Emily Donahue Named Young Dietitian of the Year

Food serves as a source of nourishment, strength and medicine for patients at the ChristianaCare Helen F. Graham Cancer Center & Research Institute. By partnering with specialized oncology dietitians like Emily Donahue, RDN, LDN, patients receive personalized nutrition recommendations designed to meet their needs and support their healing journey.

Because of her outstanding work, Donahue was awarded Young Dietitian of the Year by the Delaware Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (DAND). The award recognizes dedicated dietitians who have had a profound impact on patients through their commitment to serving specialized nutritional needs.

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Donahue was honored to receive the recognition. “I am proud of this accomplishment and grateful to those who have helped me reach this milestone in my dietetics career,” she said. “Being recognized by my peers from the DAND validates the work I do on a daily basis to assist the patients I serve.”

Passion for Nutrition

Since 2018, Donahue has volunteered, shadowed and now works as a full-time dietitian at the Graham Cancer Center. Throughout her time at ChristianaCare, she has seen the importance of nutrition support for patients during their cancer journey.

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She loves being able to educate her patients on food-related topics and showing them that healthy food can be delicious. When creating dietary plans, Donahue considers the types of treatments her patients are receiving, the side effects they’re experiencing and where they are on their health journey.

“Oncology dietitians are essential for cancer patients as there can be many nutrition questions and concerns following a diagnosis, throughout active treatments and even into cancer survivorship,” she said. “I help provide realistic recommendations, and tips and tricks to assist with meeting their nutrition goals.”

Guiding Patients on Their Health Journey

Donohue said that every day she meets individuals who make a difference in her life, and herself in theirs. She is grateful to be able to use her expertise as an oncology dietitian to truly meet the nutritional needs of her patients.

“I am passionate about food and the impact it has on our health,” she said. “I enjoy working as an oncology dietitian because patients deserve to feel comfortable and confident with their food and beverage choices throughout cancer treatments.”

Karen Sites, MSN, RN, OCN, CCM, director of cancer care navigation and oncology nutrition and Donahue’s nominator, is a strong supporter of her colleague’s work. “Emily is invested in making a difference to help patients. She energetically commits time to develop and provide nutrition and patient education programs and to promote wellness and prevention in the oncology population,” Sites wrote. “She is giving back daily to the community she loves.”