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Kayla Smith, a dialysis nutrition manager, nominated to DC Board of Dietetics and Nutrition
Summary
Mayor-nominee Kayla Smith described more than a decade of clinical and managerial nutrition experience and said her priorities would include streamlining licensure, timely complaint review and continuing education; she pledged transparency and recusal for conflicts.
Kayla Smith, nominated by the mayor to a seat on the District of Columbia Board of Dietetics and Nutrition that would run through March 12, 2028 if confirmed, testified at a Jan. 23 Committee on Health roundtable about her experience overseeing nutrition services in dialysis and long-term care settings.
Smith said she has more than 10 years of experience in clinical nutrition and health-care leadership and currently serves as an area manager with Fresenius Medical Care. "My belief that food is foundational to health has guided my career and continues to shape my commitment to safe, ethical, and adequate nutrition care," she told the committee.
She told members she would prioritize improving the licensure process, promoting transparent and timely complaint reviews, encouraging continuing education for practitioners, and strengthening oversight to protect patient safety. When asked about potential conflicts because she hires dietitians, Smith said she would be transparent and recuse herself when appropriate, following ethics protocols.
Smith described compliance work in her current role as largely documentation review to ensure staff meet Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) expectations and to support survey readiness; she also noted recent changes to ordering processes that require additional auditing. In testimony she stated, verbatim, "As of 2024, there are approximately 2 36 licensed dietitians and nutritionists in the district, with projections indicating growth of 2 50 or more." The numeric figures in the transcript were unclear; the exact current count was not specified in testimony.
The committee will consider Smith's nomination at its next meeting on Jan. 26.
