Lillian Avery Salcedo

Lillian Avery Salcedo is a pharmacy resident with Kroger and Virginia Commonwealth University in Roanoke, VA.

“This project empowers pharmacists to play a critical role in connecting patients with dietitian services, enabling personalized nutrition care that supports sustainable health improvements. By focusing on conditions, such as diabetes and heart disease, we are aiming to bridge the gap in accessible nutrition counseling, especially for individuals who face barriers to traditional healthcare access. This initiative highlights the pharmacist’s role in improving community health through proactive support and referrals.

The motivation for this project emerged from a need to enhance patient access to preventive nutrition care, particularly for those managing chronic conditions. Recognizing the valuable role pharmacists play in patient care, we aim to build a seamless referral system to connect eligible patients with registered dietitians for focused Medical Nutrition Therapy. This approach supports patients with ongoing health management through convenient, pharmacist-led outreach.

I am honored to receive an Incentive Grant this year and am excited to showcase the vital role community pharmacists play in facilitating access to nutrition care. I look forward to seeing the impact of this study within a large community pharmacy setting, where pharmacists are empowered to fully utilize their expertise to improve patient outcomes.”