Clinical Nutrition Team
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 Dietitian. She has also published a chapter entitled "Fluid, Electrolyte, and Acid-Base Balance" in the current edition of Krause’s Food, Nutrition, and Diet Therapy and in Contemporary Nutrition Support Practice. She has spoken at the local, state, and national levels on acid-base balance. 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.
Ellen Hoover, RD, LDN, CNSC, Clinical Dietitian
Ellen provides nutrition care in the Select Specialty Hospital (long term acute care unit) and in the Adult Intensive Care Unit. She completed a BS degree in Dietetics from Drexel University and her dietetic internship at Geisinger. Ellen was the Director of Dietary Services for the Sunbury Community Hospital and the Renal Dietitian for the Susquehanna Health System. More recently, Ellen was a Long Term Care Dietitian for Nottingham Village in Northumberland.
Patti Chulock, RD, LDN, CDE, Clinical Dietitian Specialist
Patti coordinates the pediatric rotation. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Medical Dietetics from Penn State University. She completed a 3-year preplanned program at Geisinger Medical Center as her route to registration. She is a Certified Diabetes Educator and has a Pediatric and Adolescent Weight Management Certification from the Commission on Dietetic Registration. Patti has several years of pediatric experience including work with the feeding team clinic, nutrition support service, pediatric obesity clinic, diabetes team, cystic fibrosis clinic and the neurologists, specifically developing ketogenic diets. Patti currently provides care for both pediatric inpatients and outpatients.
Denise Hackman, MBA, RD, LDN, CNSD, Clinical Dietitian Specialist
Denise also 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 Dietitian. 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, the feeding team clinic, and for other pediatric inpatients and outpatients.
Holly Goncheroski, RD, LDN, Clinical Dietitian
Holly provides nutrition care for pediatric oncology and pediatric nephrology patients; she also provides nutrition care on an adult special care unit. She completed her Coordinated Undergraduate Program in Nutrition and Dietetics at Marywood University.
Tara Hoover, RD, LDN, Clinical Dietitian
Tara coordinates the cardiology rotation. She is responsible for the cardiac intensive care unit and a special care unit. Tara earned her undergraduate degree from Messiah University and completed her dietetic internship at Geisinger Medical Center.
Cindy Stemrich, RD, LDN Clinical Dietitian
Cindy also coordinates the cardiology and mental health rotation. She is responsible for inpatients admitted with cardiovascular, neurologic, and pulmonary medical complications. Cindy graduated from Marywood University's Coordinated Program in Nutrition and Dietetics; she is currently completing her MS in Nutrition from there. Cindy also has a Bachelor of Science degree in Neuroscience from King's College.
Joan Savage, RD, LDN, Clinical Dietitian
Joan coordinates the gastroenterology and surgery rotations. 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. Prior to working at Geisinger, Joan was employed in long term care facilities in Centre and Clinton counties for 17 years.
Sara Gandhi, MS, RD, LDN, CSO, Clinical Dietitian
Sara coordinates the oncology/orthopaedics/rehabilitation 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 has a Certification in Oncology Nutrition Specialty from the Commission on Dietetic Registration. Sara is an active member of the Geisinger Cancer Center Support Team. She teaches vegetarian cooking classes for community groups. Sara provides nutritional care for patients admitted to the oncology and orthopedics services and the bone marrow transplant clinic. She is also the dietitian for the Geisinger Health System Rehabilitation Hospital, an affiliate of Health South.
Kathy Boudeman, RD, LDN, CDE, Clinical Dietitian Specialist
Kathy coordinates the endocrinology and gynecology/obstetrics rotations. 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 is a clinical dietitian in the endocrinology and high risk obstetrics clinics. She also provides inpatient care in the obstetrics /gynecology floor unit. She is a Certified Diabetes Educator and coordinates nutrition education programs for nurses providing diabetes care throughout the system. Kathy has been very active with the American Diabetes Association serving on a variety of committees.
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 Certification from the Commission on Dietetic Registration. Karen provides nutrition counseling for Family Practice patients at Knapper Clinic. She is also a member of the Geisinger Center for Nutrition and Weight Management team in the GI/Nutrition Clinic and the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) team in the Neurology clinic.
Kira Bowman, RD, LDN, Clinical Dietitian
Kira is originally from Danville (actually born at Geisinger). She obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree in dietetics with a minor in Psychology from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. She is a member of Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, and previously worked as a dietary assistant and cook at a local long-term care facility. Kira is a 1999-2000 graduate of the GMC Internship Program and was nominated for the Outstanding Dietetic Student Award. She provides outpatient nutrition counseling at several outlying Geisinger Health System Clinics.
Vonda Hetherington, RD, LDN, CDE, Clinical Dietitian Specialist
Vonda coordinates the outpatient section of the nephrology rotation. Vonda obtained her BS in Nutrition from Albright College and completed her dietetic internship at Geisinger Medical Center. She previously worked in a variety of clinical dietitian positions for St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center in
Toledo, Ohio. More recently, 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 is responsible for providing nutritional care for two freestanding off-site dialysis units, as well as Geisinger's outpatient hemodialysis and predialysis clinics.
Marianne Williams, MS, RD, LDN, Clinical Dietitian
Marianne coordinates the inpatient section of the nephrology rotation which includes experiences with peritoneal dialysis and kidney transplants. She received her BS in Home Economics from College Misericordia and her MS in Food and Nutrition and route to registration from Marywood University. Her prior work experience includes Clinical Nutrition Manager with Sodexo Marriott Health Care Services and Diabetes Educator with Susquehanna Health System. She is responsible for a medical-surgical unit. Marianne is also the dietitian for the Kidney, Pancreas and Liver Transplant teams and for patients on peritoneal dialysis.
