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Fresenius Kabi & ESICM: Three Years of Critical Illness Nutrition Fellowships

International fellows and mentors highlight hands-on training and collaboration

December 2, 2025

Fresenius Kabi and the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine (ESICM) mark three years of close collaboration to advance nutritional therapy and improve patient outcomes in intensive care. Through the ESICM eCourse 'Nutrition in Critical Illness' and the associated Fellowship program, this partnership supports healthcare professionals with evidence-based knowledge and hands-on clinical training to enhance patient care.

Each year, the top ten participants of the ESICM eCourse are awarded fellowships sponsored by Fresenius Kabi. These fellowships provide immersive training at leading European intensive care units. In 2025, fellows from Croatia, Germany, Greece, India, Italy, Nepal, Portugal, Thailand, the UAE, and the UK gained practical insights and exchanged perspectives across borders.

Hands-On Learning at Leading Intensive Care Units

This year’s clinical trainings were hosted by two renowned institutions:

  • University Hospitals Leuven, Belgium, led by Professors Michael Casaer and Jan Gunst
  • Karolinska University Hospital, Sweden, under the guidance of Professors Olav Rooyackers and Martin Sundström Rehal

The Fellows received mentorship, participated in small-group discussions, and experienced real-time clinical exposure, deepening their understanding of nutrition therapy in intensive care. Dr. Astrid Spindler, VP Medical-Scientific Excellence Clinical Nutrition at Fresenius Kabi, emphasized: “Early training in medical nutrition builds clinical confidence and supports timely, effective care in critical settings. When science meets practical application, knowledge transforms into meaningful impact.”

Group photo of the fellowship team in Sweden.
Fellowship at Karolinska University Hospital, Sweden.

Participant and Tutor Perspectives

Participants shared their experiences in their own words. Maria Bourikou from Greece said, “The best aspect was learning next to nutrition experts, whose knowledge and experience enhanced my confidence in applying nutritional principles to patient care.” Dina Mendes from Portugal emphasized, “Being a group of different health professionals with varied perspectives helped us understand how the multidisciplinary team works in Sweden, including researchers.” Trongtrakul Konklawij from Thailand added, “One of the best programs I have attended. Clinical observation, classroom discussion, and journal clubs were highly valuable, and the staff gave us a warm welcome.”

Professor Michael Casaer reflected, “This year’s group inspired us to rethink our own protocols and discover new ways to improve care. I am proud of what our physiotherapy team achieved, both in research and clinical practice.” Professor Martin Sundström-Rehal summarized the breadth of the fellowship: “Topics in the fellowship included nutrition routines, rehabilitation in persistent critical illness, swallowing dysfunction post-ICU, assessments of muscle mass, indirect calorimetry and ICU research. It was a great exchange of knowledge and ideas!”

Group photo of the fellowship team in Belgium.
Fellowship at University Hospitals Leuven, Belgium.

Fellowship Meeting Highlight at the ESICM Congress

At the 38th ESICM LIVES 2025 Congress in Munich, Fresenius Kabi joined fellows and experts to discuss their experiences, exchange clinical insights, and celebrate the achievements of the Nutrition in Critical Illness fellowship program. Discussions highlighted the increasing importance of nutrition therapy in the care of critically ill patients and the value of continued education in this field.

For more information about Fresenius Kabi’s collaboration with the ESICM society and key insights from our Satellite Symposium at the ESICM Congress 2025, visit nutritonevents.com.