Kelly Welsh

Kelly Welsh brings more than 15 years of experience to the field of nutrition and readers alike. She is currently a Registered and Certified Dietitian in the state of Wisconsin and works at The Kidney Nutrition Institute.  Kelly’s primary area of interest is renal dietetics, with a focus on Polycystic Kidney Disease and Nutrition.

Beginning her career in clinical nutrition, with a focus on oncology nutrition, Kelly developed an interest for renal dietetics when she was diagnosed with Polycystic Kidney Disease in 1997.  She was diagnosed during a physical that she received upon entry into her first professional position.  She parlayed this interest into a position as a dietitian in a hemodialysis unit.  Kelly continued and nurtured this interest, when she moved within the same company to their Peritoneal Dialysis Program and became their nutrition expert leading their nutrition efforts, as it grew to be one of the largest free-standing Peritoneal Dialysis units in the country. There her accomplishments included but are not limited to, being one of the key professionals involved in the development of a Dialysis Options Class, assisting in the development and execution of a “Keeping Your Kidneys Healthy” class, management of 140 patients, at it’s highest, development of all nutrition materials, the development of nutrition-related protocols, and the initiation of several CQI projects with focus on the patient and bone disease and albumin levels. Kelly’s current professional position is within Davita Healthcare, focusing her nutrition efforts on Home Hemodialysis and Peritoneal Dialysis Patients.

Leveraging an expanding portfolio in nutrition education, focusing on nutrition education, Kelly is frequently asked to present at community speaking engagements, including with the National Kidney Foundation, the Polycystic Kidney Disease Foundation, community TV news interviews, with focus on general nutrition interest topics and training of R.D.’s in the renal nutrition arena. She is the author of “Brilliant Eats, Simple and Delicious Recipes for Anyone Who Wants to Be KidneyWise,” and partners with the National Polycystic Kidney Disease Foundation, to provide weekly nutrition blogs to patients and readers.

Kelly is also credited with supporting the birth of the Milwaukee Polycystic Kidney Disease Chapter in 2006.  She was the co-chair of this chapter for approximately 1 year and co-chaired the very first Milwaukee Walk for PKD.

Kelly’s professional interests are supported by her membership in the American Dietetic Association, with a focus on her membership in their Renal Practice and Private Consulting Groups.

Kelly earned her Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Dietetics from Mount Mary College, in Milwaukee, in 1997. Her passion for nutrition is now focused on the PKD patient and the Ren.nu program. She is a proud mom of three children, Halle (21), Macy (17) and Regie (14).  She currently resides in Cedarburg, Wisconsin with her husband (Nick) and children.