Our Story

In 2020, after seeing research that showed that PKD cysts may shrink in ketosis and may have slower growth with microcrystal management, our team decided to see if we could safely apply the research with practical strategies in humans.

Our Mission

RISE stands for Research-Based Interventions with Support to Empower Change. Our nutrition program was developed in 2020 by expert renal dietitians at Kidney Nutrition Institute who responded to the need for specialized nutrition support for PKD patients.

Our Mission is kidney disease remission. Our purpose is to help people with kidney disease improve their health by advancing the science, resources, and standards of practice for nutrition in nephrology.

Meet Our Program Coordinator

A PKD Nutrition Expert With PKD

Hi, I'm Kelly Welsh, program coordinator for RISE - and former RISE participant.

My journey with PKD started in my twenties and has been filled with challenges, including a significant decline in kidney function after contracting COVID twice. But it was the discovery of how nutrition could positively impact PKD that led me to the RISE program – a decision that changed my life.

As a dietitian with over 20 years of experience, I was accustomed to managing symptoms rather than preventing them. Joining RISE gave me hope and a sense of control, offering a strategy different from the textbook kidney diets. The program not only helped stabilize my kidney function as I awaited a transplant, but it also kept me free from the typical side effects associated with low GFR.

More About Kelly

Now, as the RISE Program Coordinator, I am passionate about helping others navigate this journey. Our program is not just a one-size-fits-all approach; it's a personalized plan that adapts to your individual needs, from dietary requirements to supplement advice. You'll have a dedicated dietitian guiding you, combined with the support of a community that understands your challenges. This program is about gaining confidence, learning sustainable practices, and experiencing the joy of feeling better in ways you never thought possible.

Join us and experience the transformation for yourself – because with RISE, you have nothing to lose and everything to gain. Let's embark on this journey together.

~ Kelly

Meet the Dietitians at RISE

Jessianna Saville MS, RD

Program Founder, Dietitian

Meet Jess

Jessianna Saville is a registered dietitian and board certified renal nutrition expert. She runs an innovative private practice focused on pioneering integrative nutrition approaches for CKD and PKD, runs courses for dietitians to teach them in-depth nutrition therapy for CKD, develops nutrition resources for patients and renal dietitians.

Jessianna Saville was named the 2020 Renal Dietitian of the Year and the 2023 Susan C. Knapp Excellence in Education of the Year by the National Kidney Foundation and is frequent speaker for renal dietitian and patient conferences.

Outside of her nephrology work, she loves getting her hands in the dirt to grow vegetables (currently collards are her only success) and herbs, playing the piano to help her solve problems, and exploring bugs, plants, and local trails with her young children. And definitely sneaking a nap in whenever possible.

Jennifer Zinetti, RD

RISE Dietitian

Meet Jennifer

Amy Harshman MS, RD

Program Dietitian

Meet Amy

Hi, I'm Amy. I'm a renal expert and a certified mind body nutrition coach who loves teaching and helping my patients solve problems to achieve kidney health.

The kidneys are so fascinating to me because of their diverse roles in maintaining balance in the body. I especially love being a renal dietitian because it is very rewarding to see real changes and improvements from food and nutrition changes.

My strengths are in making connections with people and working together to come up with practical solutions for better health. Each person's goals are unique and important to me and my goal is to help them achieve their own vision of health success.

Take control of your kidney health today.

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