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Meet Our Board
Ruba Jibreen is a Board Certified Specialist in Renal Nutrition with a Masters degree in Nutrition and a Masters of Business Administration. She has served in the renal field for more than 15 years, with most of her career taking place at DaVita. More recently, she resides at Emory, where she serves as the Manager of the Renal Dietitian Team. Ruba is an active volunteer in the renal field at both the national and local levels. She has been a Board member of the NKF Council on Renal Nutrition (CRN) for 6 consecutive years, with 2 terms as an Alternate Representative and 1 term as a Representative for Region 2. Ruba is currently a member of the CRN Continuing Education Review Committee. She served as a Board Member at what was previously the GCRN, working on many committees as the Chair, Chair-elect, Membership Chair, Treasurer, and now Awards Chair for the GRNA. Alongside her professional work, Ruba has also been active in raising awareness of kidney disease by participating in local community events, such as the kidney walk and health fairs.
Chair 2025-2027 & Awards
Ruba Jibreen,
MBA, MS, RD, CSR, LD
Kristen Hackey,
RDN, LD, FNKF
Chair-Elect
Kristen Hackey is an Atlanta native and dedicated nutrition professional with extensive experience in renal nutrition, clinical care, and wellness. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nutrition from Georgia State University and currently serves as a Clinical Account Manager with Pentec Health. Throughout her career, Kristen has held leadership and clinical roles in renal nutrition, including serving as a divisional lead and dialysis clinic dietitian. Her diverse background also includes freelance nutrition consulting, sports and wellness nutrition, and working with high school athletes and individual clients. She has extensive experience in clinical nutrition, nutrition support, patient counseling, and wellness promotion, and has presented on topics including chronic kidney disease, diabetes, oncology, and weight management.
Kristen’s passion for renal nutrition is deeply personal. After supporting her cousin through dialysis and ultimately losing her to complications of kidney disease, Kristen developed a strong commitment to helping others facing similar challenges. Her work in the renal community is both a professional calling and a meaningful way to honor her cousin’s memory. Kristen is equally passionate about mentoring future dietitians. She has served as a preceptor for dietetic internship programs throughout Georgia and was recognized with the 2011 Preceptor of the Year Award for her contributions. She has also conducted and published research focused on childhood obesity prevention and raising awareness of chronic disease in children. Outside of her professional life, Kristen enjoys spending time with her husband, children, and animals, traveling, exercising, exploring the outdoors, and volunteering in community outreach initiatives.
Christine Benedetti, MS, RDN, CSR, LD
Secretary & Rules and Regulations
Christine is a Board Certified Specialist in Renal Nutrition, bringing over 15 years of expertise in nephrology across both adult and pediatrics. Currently based at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, she has demonstrated a profound commitment to education throughout her career. Her dedication to fostering the next generation of nutrition professionals is evident through her leadership role in the Clinical Nutrition Internship Program at Children's, where she developed specialized rotations in general pediatric nutrition and renal-specific care. Moreover, she spearheaded the organization's annual 2-day Pediatric Nutrition Conference for 5 years, showcasing her passion for advancing knowledge and best practices in the field. Christine's influence extends beyond the hospital walls, as she has been a featured speaker at national conferences such as the National Kidney Foundation’s (NKF) Spring Clinical Meetings (SCM) and Pediatric Renal Nutrition Academies. Her contributions to nonprofit Executive Boards, including the NKF Council on Renal Nutrition (CRN), NKF SCM Program Committee, Georgia Renal Nutrition Association, and Pediatric Renal Dietitians of North America (PRONA), highlight her commitment to advancing the nephrology nutrition field at large. Christine has received numerous accolades over the last 10 years, including the NKF Recognized Renal Dietitian of the Year award, the Georgia Renal Dietitian of the Year award, the Academy's RPG Outstanding Service Award, and the Pediatric Renal Dietitian of the Year award. Beyond her professional achievements, Christine finds joy in family moments with her husband and four daughters. She also indulges in her passions for cooking, traveling, yoga and tennis, embodying a well-rounded and vibrant approach to life.
Rob Meadows,
MBA, RD, LD
Treasurer
Rob has been a dietitian for 24 years. He is currently the Director of Business Development for Patient Care America and has held roles in varies companies including RD, FA, Sales, and Sales Leadership. Rob has been a member of GCRN since 2001 and is currently the Treasurer. He has held other roles including Chair, Chair Elect, and Education Chair. He received Outstanding Georgia Dietitian award from GCRN in 2009 and holds many company awards and recognitions. Rob is married to his wife Carrie for 24 years and has a 16 yo daughter and 14 yo son. He is an avid Mountain biker who loves active hobbies and sports including skateboarding, snowboarding, golf, bowling, and billiards.
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.
Supporting Membership
Nadia Marzella,
MS, RDN, CSR, LD
Patti Scott,
RDN, LD
Social Media
Patti graduated from Georgia State University with a Bachelor’s degree in food and dietetics and is celebrating over 30 years as a Registered Dietitian. She started her dietetics career in acute care, long term care, and consulting until she discovered the world of renal. Patti worked as a Renal Dietitian for 15 years for various independent dialysis companies and eventually DaVita where she was the Region Point Dietitian. She is currently a Senior Account Executive for Pentec Health. Patti is married to her husband of >30 years, Henry, and they have 2 grown daughters and 1 grandson. When she isn’t working, she enjoys being outdoors near the water and spending time with her family.
Gabriella White is a registered dietitian with nearly four years of experience in kidney care. She earned her Master of Science degree from the University of Alabama and currently works with the Emory Transplant team, supporting patients throughout their transplant journey. Gabriella is passionate about advancing renal nutrition care, fostering professional connections, and supporting the dietetics community. Through her involvement with the Georgia Renal Nutrition Association (GRNA), she looks forward to contributing to the organization's mission of education, collaboration, and professional development.
Newsletter
Gabriella White,
MS, RD, LD
Join Us
Our Board is elected and/or appointed annually. Contact us if you are interested in serving on the GRNA Board, a committee or volunteering at an event!
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