Meet Our 2023 Speakers

Annmarie Duggan, MS, RD

Annmarie has 35 years of clinical nutrition experience including the last 27 years working as a renal dietitian, caring for both in-center and home dialysis patients in South Florida. Her career has included experience as a nutrition support dietitian, adjunct professor, dietetic intern preceptor, research coordinator and member of multiple advisory boards and speakers' bureaus. She is currently the Clinical Education Specialist for Pentec Health. 

Clark Kensinger, MD

Dr. Clark Kensinger is a multi-organ, abdominal transplant surgeon specializing in liver, kidney and pancreas transplantation at Piedmont Transplant Institute and is the Surgical Director of Kidney and Pancreas Transplant Surgery.  He serves as an Associate Medical Director for Lifelink of Georgia and is the Director of Critical Care Medicine for Lifelink’s Organ Recovery Center.​

He earned his medical degree from University of Virginia School of Medicine after completing his undergraduate studies in chemistry at Washington and Lee University. He completed his general surgery residency at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, and his abdominal transplant surgery fellowship at the University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics. In addition, he completed a critical care fellowship at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.  

Lilian Pryor, MSN, RN, CNN

Lillian Pryor has practiced as a Nephrology Nurse and has been a patient advocate for over 30 years. She is a Past President of the American Nephrology Nurses Association, (ANNA), a professional nursing association comprising more than 6,300 nephrology nurses. She was employed at CVS Health (KidneyCare), in the role of Sr. Mgr. for Medical Education, and most recently is an instructor at Georgia Piedmont College. Dr. Pryor is a published author, presenter and recently was a panelist for the Rogosin Institute Virtual Symposium: Lessons Learned from COVID-19: Preparing for a Future Pandemic. She has published articles in the Nephrology Nursing Journal and contributed to chapters in the most recent Seventh edition of the ANNA Core Curriculum for Nephrology Nursing and Contemporary Nephrology Nursing. Dr. Pryor has been a member of ANNA since 1990 and serves as ANNA representative to KDIGO. She is also an active member of Chi Eta Phi Sorority, Mu Phi Chapter and member of the local ANNA Dogwood Chapter in Georgia and has served the chapter as both its president and health policy representative. As a Nephrology Nurse, Dr. Pryor works diligently to ensure nurses’ and patients’ voices are heard. She believes that nurses and healthcare professionals have the crucial responsibility of advocating for patients and improving care.

Nadia Mazella, MS, RDN, CSR, LD

A graduate of Colorado State University’s coordinated MS/DI program, Nadia is currently celebrating her 20th year as a Registered Dietitian. Nadia started her career in dietetics in the acute care setting before moving into dialysis 12 years ago. Nadia recently stepped into the position of Manager, Nutrition Services for Zone 1 of the North Georgia Region for Fresenius Medical Care after working as a facility dietitian in the Lake Lanier Area. Nadia previously worked for DaVita and was a Region Point Dietitian in the Lumineers Division in Massachusetts. When not at work, you can find Nadia in the stands at school sporting events supporting her two teenage daughters or in her small (but manageable) home garden. She is currently our GRNA Chair. 

Alice Jacob, PhD, RD, LD

Dr. Alice Jacob has a wide spectrum of dietetic experience as a public health clinical manager at Cobb and Douglas WIC programs, as an adjunct lecturer at Life University, and currently, as a Renal Dietitian at DaVita Kennestone Dialysis Center. She specialized in Foods and Nutrition for her Masters and PhD. Her PhD thesis was on the effect of selected modifiable maternal risk factors during pregnancy on early childhood obesity. She studied mainly at Madras University in Chennai, India. She is blessed with three beautiful daughters and one special granddaughter.

Kesha Palmer, RD LD

Kesha is a Registered Dietitian with 10 years experience in the nephrology field, working at DaVita Dialysis. She also owned her own business for many years. Kesha received her degrees at the University of Georgia and Virginia State University. 

Caitlin Waddle, MS, RDN, LD

Caitlin Waddle is a pediatric dietitian with over 8 years of clinical experience with expertise in pediatric feeding disorders, food allergy and weight management. She has served on The Public Policy Committee for The Georgia Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics since 2020 and her focus has been Georgia Medicaid advocacy for dietitians. She lives in Atlanta with her husband and two children. 

Trisha Fuhrman, MS, RDN, LDN, FASPEN, FAND

Trisha Fuhrman has been involved in providing nutrition support for critical care, home care, and dialysis patients. She has published in peer-reviewed journals and textbooks and has given a multitude of professional presentations on topics related to nutrition support at local, state, national and international meetings. Trisha has served as a member of the Board of Directors for the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (A.S.P.E.N.) and for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. She has also served on the Executive Committee for the Council on Renal Nutrition. She is currently employed as the Clinical Liaison Lead for Pentec Health, Inc.

John Williams, MS, RD

John worked as a Renal Dietitian at Total Renal Care/DaVita just outside Charlotte, NC for 5 years.  He has 25 years of renal experience, with the past 20 years working as a field medical representative with Bone Care, Genzyme, Sanofi, and currently CSL-Vifor.  He Currently lives in Greensboro, NC and enjoys traveling, exercise, and hanging with friends.

Flavius de Castro Nascmento, APRN, NP, AGPCNP-BC

Flavius is a nurse practitioner with experience in the dialysis field since 1991. He currently cares for patients in dialysis clinics, outpatient offices and hospitals for Florida Kidney Physicians; owns his own tutoring company for Brazilian medical professionals; and is a contracted speaker for Fresenius Kidney Care. Originally from Brazil, he now resides in Coral Springs, FL. He speaks English, Portuguese and Spanish, and is learning French. Besides nursing, he also holds a Law Degree.