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.
Sabrina Oliver, 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.
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.
Alexandra Adorno Mercado 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.
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 is tri-lingual (English, Spanish and Portuguese) and is a Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist. She works in multiple practices in the Ambulatory Care Network counseling adult and pediatric patients with diabetes, through pregnancy (including gestational diabetes), for weight management and other diabetes and nutrition related challenges. Celia is passionate about working with patients to help them achieve their personal diabetes and nutrition related goals.
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.
Sarah Francolino, MS, RD, CDN
Dietitian/Nutritionist
Expertise: bariatric surgery
Sarah joined the NYP outpatient nutrition team in 2024 after working as an inpatient dietitian at both NYP Columbia University Irving Medical Center and Saint Joseph Health in Paterson, NJ. She completed her dietetic internship at Montclair State University in 2016. Sarah has a MS in Human Nutrition from The University of Alabama and BS in Nutrition and Food Science from Drexel University. Sarah works in the Center for Metabolic and Weight Loss Surgery and helps patients achieve and maintain their weight loss and lifestyle goals.
Art Gillman, MS, RDN, CDN
Dietitian/Community Nutritionist
Expertise: older adults
Art joined NYP in 2023 after working as a Community Nutritionist at CAMBA, a non-profit social service organization, where he provided food and nutrition services to low-income, marginalized populations in Brooklyn NY. Prior to that, he worked on public health research studies with older adults at Columbia University Irving Medical Center. Art has a MS in Nutrition Education and completed his dietetic internship in 2020, both at Columbia University’s Teachers College in NY. He has a BA in Psychology from the University of Connecticut and is bilingual in English and Spanish. Art has a passion for working with culturally diverse communities, particularly the older adult population, with an emphasis on food. He enjoys building rapport with community members to help them achieve optimal health well into their golden years.
Josephine Ledda, MPH, RD, CDN, CLC
Dietitian/Nutritionist
Expertise: adult and pediatrics - weight management, heart health, diabetes, perinatal, general health and wellbeing
Josephine joined NYP in 2024 after working at Community Healthcare Network and as a consultant for Project Renewal and the CUNY Urban Policy Food Institute. Prior to this Josephine directed Home Delivered Meals for Riseboro Community Partnership, was Assistant Director of Food and Nutrition Services for The Alliance for Positive Change and a WIC nutritionist for Public Health Solutions. Josephine completed her Dietetic Internship and MPH in Public Health and Policy Management from CUNY in 2024 and has a BS in Nutrition and Dietetics from New York University, NY. She works in the Ambulatory Care Network Broadway and Rangel practices and in the NYP School Based Health Centers. Josephine is a bilingual dietitian, dedicated to help patients of all ages to achieve their short- and long-term health goals with improved dietary habits and access to healthy foods.
Alissa Lupu, RD, CDN
Dietitian/Nutritionist
Expertise: adult digestive diseases
Alissa re-joined NYP outpatient nutrition team in 2024 after working at NYP/Cornell as an outpatient dietitian for the Center for Advanced Digestive Care. She previously worked at NYP/Cornell in the Center for Liver Disease and Transplantation and as an inpatient dietitian in the ICU Surgery Step-Down unit. Alissa completed her dietetic internship at NYP in 2009 after graduating from Cornell University in Ithaca NY with a BS in Nutritional Science. She works in the Division of Digestive Diseases where she provides medical nutrition therapy to patients with a wide variety of digestive disorders, in close collaboration with the medical team to help improve GI symptoms.
Laura Natali RD, CDN, CSOWM
Dietitian/Nutritionist
Expertise: kidney stones, urology, nephrology
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 Department of Urology providing comprehensive nutrition care for patients with conditions including kidney stones, polycystic kidney disease, chronic kidney disease and prostate, bladder and renal cancers. Laura collaborates closely with the urology and kidney specialists to provide her patients with an innovative and individualized approach to improve their health and quality of life.
Rachel O’Connor MS, 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 completed 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.
Jacqueline Reed, MS, RDN, CDN, CSOWM, CDCES
Dietitian/Nutritionist and Diabetes Care and Education Specialist
Expertise: adult diabetes, gestational diabetes, weight management, heart health, health and wellbeing
Jacqueline (Jacki) joined NYP in 2023 after working at One Brooklyn Health as an outpatient Nutrition and Health Educator and Bariatric Nutrition Coordinator. She previously worked at Brookdale University Hospital Medical Center as an inpatient Nutrition Coordinator. Jacki completed her dietetic internship at NewYork Presbyterian in 2016 and has a MS in Nutrition and Education from Teachers College, Columbia University, a BS from Bentley University and is both a Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist and Certified Specialist in Obesity and Weight Management. Jacki works in the NYP Outpatient Nutrition Practice where she provides individualized care by guiding people to make better choices and to feel confident in their health journey.
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.
Yolanda Sanchez MS, RD, CDN
Dietitian/Nutritionist
Expertise: adult infectious diseases, weight management, heart health, diabetes, health and wellbeing
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 in both the Comprehensive Health Program and at the Family Medicine at the Farrell Community Health Center where she 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.
Kay Stolwyk, MS, RD, CDN
Dietitian/Nutritionist
Expertise: oncology, neurological disorders
Kay joined the outpatient nutrition team in 2023 after working as an inpatient clinical nutritionist at NYP Columbia University Irving Medical Center. She completed her Dietetic Internship at NYP in 2021. Kay has a MS in Nutrition from Meredith College and BS in Applied Nutrition Science from North Carolina State University. She works at The Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Herbert Irving Center for Lung and Chest Care, and the Neurological Institute of New York. Kay takes care of patients with cancer and neurological disorders including ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease), multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease, to help them optimize their nutritional status to support healing and improve quality of life.
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.
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.
Conny Pimentel
Billing and Scheduling Coordinator
Conny joined NYP in 2024 after working as a medical billing coordinator at Divino Nino Pediatrics, Bronx NY. She previously worked at Covenant House in New York, NY as a medical receptionist and biller where she dedicated her time to supporting homeless run-away youth. She is also an assistant for Pimentax Solutions, Bronx NY.
Conny has an ASS from Hostos Community College, NY majoring in medical office management and is Certified in Medical Billing and Coding. She is passionate about providing excellent customer services. Conny is bilingual in English and Spanish and supports all aspects of patient scheduling for outpatient nutrition and diabetes self-management education appointments.
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.