Executive Committee

Executive Committee

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Executive Committee (Voting Members)

Chair

Lauren Fay, MPH, RD-AP, CSO, CNSC

Lauren is the Clinical Nutrition Manager at Inova Schar Cancer Institute and Life with Cancer in Fairfax, Virginia. Lauren has spent the majority of her career supporting the nutrition needs of oncology patients in the inpatient and outpatient setting. She has a strong professional interest and expertise in policy, and has a master's degree in public health with a focus in health policy from George Mason University. 

Chair-Elect

Tracy de Leon, MDS, RD, LD

Tracy de Leon is a Registered Dietitian who was born and raised in San Antonio, Texas. She graduated from the University of Texas at San Antonio (USTA) in 2016 with a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics and a Master's of Dietetics Studies. Tracy has worked closely with oncology patients, primarily, in both inpatient and outpatient clinical settings. She continues to have patient care as the driving force for her efforts and is an advocate for patients and their caregivers, for dietitians, and for team member collaboration. 

     

Past Chair

Jill Hamilton-Reeves, PhD, RD, CSO

Dr. Hamilton-Reeves is a Professor at the University of Kansas Medical Center. Dr. Hamilton-Reeves works with urologists and medical oncologists to foster the discovery of better diet and exercise approaches to benefit patients with cancer. Her nationally funded research program is focused on nutrition interventions in bladder and prostate cancer. Dr. Hamilton-Reeves received her PhD in nutrition from the University of Minnesota in 2006. She is an American Cancer Society Research Scholar. Her academic career is devoted to improving patient outcomes from cancer treatment with diet and physical activity. Her work is supported by the American Cancer Society and the National Cancer Institute. 

     

Nominating Committee Chair

Breanna Campbell, MS, RD, CSO, LDN

Breanna is a Population Health Dietitian at Southwestern Health Resources. Breanna works as part of an Accountable Care Organization in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex providing nutrition interventions to address both nutritional needs and social determinants of health within the population. Throughout her career as an outpatient dietitian for the underserved, Breanna focuses on improving nutrition and its role within social determinants of health and health outcomes within the oncology population. She received her master's degree in clinical nutrition from Texas Women's University and completed her undergraduate degree at Baylor University. 

     

Secretary

Joy Heimgartner, MS, RD, CSO, LD, CNSC

Joy is a clinical dietitian at Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, and since 2011 has been the primary dietitian for the hospital-based outpatient Blood & Marrow Transplant program. She is an Advanced Practice Level 2 dietitian and Assistant Professor of Nutrition in the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine & Science. In addition to full-time patient care, Joy is involved in medical trainee education, clinical research, writing and dietitian mentoring. She is an active volunteer with the Blood & Marrow Transplant subunit of the Oncology Dietetic Practice Group of the Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics. 

     

Treasurer

Jeffrey Whitridge, MS, RDN, CSO, LDN

Jeffrey Whitridge is a surgical oncology dietitian, clinical dietitian level IV, at the University of Chicago Medicine. The patient population that Jeffrey works with includes patients with appendiceal, colorectal, esophageal, gastric, hepatic and pancreatic cancers. Jeffrey delivers extensive nutrition education and counseling to patients undergoing cytoreductive surgery with heated intraperitoneal chemotherapy as well as hepatic internal artery pump placement. Jeffrey has been in the field of clinical dietetics and nutrition for over 25 years with over 19 years specializing in oncology nutrition. Jeffrey has offered lectures on oncology nutrition-related topics that highlight prevention, treatment and survivorship at the local, regional state and national levels. Jeffrey is also a devoted patient advocate. Jeffrey received his Bachelor of Science degree in Food Science and Human Nutrition from the University of Hawaii at Manoa and a Masters of Science in Human Nutrition from the University of Bridgeport. His graduate work highlighted integrative and functional nutrition that underscores the role of health, wellness and disease prevention. For more than 15 years, Jeffrey has held certification specializing in oncology nutrition from the Commission on Dietetic Registration. His other interests include the field of Lifestyle Medicine or Food as Medicine as well as the implementation of a whole food, plant-based eating pattern on prevention, survivorship and surveillance. On a personal note, Jeffrey enjoys spending time at local farmers markets foraging for fresh produce, cooking, and travel as well as cardiovascular and strength training exercise. 

     

Past Chairs

ON DPG Leadership

Paula Charuhas Macris, MS, RD, CSO, FAND, CD

Awards Coordinator

      

Blood and Marrow Transplant (BMT) Subunit

Tara Coghlin Dickson, MS, RD, CSSD, FAND

BMT Subunit Chair

Patty McDonnell, RD, CSO, FAND

BMT Subunit Member

Katie Harper, MS, RD, CNSC, CSO

BMT Subunit Member

      

Communications Team

Caitlin M. Benda, MBA, MS, RD, CSO

Strategic Communications Chair

Rayna McCann, MS, RDN, CSO, CDN, RYT, y4c

E-Blast Coordinator

Valaree M. Williams, MS, RD, CSO, LDN, CNSC, FAND

Website Discussion Board Administrator

Sachelly Julian Serrano, MHSN, RDN

Social Media Co-Coordinator

Travis Swialto, MS, RD, CSO, NASM-CPT

Social Media Co-Coordinator

Angie Lord, RDN, LDN, CSO, CCMS, RYT-200

Website Administrator

Michelle Myers, MS, RDN, CSO, CDN

Website Public Content Manager

      

Education Team

Mridul Datta, PhD, MS, RD, LD, FAND

Education Chair

Michelle Myers, MS, RDN, CSO, CDN

Website Public Content Manager

Tiffany Barrett, MS, RDN, CSO, LD

Webinar/Continuing Education Coordinator

Jennifer M. Lafferty, MS, RDN, LD, CSO, FAND

Newsletter Co-Editor

Valerie M. Williams, MS, RD, CSO, LDN, CNSC, FAND

Newsletter Co-Editor

Caitlin M. Benda, MBA, MS, RD, CSO, LDN

Hope for Stomach Cancer Project Coordinator

Layla Silverman, RD, CSO

IDEA Committee Liaison

Peter Adintori, MS, RD, CSO, CNSC, CDN

House of Delegates ON DPG Delegate

      

Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access (IDEA) Committee

Anu Kaur, MS, RDN, RYT

IDEA Co-Liaison/Committee Co-Chair

Giuliana Klesius, RD

IDEA Co-Liaison/Committee Co-Chair

Jeffrey Whitridge, MS, RDN, CSO, LDN

IDEA Committee Member

Gwyneth Hadasa, RDN, LD

IDEA Committee Member

Layla Silverman, RD, CSO

IDEA Committee Member

Mridul Datta, PhD, MS, RD, LD, FAND

IDEA Committee Member

      

Membership Team

Christina E. Santiago, MS, RDN/LDN

Membership Co-Chair 

Kylie Chen, MS, RD

Membership Co-Chair    

VACANT

Student Member Coordinator

      

Mentoring Program Committee

Michelle C. Hamilton, MCN, RD, CSO

Mentorship Co-Coordinator

Karen Godinez, RD, CSO

Mentorship Co-Coordinator

VACANT

Networks Coordinator 

      

Nominating Committee 

Breanna Campbell, MS, RD, CSO

Nominating Committee Chair

Kristina Thomopoulos-Titomihelakis

Nominating Committee Chair-Elect

Erika Connor

Nominating Committee Member

Susan (Sue) Gunnink, MS, RD, CSO

Volunteer Coordinator

      

Oncology Nutrition in Clinical Practice Revision Project

Mridul Datta, PhD, MS, RD, LD, FAND

Project Co-Coordinator

Valerie M. Williams, MS, RD, CSO, LDN, CNSC, FAND

Project Co-Coordinator

      

ON Improved Patient Access to Care Team (IMPACT) Special Project Committee 

Elaine Trujillo, MS, RDN

ON IMPACT Chair 

Lauren Fay, MPH, RD-AP, CSO, CNSC

ON IMPACT Committee Member

Jill Hamilton-Reeves, PhD, RD, CSO

ON IMPACT Committee Member

Rhone Levin, MEd, CSO, LDN

ON IMPACT Committee Member

Jeannine Mills, MS, RD, CSO, LD, CNSC

ON IMPACT Committee Member

Colleen Spees, PhD, MEd, RDN, FAND

ON IMPACT Committee Member

Renee Stubbins, PhD, RD, LD, CSO

ON IMPACT Committee Member

Jeffrey Whitridge, MS, RDN, CSO, LDN

ON IMPACT Committee Member

Anna Arthur, PhD, MPH, RDN

Nutrition Services Payment Specialist

      

Pediatric Subunit 

Rachel Hill, RD, CSO, LD, CNSC

Pediatric Subunit Chair

Karen Ringwald-Smith, MS, RDN, CNSC

Pediatric Subunit Member

Erin Gilfillan, MS, RD, CSO, CDN

Pediatric Subunit Member

Nicole Vitale, RD, LDN

Pediatric Subunit Member

Gracie Dulick, MS, RDN, CSP, LD

Pediatric Subunit Member

Alycia Evenocheck, RD

Pediatric Subunit Member

Susan Reese, MS, RDN, CNSC, CD

Pediatric Subunit Member

 

Brandi Hyatt, MS, RD, CSO, LD

Policy and Advocacy Lead (PAL)

      

Dr. Ashlea Braun, MS, RD

Research Coordinator

      

VACANT

Speaker's Bureau Coordinator

      

Nicole Elizabeth Franklin, MS, RD, CSO

Sponsorship Chair

      

Symposium Planning Committee

Renee E. Stubbins, PhD, RD, LD, CSO

Symposium Co-Chair    

Caitlin M. Benda, MBA, MS, RD, CSO

Symposium Co-Chair

Nicole Elizabeth Franklin, MS, RD, CSO

Symposium Committee Member

Kerry K. McMillen, MS, RD, CSO, CD, FAND

Symposium Committee Member

Monica L. Bojko, MS, RD, CSO, LDN

Symposium Committee Member

Tara Coghlin Dickson, MS, RD, CSSD, FAND

Symposium Committee Member

Position Descriptions

     

     

The Oncology Nutrition Dietetic Practice Group (ON DPG) may provide links to third-party websites. ON DPG is not responsible for the content of linked third-party sites, sites framed within the ON DPG site, or third-party sites provided as search results. Your use of third-party websites is at your own risk and subject to the terms and conditions of use for such sites. Logos for products, services, or treatments shown on the ON DPG website does not indicate group endorsement.

Page updated: July 2024