, Pierce S.  
  • A nurse-led Model of Care to Address Social and Behavioral Determinants of Health. Center for nursing practice sustainability and innovative models for nurse-led care and clinics, second annual conference. July 2017 (oral). 
  • Parke KA, Meireles CL, McDonald SM. Evidence-based comprehensive analysis of obesogenic risk factors in the first 1000 days of life. IIMS/CTSA 8th Annual Frontiers of Translational Science Research Day. April 2017. 

  Invited Podium Presentations (i. e. keynotes presentations)  

  • 2022 Diet, Lifestyle and Cardio Renal Metabolic Interactions. 5th Cardio Renal Connections virtual conference, Long School of Medicine, UT-Health San Antonio, TX 
  • 2021, Benefits of a Ketogenic Diet: Fact or Fiction. 4th annual Cardio Renal   Connections virtual conference, Long School of Medicine, UT-Health San Antonio  
  • 2020,  Opioid Use Disorder: Dietitian’s role as part of a team. Graduate level. Department of Kinesiology, Health, and Nutrition. University of Texas in San Antonio, TX 
  • 2018,  Dietary Salt and Potassium: What should we tell our patients? 3rd annual Cardio Renal connections, University Health San Antonio Joe R. And Teresa Lozano Long School of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Divisions of Cardiology and Nephrology, San Antonio, TX  

  Peer Reviewed Podium Presentations  

  • 2017,  A nurse-led Model of Care to Address Social and Behavioral Determinants of Health. Center for nursing practice sustainability and innovative models for nurse-led care and clinics, second annual conference, Nashville, TN 

  Peer Reviewed Poster Presentations

  • 2021 Nutrition supporting recovery program for women with opioid use disorder in South Central Texas. Food&Nutrition Conference&Expo. Virtual 
  • 2021, Selection of terms from the nutrition care process terminology of Brazilian renal dietitians. 4th annual Cardio Renal Connections Conference, TX 
  • 2019, Led Interdisciplinary Partnership to Bridge Gaps in Health Care Services. The American Association of Nurse Practitioners National Conference, IN 
  • 2019, A model of healthcare including a nutrition program to promote well-being of high-risk teenager. Texas Academy Annual Conference and Exhibition, TX  
  • 2018, Nutrition care: Promoting Well-Being and Nurturing Promising Futures for Underserved Youth. Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo. Washington DC 
  • 2017, Evidence-based comprehensive analysis of obesogenic risk factors in the first 1000 days of life. IIMS/CTSA 8th Annual Frontiers of Translational Science Research Day, UTHSA, TX