Stacie L. Wing-Gaia, PhD, RD, CD, MS, CSSD

Stacie Wing-Gaia, Ph.D, R.D., C.S.S.D is currently a bionutritionist (research dietitian) with the Center for Clinical and Translational Science (CCTS) - Clinical Services Core and an adjunct associate professor for the Department of Nutrition and Integrative Physiology. She was director of sports nutrition for the University of Utah Department of Nutrition and Integrative Physiology for 10 years. As a bionutritionist, she reviews and develops nutrition research protocols. Dr. Wing-Gaia is a board certified specialist in sports dietetics through the Commission of Dietetic Registration. Her research interests focus on sports nutrition, particularly nutrition and high altitude. Dr. Wing-Gaia completed her doctorate in exercise physiology in the Department of Exercise and Sport Science and her Masters of Science degree in Nutrition Science both at the University of Utah. She received a Bachelors of Science degree from the University of California, Davis in Dietetics with a minor in Exercise Physiology. She completed a dietetic internship at Oregon Health Sciences University. Dr. Wing-Gaia formerly served on the editorial board for the journal of Wilderness and Environmental Medicine and currently serves as the co-editor for Sports Dietetics Research Digest Pulse, a quarterly publication. She is also a member of several professional organizations including the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Dr. Wing-Gaia has taught and developed a number of courses on a variety of topics, has conducted high altitude field research focused on muscle wasting in Nepal and Tibet, and has chaired numerous graduate projects. Prior to teaching at the University of Utah, Stacie worked as a dietitian in the areas of clinical, sports, and public health. She counseled patients on nutrition and disease prevention with emphasis in lactation promotion and on nutrition and sports performance. She currently teaches both exercise science and nutrition courses at Weber State University in addition to her research responsibilities with CCTS.

Research Statement

My current research focus is on methods of attenuating loss of lean body mass at altitude. In previous research I investigated differences in body composition between lowlanders and Sherpas. In 2011 and 2012 I traveled to Mt. Everest to conduct field research investigating the effects of the amino acid leucine on body composition in trekkers and climbers. I believe understanding nutritional interventions to attenuate loss of lean body mass at altitude may have future application to muscle wasting associated with subcaloric diets and disease states such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and cancer cachexia.