CLINICAL NUTRITION PRECEPTORS

Lori Kowalski, MS, RD, LDN, CNSC, Clinical Nutrition Manager - Central and Western regions
As Clinical Nutrition Manager for Geisinger Health Systems - Central and Western Regions, Lori oversees the clinical dietetic staff both in the acute care hospital and in the outpatient clinics in these regions. Lori received her BS in Family Resources with an emphasis in nutrition and her route to registration through a coordinated undergraduate program at West Virginia University. She received her MS in Clinical Nutrition from the University of Pittsburgh. Lori has greater than 30 years of experience primarily focusing in pediatric and critical care nutrition. She has practiced in many other areas of clinical nutrition including pediatric small bowel and multi-visceral transplant, neonatology, adult burn care, and diabetes therapy in various hospital systems in Central and Western Pennsylvania and Connecticut. Lori was also an assistant medical editor for 3 years for the Max Planck Institue in Munich, Germany. She is a certified nutrition support clinician and a member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics as well as various Dietetic practice groups within the Association. Lori oversees Clinical Nutrition Management projects for the interns.

Critical Care/Nutrition Support Preceptors

Susan Whitmire, RD, LDN, CNSC, Clinical Dietitian Specialist
Susan coordinates the Critical Care and Nutrition Support rotation. She has Bachelor of Science degrees in Medical Dietetics and Science from Penn State University. She completed a dietetic internship at Barnes Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri. Sue is a Certified Nutrition Support Clinician. She has published a chapter entitled "Fluid, Electrolyte, and Acid-Base Balance" in a past edition of Krause’s Food, Nutrition, and Diet Therapy, in Contemporary Nutrition Support Practice, and in The Science and Practice of Nutrition Support (ASPEN's Core Curriculum); she has also published manuscripts in Support Line and Nutrition in Clinical Practice. She has spoken at the local, state, and national levels on acid-base balance, fluid and electrolytes, and the Nutrition Care Process. Sue is responsible for the nutritional management of patients in the intensive care unit and Home Tube Feeding Clinic and is a member of the Nutrition Support Team.

Kris Danilovitz, RD, LDN, CNSC, Clinical Dietitian
Kris coordinates the Nutrition Support rotation at Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center. Kris graduated from the Pennsylvania State University with a BS Degree in Nutrition and a Minor in Exercise and Sport Science. She completed her internship at Marywood University where she also completed some post-graduate coursework. Kris is responsible for acute hospitalized patient care and is a Nutrition Support Certified Clinician, participating on the Nutrition Support Team. She also covers the Progressive Care Unit (Critical Care Step Down) and one of the medical/surgical units. Her past experience with Geisinger includes outpatient nutrition counseling.

Long Term Acute Care Hospital Preceptor

Ellen Hoover, RD, LDN, CNSC, Clinical Dietitian
Ellen coordinates the rotation for the Select Specialty Hospital (long term acute care unit), located on the GMC campus. She completed a BS degree in Dietetics from Drexel University and her dietetic internship at Geisinger; she is a Certified Nutrition Support Clinician. Ellen also an Associates Degree in Hotel/Restaurant Management and certification in Computer Programming from Bucks County Community College. Ellen was the Director of Dietary Services/Clinical Dietitian for the Sunbury Community Hospital and the renal dietitian for the Susquehanna Health System. She was also a Long Term Care Dietitian for Sodexo Senior Services and Nottingham Village in Northumberland. Ellen also provides nutritional care in the adult intensive care unit; she sits on the system-wide Pressure Ulcer committee.

Pediatric Preceptors

Denise Hackman, MBA, RD, LDN, CNSC, Coordinator, Clinical Nutrition - Pediatrics
Denise coordinates the pediatric rotation. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Nutrition and Dietetics from Albright College and did an internship at the Indiana University Medical Center. She completed her MBA through Penn State. Denise also completed a pediatric nutrition fellowship at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. She is a Certified Nutrition Support Clinician. She has extensive pediatric intensive care experiences from positions held at St. Christopher's Hospital for Children and Lehigh Valley Hospital. She also worked for the WIC clinic at Lebanon Family Health. Denise is responsible for the nutritional management of patients in the neonatal intensive care unit and follow-up clinic.

Kelly Fugok, RD, LDN, CSP, Clinical Dietitian
Kelly also coordinates the pediatric rotation. Kelly has a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition from Penn State University and was a member of the first dietetic internship class at Geisinger Medical Center.  Kelly has pediatric nutrition experience from positions held at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children and DuPont Hospital for Kids. She is certified in Pediatric and Adolescent Weight Management and a Board Certified Specialist in Pediatric Nutrition through the Commission on Dietetic Registration.  She also completed the Neonatal Nutrition Fellowship at the Medical University of South Carolina and served as a Breastfeeding Counselor for Nursing Mothers Alliance in West Chester, PA.  Kelly is responsible for the nutritional management of pediatric inpatients and outpatients including Pediatric Intensive Care Unit and coverage of pediatric nephrology, food allergy, and eosinophilic esophagitis clinics. 

Caryn Kovach, MS, RD, LDN, Clinical Dietitian
Caryn also coordinates the pediatric rotation. Caryn has a Bachelor of Science degree in Nutrition and Food from Kent State University. She completed a coordinated dietetic internship/MS in Nutrition program at Case Western Reserve University and Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center. She is a member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and Pediatric Nutrition Practice Group. Caryn currently provides care for pediatric outpatients with obesity, failure to thrive, eating disorders, and diabetes. She participates in Geisinger's Neurology Group for Ketogenic Diets, Pediatric Obesity Clinic, and Cystic Fibrosis Clinic. She also participates in Feeding Team Clinic.

Allison Lamma, RD, LDN, Clinical Dietitian
Allison also coordinates the pediatric rotation. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Dietetics and Nutritional Sciences from the University of Delaware. She completed her Dietetic Internship through the University of Massachusetts - Amherst. Allison provides nutrition care for inpatients admitted to the Children's Hospital.

Cardiology Preceptor

Joan Savage, RD, LDN, Clinical Dietitian
Joan coordinates the cardiology rotation. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Food Service Management from Mansfield University and a BS in Dietetics from Eastern Michigan University online coordinated program, as her route to registration. She has been a Certified Dietary Manager (CDM) since 2002. Prior to working at Geisinger, Joan was employed in long term care facilities in Centre and Clinton counties for 17 years. Joan provides nutrition care for patients on Cardiology and medical/surgical units; she teaches outpatient cardiac nutrition classes for patients who have had coronary bypass surgery. Joan also attends to nutritional needs of adult Cystic Fibrosis (CF) patients throughout the hospital.

Oncology/Rehabilitation Medicine Preceptor

Sara Gandhi, MS, RD, LDN, CSO, Clinical Dietitian
Sara coordinates the oncology/rehabilitation medicine rotation. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Foods and Nutrition and a Master of Science degree both from Maharaja Sayajirav University in India. She completed a dietetic traineeship at Geisinger as her route to registration. She is a Board Certified Specialist in Oncology Nutrition Specialty from the Commission on Dietetic Registration. Sara is an active member of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Community Centers Program. Sara provides nutritional care for oncology inpatients and outpatients including those undergoing bone marrow transplant. She also provides medical nutrition therapy for Geisinger Health System Rehabilitation hospital, an affiliate of HealthSouth.

Gastrointestinal/General Surgery/Bariatric Surgery Preceptors

Julia Grocki, MS, MA, RD, LDN, Clinical Dietitian
Julia coordinates the Gastrointestinal/General Surgery rotation. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from the University of Scranton and a MA degree in Chemistry from the University of Virginia. She completed her dietetic coursework, supervised practice, and MS in Nutrition at Marywood University. Julia previously provided nutrition care for inpatients admitted to medical/surgical and special care units. Julia provides nutrition care for patients admitted to the GI/Surgical floor unit as well as patients admitted to the Hospital for Advanced Medicine. She also teaches cardiac nutrition classes for patients who have undergone coronary bypass surgery and is a motivational speaker on emotional eating.

Endocrinology Preceptors

Kathy Boudeman, RD, LDN, CDE, Clinical Dietitian Specialist
Kathy coordinates the endocrinology rotation. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Dietetics and Nutrition Education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. She completed a 3-year preplanned program at Geisinger Medical Center as her route to registration. Kathy counsels patients primarily in the outpatient setting where she practices in the dual role of a registered dietitian and a Certified Diabetes Educator. She provides both Medical Nutrition Therapy and Diabetes Self-Management Training. Specifically, Kathy counsels patients in these clinics: Endocrinology, General Internal Medicine, High Risk Obstetrics, and Geisinger Frackville Clinic. Kathy has been very active with the American Diabetes Association serving on a variety of committees, including serving as a volunteer reviewer of applications submitted for Diabetes Patient Education program recognition.

Autumn Delmonico, RD, LDN, Clinical Dietitian
Autumn assists with the endocrinology rotation. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Nutrition and Dietetics from Mansfield University and completed her dietetic internship through Marywood University. Autumn was previously employed at UHS Wilson Medical Center, Johnson City, NY as a Clinical Dietitian, specifically providing patient care on neurosurgery, cardiac, and pediatric floors. Autumn previously was the preceptor for the GI/Surgery rotation and worked with patients admitted to the Hospital for Advanced Medicine. Autumn provides nutrition care and education to patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) who are admitted to the hospital.  She also teaches cardiac nutrition classes for patients who have undergone coronary bypass surgery and is on the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) team in the neurology clinic.

Outpatient Nutrition Services Preceptors

Karen Bird, RD, LDN, Clinical Dietitian
Karen coordinates the outpatient nutrition clinic rotation. She has a Bachelor of Science in Foods and Nutrition from College Misericordia. She completed a 3-Year Approved Professional Practice Program at Geisinger Medical Center as her route to registration. She has an Adult Weight Management Certificate of Training from the Commission on Dietetic Registration. Karen provides nutrition counseling for family practice patients at Knapper Clinic, Geisinger Bloomsburg Clinic, and Geisinger Berwick Clinic. She is also a member of the Geisinger Center for Nutrition and Weight Management team in the GI/Nutrition Clinic.

Kira Bowman, RD, LDN, Clinical Dietitian
Kira is a native of Danville and was born at Geisinger Medical Center. She obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree in dietetics with a minor in Psychology from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Kira is a graduate of the Geisinger Medical Center Internship Program. She provides outpatient nutrition counseling at the main hospital and at several outlying Geisinger Health System clinics including Lewisburg, Milton, and Montoursville. She also provides nutritional care for prenatal, chronic kidney disease, and hemodialysis patients.

Nephrology Preceptors

Vonda Hetherington, RD, LDN, CDE, Coordinator, Clinical Nutrition - Renal
Vonda coordinates the nephrology rotation. Vonda obtained her BS in Nutrition from Albright College and completed her dietetic internship at Geisinger Medical Center; she is a Certified Diabetes Educator. Vonda previously worked in a variety of clinical dietitian positions for St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center in Toledo, Ohio; she was the Dietitian Manager and Diabetes Education Program Coordinator for Wood County Hospital in Bowling Green, Ohio. She is a past recipient of the American Dietetic Association Registered Young Dietitian of the Year Award and has held various positions, including President, in the Northwest Ohio Dietetic Association. Vonda oversees clinical dietitians in the renal area and is responsible for the care of hemodialysis outpatients at Geisinger's Justin Drive unit and two off-site (DaVita) dialysis units. She also teaches the Dialysis Options class and sees patients in the pre-dialysis clinic.

Marianne Williams, MS, RD, LDN, Clinical Dietitian
Marianne coordinates the nephrology rotation. She received her BS in Home Economics and BS in Foods and Nutrition from College Misericordia and her MS in Food and Nutrition and route to registration from Marywood University. She has an Adult Weight Management Certificate of Training from the Commission on Dietetic Registration. Her prior work experience includes Clinical Nutrition Manager with Sodexo Marriott Health Care Services and Diabetes Educator with Susquehanna Health System. Marianne serves as the dietitian for the Kidney, Pancreas and Liver Transplant teams and for patients on peritoneal and hemodialysis.

OTHER CLINICAL NUTRITION TEAM MEMBERS