Jessie Hulst

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Other Academic and Clinical Appointments

Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics, University of Toronto (2020 - present)

Project Investigator, Research Institute, The Hospital for Sick Children (2019 - present)

Staff Physician, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, The Hospital for Sick Children (2018 - present)

Honorary Staff, Department of Pediatrics, Erasmus Medical Center Rotterdam - Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, the Netherlands (2018 - present)

At a Glance

• Dr. Hulst's research aims to find and apply appropriate methods for nutritional screening and nutritional assessment in children with medical conditions, with the ultimate goal of improving their outcome with appropriate intervention that evolves from screening and assessment.

About Dr. Jessie Hulst

Dr. Jessie Hulst is a staff gastroenterologist in the Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition of The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto and an Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics and Department of Nutritional Sciences of the University of Toronto. Before joining Sickkids in July 2018, she was a Staff Gastroenterologist in Erasmus Medical Center, Sophia Children’s Hospital, Rotterdam in the Netherlands, from 2011-2018.

Dr. Hulst obtained her PhD on the topic of nutritional assessment in critically ill children in 2004, and has been involved in both national and international research about this topic since. In 2009, she developed a simple nutritional (risk) screening tool (STRONGkids), which is used in multiple hospitals around the world. Dr. Hulst's research interests are also focused on nutritional status and body composition in relation to disease in various patient groups including children with intestinal failure. She has published > 75 peer-reviewed manuscripts and >10 book chapters.

Furthermore, Dr. Hulst has been involved in several national and international working groups related to pediatric nutrition, such as a member of Committee of Nutrition of ESPGHAN, Chair of The European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology Hepatology and Nutrition (ESPGHAN) working group on Clinical malnutrition, and as a member and secretary of the committee on nutrition of the Dutch pediatric association. As the Chair of Pediatric section of the Dutch Malnutrition Taskforce, Dr. Hulst was involved in the development and implementation of a nationwide pediatric malnutrition pathway.

At SickKids, Dr. Hulst is currently running a complex Nutrition clinic and Eosinophilic Esophagitis clinic, she is the hospital pediatric nutrition medical lead and the Chair of the Nutritional Advisory Committee. She is also the co-chair of the Pediatric working group of the Canadian Malnutrition Task Force and working on the design and implementation of a pediatric malnutrition pathway in Canada.

Research Synopsis

Dr. Hulst's research primarily aims to find and apply good methods for nutritional screening and nutritional assessment in children with medical conditions with the ultimate goal to improve their outcome with nutritional intervention that evolves from screening and assessment. Undernutrition in hospitalized patients is not recognized very often but is associated with poorer outcome compared to well-nourished patients. Moreover, long-term follow-up studies and high-quality intervention trials have been lacking in children. On the other hand, children with chronic diseases are also more at risk to have abnormal body composition (lower lean mass, higher fat mass) as compared to healthy children which can affect long term outcome as well in terms of muscle function, increased risk of obesity and its associated cardiovascular disease. Currently, Dr. Hulst's research focuses on screening for malnutrition, assessment of nutritional status, body composition, and functional parameters in relation to (chronic) disease and finding personalized approaches including dietary recommendations, medical, nutrition, and exercise therapies that may maximize muscle mass and strength in youth to prevent the burden of sarcopenia in adulthood and in older age.

Recent Awards and Distinctions (Selected)

Best Scientific Abstract (Oral Session), European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (2019)

Most Valuable Personal Contribution to the MyCyFAPP Project (funded by the European Union), Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands (2018)

Most Contributing Partner to the MyCyFAPP Project (funded by the European Union), Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands (2018)

Poster of Distinction, European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (2017)

Poster of Distinction, Paediatric Intestinal Failure and Intestinal Rehabilitation Symposium (2016)

National and International Committee Memberships (Current)

Member, Canadian Malnutrition Task Force Advisory Council (2020 - present)

Co-Chair, Pediatric Working Group, Canadian Malnutrition Task Force (2019 - present)

Member, Working Group on Clinical Nutrition, European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (2018 - present)

Member, Intestinal Failure Working Group, European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (2016 - present)

Member and Co-Initiator, Paediatric Special Interest Group, European Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (2015 - present)