Charlene Tan-Smith

Ketogenic Dietitian | New Zealand Registered Dietitian

I have been a registered dietitian in New Zealand since 2005, working across public and private healthcare. Before coming to New Zealand, I worked as a nutritionist with the Ministry of Health in Singapore. I began specialising in paediatrics in 2006 and spent much of my clinical career at Christchurch Hospital, where I developed a particular interest in ketogenic dietary therapies for children with drug-resistant epilepsy.

My work has grown alongside the development of ketogenic therapy itself. What began primarily as a treatment for childhood epilepsy has become an increasingly diverse area of clinical practice, with evolving approaches, new applications and growing international research.

I currently work for Health New Zealand. As part of my private practice, I provide specialist supervision and support to ketogenic services across the South Island, Waikato and MidCentral regions, as well as direct treatment for patients in the lower North Island. My private practice also includes providing pro bono specialist support for selected patients with severe mental health conditions.

Research and professional collaboration are important parts of my practice. Through my involvement with the Ketogenic Dietitians Research Network (KDRN) and my international professional relationships, I contribute to discussions about clinical practice, emerging evidence and how ketogenic therapies can continue to develop safely and effectively.

What continues to interest me most is that ketogenic dietary therapy is never simply about following a diet. It requires individualised clinical reasoning, careful monitoring and an understanding of how each patient responds. After many years in this field, I still find it an exciting and evolving area of healthcare.