Columbia Outpatient Team
Kim Valenza MPH, RD, CDN, CDCES
Supervisor
Expertise: adult / pediatric nutrition, diabetes education and breastfeeding support
Kim re-joined NYP in 2022 as the Supervisor of Outpatient Nutrition, Diabetes Education and Breastfeeding Support services at the Columbia campus after working at Fruit Street Health as the Director of Clinical and Coach Operations. She previously worked at NYP as an inpatient clinical nutritionist and intestinal transplant nutritionist at the Columbia campus and senior clinical dietitian in the kidney/pancreas transplant program at the Weill Cornell campus before being promoted to an inpatient clinical nutrition supervisor at the NYP Columbia campus. Kim completed her Dietetic Internship at Massachusetts General Hospital in 2008. She has a MPH in Health Policy and Management from CUNY School of Public Health at Hunter College and a BS in Nutritional Sciences from Pennsylvania State University. Kim is a Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist. She is passionate about leveraging technology to address health disparities.
Kimberly Altman, MS, RD, CSP, CDN
Senior Dietitian/Nutritionist
Expertise: adult cystic fibrosis
Kimberly joined NYP as an inpatient clinical nutritionist in 2007 after working at St Joseph’s University Medical Center, Patterson NJ and Tufts Medical Center, Boston MA. Kimberly assumed her current position in 2017. Kimberly completed a combined Dietetic Internship/Master’s program at Frances Stern Nutrition Center and Tufts University in Boston, MA in 2000. She has a BS in Dietetics from the University of Delaware in Newark, DE. Kimberly is nationally recognized for her expertise in nutrition related to CF. She works at the Gunnar Esiason Adult Cystic Fibrosis and Lung and mentors colleagues, participates in research, contributes to professional literature and is a strong advocate and resource for Cystic Fibrosis Foundation events and fundraising initiatives.
Angelica Santana, MPH, RD, CDN, CDCES, BC-ADM
Senior Dietitian/Nutritionist and Diabetes Care and Education Specialist
Expertise: diabetes management
Angelica joined NYP in 2016 after working at the William F. Ryan Community Health Network. Angelica completed her Dietetic Internship at NewYork Presbyterian in 2011. She has a MPH in Nutrition from Hunter College and BA in Psychology from Marymount Manhattan College in New York. She is Board Certified in Advanced Diabetes Management (BC-ADM). Angelica works closely with doctors, nurses, social workers and other providers to support patients with diabetes and improve their health in the Ambulatory Care Network Associates in the Internal Medicine (AIM) and NYP Outpatient Nutrition practices. She promotes healthy lifestyles, considering the diverse cultural needs, helping her patients reach their health goals. Angelica is the quality coordinator of New York Presbyterian’s Association of Diabetes Care & Education Specialists (ADCES) accredited DSMES program.
Sabrina Toledano, MS, RD, CDN, CSO
Senior Dietitian/Nutritionist
Expertise: adult digestive diseases, pancreas, oncology
Sabrina joined NYP in 2010 working as an inpatient clinical nutritionist before transferring to her current role in 2016. Sabrina completed her Dietetic Internship at NYP in 2010, has MS in Clinical Nutrition from Rutgers University NJ and a BS from Syracuse University, NY. She is Board Certified Specialist in Oncology Nutrition. She has published research in Nutrition in Clinical Practice on “Exploring the Differences Between Early and Traditional Diet Advancement in Postoperative Feeding Outcomes in Patients with an Ileostomy or Colostomy”. Sabrina works in the Division of Digestive Diseases and The Pancreas Center with a wide range of patients with gastrointestinal diseases to help optimize their nutritional intake while limiting digestive distress.
Alexandra Mercado Adorno MS, RD, CDCES, CDN
Dietitian/Nutritionist and Diabetes Care and Education Specialist
Expertise: adult and pediatrics, diabetes, gestational diabetes, weight management, heart health
Alexandra joined NYP in 2018 after working NYC Health + Hospital/ Harlem Hospital. Alexandra completed her dietetic internship in 2015 at VA Caribbean Healthcare System. She has a MS in Diabetes Education and Management from Teachers College, Columbia University, a BS from University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus and is a Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist. She works in the Ambulatory Care Network Audubon and NYP Outpatient Nutrition practices. Alexandra is a native Spanish speaker and passionate about providing individualized culturally competent nutrition and diabetes care and education to a diverse patient population.
Tyffanie Ammeter MS, RD, CSG, CDN
Dietitian/Community Nutritionist
Expertise: older adults
Tyffanie joined NYP in 2019 after working at the Riverside Premier Rehab & Healing Center, NYC Department of Health & Mental Hygiene, and Laurie Tisch Center for Food, Education & Policy. Prior to this she worked in technical accounting in Santiago, Chile. Tyffanie completed her dietetic internship in 2017 at Columbia University’s Teachers College. She has a MS in Nutrition & Public Health from Teachers College and a BS in Business Administration from the University of Colorado-Boulder. She is Board Certified as a Specialist in Gerontological Nutrition. Tyffanie has a passion for working with culturally diverse communities and specializes in the older adult population. She enjoys learning from others as well as collaborating with communities to advocate for positive change.
Claudia Castaneda Tinoco RD, CDN, CDCES, CLC
Dietitian/Nutritionist and Diabetes Care and Education Specialist
Expertise: adult and pediatrics, diabetes, gestational diabetes, weight management, heart health
Claudia joined NYP in 2018 after working at Community Healthcare Network, NY and at Karuna Eating Disorder Clinic and her private practice, Total Wellness and Nutrition, both in Mexico City. Claudia completed her dietetic internship in 2008 at the National Institute of Perinatology Isidro Reyes Espinoza in Mexico City. She has a BS degree in Nutrition and Food Science from Iberoamerican University in Mexico City. She is a Diabetes Care and Education Specialist and Certified Lactation Consultant. Claudia works in Ambulatory Care Network Washington Heights Family Health Center and NYP Outpatient Nutrition practices. She is a native Spanish speaker and is passionate about helping a culturally diverse population thrive by promoting overall healthy habits and using food to treat and prevent chronic diseases.
Celia Chu-Diep, MS, RD, CDCES, CDN
Dietitian/Nutritionist and Diabetes Care and Education Specialist
Expertise: adult and pediatrics, diabetes, gestational diabetes, weight management, heart health
Celia re-joined NYP in 2022 after working as certified clinically advanced nutrition coordinator for the Mount Sinai Health System NY. She previously worked as a clinical nutritionist in the Ambulatory Care Network at NYP, for the Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn, NY and in private practice. Celia completed her Dietetic Internship at NYP in 1994. She has a MS and BS in health and nutrition both from Brooklyn College, NY. Celia tri-bilingual (English, Spanish and Portuguese) and is a Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist. She works at the Broadway Practice in the Ambulatory Care Network and she counsels adult and pediatric patients with diabetes, through pregnancy (including gestational diabetes), for weight management and other nutrition related challenges. Celia is passionate about working with patients to help them achieve their personal nutrition and diabetes related goals.
Jaclyn Vingan, MPH, RD, CDN, IBCLC
Dietitian/Nutritionist and International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC)
Expertise: breastfeeding support, lactation consultation
Jaclyn joined NYP in 2023 after working for the William F. Ryan Women and Children’s Center WIC Program as a qualified nutritionist and breastfeeding coordinator, as a Baby Café Facilitator for the Fund for Public Health, and for the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene's Eat Well, Play Hard Program as a dietitian. Jaclyn completed her dietetic internship in 2015 and a Masters in Public Health, both from CUNY School of Public Health. She has a BS in human biology, health and society from Cornell University, Ithaca NY and is an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC). Jaclyn works in the Ambulatory Care Network Breastfeeding Support Program and provides breastfeeding and nutrition support leveraging video visit technology helping parents feel comfortable and confident in their breastfeeding skills throughout their babies first years of life.
Jill Eklof MS, RD, CDN
Dietitian/Nutritionist
Expertise: bariatric surgery
Jill joined NYP in 2022 after working at CarePoint Health, Integrated Bariatric Institute, Atlantic Health Systems, Morristown Medical Center and MNT Associates LLC in NJ. Prior to becoming a registered dietitian Jill worked for Accenture Mortgage Cadence as a product engineer and solutions specialist overseeing large software implementation projects. Jill completed her dietetic internship at the College of Saint Elizabeth, NJ in 2020. She has a MS and BS in Food and Nutrition from College of Saint Elizabeth, NJ and BS in Human and Organizational Development from Vanderbilt University, TN. Jill works in the Center for Metabolic and Weight Loss Surgery and helps to navigate patients through pre- and post- op bariatric surgery nutrition to ensure they feel their best while meeting sustainable goals.
Sharon Haier RD, CDN, IBCLC, CDES
Dietitian/Nutritionist and International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC)
Expertise: breastfeeding support, lactation consultation
Sharon joined NYP in 2017 at the Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital and Sloane Women's Hospital before transferring to the Breastfeeding Support Program. Previously, she worked at Mount Sinai West Hospital. Sharon completed her dietetic internship at NewYork Presbyterian in 2014. She has a MS in nutrition and exercise physiology from Columbia University, Teachers College and a BS in marketing and merchandising management from Virginia Tech. She is a Diabetes Care and Education Specialist and International Board Certified Lactation Consultant. Sharon works in the Ambulatory Care Network Breastfeeding Support Program and provides breastfeeding and nutrition support leveraging video visit technology to help families meet their feeding needs and goals.
Ilana Kersch MS, RD, CDN, CNSC
Dietitian/Nutritionist
Expertise: adult digestive diseases
Ilana joined NYP in 2022 after working at Mount Sinai Hospital, NY as an inpatient Clinical Nutrition Coordinator in the Solid Organ Transplant, Gastrointestinal/Hepatobiliary Surgery, Critical Care patients and malnutrition programs. She completed her dietetic internship at New York University in 2013 and has a MS in Clinical Nutrition and BS in Nutrition and Food Studies from NYU and is a Certified Nutrition Support Clinician. Ilana works in the Division of Digestive Diseases. She provides individualized nutrition care for patients with digestive diseases, working closely with physicians, to help support patients achieve their health goals, manage digestive symptoms, and improve quality of life.
Wendy Lopez MS, RD, CDN, CDCES
Dietitian/Nutritionist
Diabetes Care and Education Specialist
Expertise: adult and pediatrics, diabetes, gestational diabetes, weight management, heart health
Wendy joined NYP in 2022 after working at Cecilia Health as the team lead diabetes educator and for Open Door Medical Center and Metropolitan Hospital as an outpatient dietitian. Prior to this Wendy was the nutrition educator at La Vida Es Preciosa and did program evaluation for Finch Network/City Harvest. She is the cofounder and CEO of the platform Food Heaven. Wendy completed her dietetic internship at CUNY Brooklyn in 2014. She has a MS in Nutrition and Food Studies from CUNY Hunter and BS in psychology from SUNY New Paltz. Wendy works in the Ambulatory Care Network Farrell Family Practice, Charles B. Rangel Community Health Center and NYP Outpatient Nutrition practices. She has won several awards for diversity advocacy and is fluent in Spanish. Wendy believes nutrition care should be culturally inclusive, accessible and patient centered. Through her practice, she explores the intersections of nutrition, food, wellness, culture and body image.
Laura Natali RD, CDN
Dietitian/Nutritionist
Expertise: bariatric surgery
Laura joined NYP in 2018 after previously working with Alaris Health and Greater Baltimore Medical Center. Laura completed her dietetic internship at the University of Delaware in 2012, where she also had completed her BS degree in dietetics and biology. She works in the Center for Metabolic and Weight Loss Surgery with patients through the surgical healing process and aims to create individualized plans that are both enjoyable and sustainable in order to promote health for life.
Rachel O’Connor RD, CDN, CSO
Dietitian/Nutritionist
Expertise: oncology
Rachel joined NYP in 2020 after working at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center. Rachel completed her dietetic internship through Keen State College in 2017. She is completing a MS in Nutrition at Stony Brook University and has a BS in Human Nutrition, Foods and Exercise from Virginia Tech. Rachel is a Board Certified Specialist in Oncology Nutrition. She works at The Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center and helps patients understand the mental and physical benefits of nutrition as an ally in their fight against cancer.
Breindel (Brendel) Plonka, MS. RDN, CDN, CNSC, CDCES
Dietitian/Nutritionist
Expertise: adult diabetes, weight management, heart health, nutrition support
Brendel joined NYP in 2017 after working at Sinai Hospital in Baltimore, MD. Brendel completed her Dietetic Internship at John Hopkins Bayview Medical Center in 2015. She has a MS in Dietetics and Nutrition from Kansas University Medical Center and BS in Nutritional Science from Morgan State University, Baltimore, MD. Brendel is Certified in Nutrition Support and is a Diabetes Care and Education Specialist. She works in the Ambulatory Care Network Associates in Internal Medicine (AIM) practice and provides nutrition care and counseling for patients with diabetes, heart disease, weight management and other health related nutrition challenges. She is passionate about providing accessible and compassionate nutrition care to her patients, empowering them to improve their nutrition and health.
Mel (Carmelo) Rivera RD, CDN
Dietitian/Nutritionist
Expertise: adult and pediatrics, diabetes, gestational diabetes, weight management, heart health
Mel re-joined NYP in 2022 after working at Urban Health Plan and Bronx Lebanon Hospital as a registered dietitian after previously working at NewYork Presbyterian as a diet technician. Mel completed his dietetic internship in 2006 at NewYork Presbyterian. He has a BS in dietetics, food and nutrition from City of New York Lehman College. Mel works in the Ambulatory Care Network Associates in Internal Medicine (AIM) practice and provides nutrition care and counseling for patients with diabetes, heart disease, weight management and other health related nutrition challenges. He is bilingual in English and Spanish and takes pride in building rapport with patients to help them achieve their individual goals.
Shayne Robinson, RD, CDN, CSO
Dietitian/Nutritionist
Expertise: adult ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease), cardiothoracic surgery, heart failure, oncology
Shayne joined NYP in 2013, after working as an oncology dietitian at the Beth Israel and Saint Vincent’s Comprehensive Cancer Centers. She transferred from NYP/Weill Cornell as an Outpatient Oncology Clinical Nutritionist to NYP/Columbia in 2017. Shayne completed her dietetic internship at New York Institute of Technology in 1997. She has a BS in dietetics from University of Maryland – College Park. She has co-authored textbook chapters, published articles and lectured extensively on oncology nutrition. Shayne has dedicated her career to clinical care for complex patients and nutrition education for health professionals and the public.
Ana Rodriguez Escalante MPH, RD, CDN
Dietitian/Nutritionist
Expertise: pediatric and family community nutrition
Ana joined NYP in 2019 after working at Whittier Street Health Center in Boston, MA and co-founding “Proyecto ABC” aka “Amigos del Buen Comer” to promote healthy behaviors in school environments in Mexico. Ana completed her Dietetics Internship at the University of Minnesota in 2016. She has a MPH from University of Minnesota MN and BA in Nutrition and Wellness from Tecnologico de Monterrey, in Mexico. She works as a Community Nutrition Specialist in the Choosing Healthy and Active Lifestyle for Kids (CHALK) and School Based Health programs.
Yolanda Sanchez MS, RD, CDN
Dietitian/Nutritionist
Expertise: adult infectious diseases
Yolanda joined NYP in 2022 after working at Urban Health Plan and Neighborhood SHOPP. Prior to becoming a registered dietitian, Yolanda worked as a consultant in accounting. She completed her Dietetic Internship at NewYork Presbyterian in 2008 and has a MS in Nutrition and Dietetics from New York University and a BA in Accounting and Information Systems from Queens College, CUNY. Yolanda works in the Ambulatory Care Network Comprehensive Health Program and provides individualized nutrition counseling and group education for patients with HIV and related conditions. Yolanda is a dedicated bilingual dietitian, helping patients to achieve their short- and long-term health goals with improved dietary habits and access to healthy foods.
Sadye Silva, MPH, RD, CDN, IBCLC
Dietitian/Nutritionist and International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC)
Expertise: breastfeeding support, lactation consultation
Sadye joined NYP in 2020 after working in public health and community nutrition at NYC Department of Health Stellar Farmer’s Market, CAMBA, William F. Ryan Community Health Network WIC program, Pacify Health and Harlem United Adult Day Care program. Sadye, completed her dietetic internship at Texas State University in 2011. She has an MPH in Nutrition from CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy and a BS in Nutrition from Texas State University. Sadye works in the Ambulatory Care Network Newborn Clinic and tailors breastfeeding support and education, leveraging technologies such as video visits, to empower and meet each family’s unique needs.
Emily Welin RD, CDN
Dietitian/Nutritionist
Expertise: kidney stones, urology, nephrology
Emily joined NYP in 2018 after working as a dietitian at SSM Health in St. Louis, Missouri. Emily completed her dietetic internship and received a BS from University of Missouri-Columbia's Coordinated Program in Dietetics in 2016. She works in the Department of Urology and provides comprehensive nutrition care for patients with urological conditions including kidney stones and prostate, bladder and renal cancers to optimize their health and wellbeing. Emily collaborates closely with the urology and kidney specialists to provide her patients with an innovative and individualized approach to improve their health and overall quality of life.
Yaritsa Bastardo MS
Billing and Scheduling Coordinator
Yaritsa joined NYP in 2018 after working for Astor Services of Children and Families. She graduated from SUNY New Paltz NY with a MS in Mental Health Counseling and BA in Psychology and completed her counseling internship at SUNY New Paltz’s Psychological Counseling Center. Yaritsa coordinates all aspects of patient access to nutrition and diabetes self-management education services including supporting patients connect to their MyChart portal, schedule appointments and verifying their insurance coverage. She is passionate about providing excellent customer service and is bilingual in English and Spanish.
Jennifer Sanchez
Virtual Patient Advisor
Jennifer joined NYP in 2020 after working as a Nutritionist Assistant and Breastfeeding Peer Counselor in the WIC programs of the William F. Ryan Health system. Jennifer previously worked in security as a desk sergeant/supervisor at LIU Brooklyn Campus and as security officer at Allied Universal- Time Warner Center and at Allied Barton Security Services BNY Mellon. Jennifer completed her GED in 2018 and is certified in CPR and AED First Aid. Jennifer is the Virtual Patient Advisor for the Outpatient Breastfeeding Support Program. She is an advocate for breastfeeding and is bilingual in English and Spanish. Jennifer helps families to leverage video visit technology to connect with certified lactation consultants for breastfeeding/lactation support.