Dietitian reflects on nearly five decades of patient care

She’s worked in various aspects of transplant and has learned as the program has grown.

By TJ Banes, IU Health Senior Journalist, tfender1@iuhealth.org.

Linda Ulerich has a rich history with IU Health. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Purdue University majoring in nutrition and dietetics and began working at IU Health’s Methodist Hospital. That was 47 years ago and since then she has worked in various units, with a primary focus on transplant.

Her first exposure to IU Health’s transplant program was when she filled in for what was known as the “Renal Unit.”

“I loved the challenge of the dialysis patient population as the diet restrictions and educational needs were very complex,” said Ulerich. This was her first exposure to IU Health’s organ transplantation program.

IU Health’s organ transplant program began in 1965 with a kidney transplant. Since then, the program has expanded to adult and pediatric liver, heart, lungs, kidney, pancreas, and multi-organ transplants. The program includes living donors for liver and kidneys. Over the years, IU Health has become nationally recognized both in transplant numbers and clinical care.

“Back then, we only had what I would call a “handful” of kidney transplants performed each year,” said Ulerich, who worked in the kidney transplant area for 25 years and followed the kidney-pancreas transplant patients through their recovery. By comparison, in 2024, IU Health performed 569 pediatric and adult transplants.

Ulerich eventually worked with other transplant patients as well, including heart and lungs.

“When COVID came along, the nutritional challenges with that patient population was immense. Initially there were no specific nutrition support guidelines for COVID patients, but that was quickly addressed, and national guidelines were provided. When patients need ECMO to sustain them while awaiting transplant, nutritional challenges can be even more complex,” said Ulerich, who moved to the outpatient heart and lung clinic three years ago.

“This gives me a chance to continue to provide the broad spectrum of nutritional care for patients from the time they are referred for evaluation, through the waiting period, and then throughout the post-transplant phase,” said Ulerich.

“I think the reason I went into healthcare is to help people live a healthier life, despite their medical conditions. I’ve always enjoyed the long-term relationships I establish with patients and their families over the long haul.

“One of things I like best about my job is that I have had such wonderful opportunities to work with the most amazing doctors, nurses, pharmacists, social workers, psychologists, physical therapists, and respiratory therapists that all work together to help all our patients and families to deal with every aspect of their chronic illness and help them thrive going forward. I have also learned so much from my patients regarding their will to live, their outlook on life and their gratitude for being able to live a better life.”

Outside of work Ulerich has been married to her husband, Mike for 48 years. They grew up in the same hometown and were married right out of college. They have three grown children.