A.S.P.E.N.'s Core Values

Quality: Safe, efficacious and compassionate patient care
Integrity: Honest and ethical behavior
Interdisciplinary: Fostering a community of professionals representing all disciplines and areas of interest in nutrition support therapy
Excellence: The highest quality research, education and evidence-based clinical practice
Mentorship: Leading the development and training of nutrition support therapy professionals
Discovery: New ideas and innovation

Vision

A.S.P.E.N. envisions an environment in which every patient receives safe, efficacious, and high quality nutrition care.

Mission

To improve patient care by advancing the science and practice of clinical nutrition and metabolism.

History of A.S.P.E.N.

The development of parenteral (intravenous) nutrition in 1968, an innovative therapy to nourish individuals during illness and starvation, provided an option to healthcare clinicians concerned with their patients’ nutritional status. This newly developed therapy gave birth to an organization, the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (A.S.P.E.N.) when in 1975, 35 dedicated healthcare professionals met in Chicago to create an interdisciplinary association. A.S.P.E.N. was founded for the purpose of providing optimal nutrition to all people under all conditions at all times. The pioneers of A.S.P.E.N. recognized the importance of research, clinical practice, advocacy, education, and an interdisciplinary approach to nutrition support therapy.

The first A.S.P.E.N. president was Dr. Stanley Dudrick, one of the primary clinical researchers who defined and demonstrated the effectiveness of total parenteral nutrition. One of the most important leaders of the Society was Dr. Jonathan E. Rhoads, known as a surgical nutritionist, who provided the Society with research and programmatic guidance. He mentored many physicians and other healthcare professionals and served as a senior scientist in the development of parenteral nutrition.

The Society began publishing a scientific journal in 1977, the Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition, and a clinical practice journal in 1985, Nutrition in Clinical Practice, both of which are indexed by the National Library of Medicine. The A.S.P.E.N. Rhoads Research Foundation was developed in 1992 to honor Dr. Rhoads and continues to fund basic and clinical nutrition research.

A.S.P.E.N. today has more than 5,500 members and continues its proud tradition of championing the best evidence-based nutrition support for our patients.

References: 
Chernoff R. An overview of tube feeding: from ancient times to the future. Nutr Clin Pract. 21:408-410, 2006. 
Dudrick SJ, Wilmore DW, Vars HM, et al. Long-term total parenteral nutrition with growth, development, and positive nitrogen balance. Surgery 34-142, 1968.
Mirtallo J. A.S.P.E.N. A quarter century of commonality of purpose: presidential perspectives and insights. Clinical Congress Syllabus 2001. American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition.
Vinnars E, Wilmore D. History of parenteral nutrition. J Parenter Enteral Nutr. 27:225-231, 2003.
Wesley, JR. A.S.P.E.N.’s silver anniversary celebration: a sterling beginning, a golden future. Nutr Clin Pract. 15:263-264, 2000.
Vinnars E, Wilmore D. History of parenteral nutrition. J Parenter Enteral Nutr. 27:225-231, 2003. 

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