Columbia University Irving Medical Center Nutrition Staff
Kelly Krikhely, MS, RD, CDN
Clinical Nutrition Manager
Kelly Krikhely joined NYP/Columbia University Irving Medical Center as Clinical Nutrition Supervisor in 2020, and was promoted to her current role of Clinical Nutrition Manager in 2021. Prior to joining NYP, she worked at Mount Sinai Hospital for many years, in both the inpatient and outpatient settings, strengthening her clinical skillset and developing a specialty in gastrointestinal disorders. Kelly also currently serves as an adjunct professor teaching Clinical Nutrition at New York University. She holds an MS in Nutrition and Dietetics from New York University, and completed her clinical training at NYU Langone Medical Center.
Kathleen Ryan, MS, RD, CDN
Clinical Nutrition Supervisor
Kathleen Ryan joined NYP as a Clinical Nutritionist in 2011 at the Columbia Campus. She transitioned to Westchester Behavioral Health Center as a Senior Clinical Nutrition in 2014 and was promoted to Supervisor, Clinical Nutrition Food Services in 2018. In 2022, Kathleen returned to the Columbia Campus as a Clinical Nutrition Supervisor. She received her B.S. in Culinary Nutrition from Johnson & Wales University in Rhode Island, and completed both her Dietetic Internship and M.S. in Nutrition at Saint Elizabeth University in New Jersey.
Kimberly De Lillo, MS, RD, CDN, CCTD
Senior Clinical Nutritionist - Transplant
Kimberly De Lillo is a Registered Dietitian and Certified Dietitian Nutritionist in the State of New York. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Nutrition from La Salle University, where she completed a coordinated Dietetic Internship program. She also has a Master of Science degree in Clinical Nutrition from New York University. She is currently a Certified Clinical Transplant Dietitian (CCTD). In her current position, she covers the heart transplant service and the living kidney/liver donor program.
Jeong Ho, MS, RD, CDN, CNSC
Senior Clinical Nutritionist
Jeong Ho is a Registered Dietitian and Certified Nutrition Support Clinician. She received a Bachelor’s of Science in Nutrition from Ewha Woman’s University in Seoul, Korea and completed a combined Master of Science in Clinical Nutrition and AP4 field experience program at New York University, Beth Israel Medical Center, and Manhattan VA Medical Center. She joined Columbia University Iriving Medical Center in 1993 and has provided nutritional care for various patient populations including medicine, cardiac, oncology, ICU, transplant (inpatient & outpatient), and rehabilitation. She currently covers a medicine unit, medical intensive care unit (MICU), and indirect calorimetry consults.
Nicole Kuerzi, RD, CDN, CNSC
Senior Clinical Nutritionist
Nicole Kuerzi received her Bachelors of Science in Nutrition with a concentration in Dietetics from the University of Massachusetts – Amherst. Nicole completed her Dietetic Internship through NewYork- Presbyterian Hospital and was selected to complete a fellowship in Medicine and Nutrition Support at Columbia University Irving Medical Center. Nicole chose to end her fellowship early to accept a position at NYP/Columbia as a Clinical Nutritionist. She currently covers the Neurosurgical ICU and a Neurosurgical step-down unit.
Elizabeth Miracle, MS, RD, CSO, CDN, CNSC
Senior Clinical Nutritionist
Elizabeth Miracle received her Bachelors of Science in Dietetics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and obtained her Masters of Science in Human Nutrition from the University of Alabama. Elizabeth completed her Dietetic Internship through ARAMARK Healthcare. She is a Certified Nutrition Support Clinician (CNSC) and Certified as a Specialist in Oncology Nutrition (CSO). Elizabeth specializes in the care of patients with gastrointestinal disease, surgical oncology patients, and those who require surgical nutrition support. She currently covers a surgical oncology unit and the surgical intensive care unit (SICU).
Melissa (Missi) Townsend, MS, RD, CDN
Senior Clinical Nutritionist
Missi Townsend is a Registered Dietitian who received her B.S. in Nutritional Sciences from The Pennsylvania State University. Following the completion of her undergraduate degree, she completed a combined Dietetic Internship and Master’s Program at Tufts University and Tufts Medical Center. In her current position, she serves as a staff relief dietitian, primarily covering cardiology units.
Sarah George MS, RD, CDN, CNSC
Clinical Nutritionist
Sarah is a Registered Dietitian and Certified Nutrition Support Clinician. She earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Nutrition at Baylor University. She then went on to complete a combined Master of Science in Nutrition Program and Dietetic Internship at Texas Woman’s University. Sarah is currently working as a staff relief dietitian, covering primarily general medicine floors.
Emily Bunyon, MS, RD, CDN
Clinical Nutritionist
Emily Bunyon received her Bachelor of Science in Integrative Neuroscience at the State University of New York at Binghamton with a minor in Health and Wellness. After completing her undergraduate degree, she went on to pursue her Master of Science in Clinical Nutrition at New York University. Emily completed her Dietetic Internship through Northwell Health. Emily currently covers the Cardiac Care ICU and interventional cardiology units.
Jennifer Cho, MS, RD, CDN, CNSC
Clinical Nutritionist
Jennifer Cho is a Registered Dietitian and Certified Nutrition Support Clinician. She received her Bachelors of Science in Nutritional Sciences and Biology at Cornell University and a combined Dietetic Internship and Masters Program at Tufts University and Tufts Medical Center. At NYP/Columbia, she currently covers the Cardiac Thoracic ICU, LVAD and Vascular services.
Kelsey Downey, RD, CDN, CNSC
Clinical Nutritionist
In Memoriam
Kelsey Downey impacted colleagues, patients, and families within the New York Presbyterian community with her compassion, positivity, and zest for life. She was passionate about the role of nutrition in disease prevention and treatment and firmly believed that everyone should have access to credible nutrition resources and quality nutrition care. She will be greatly missed.
Alexa Morrison, RD, CDN
Clinical Nutritionist
Alexa Morrison is a Registered Dietitian who graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Dietetics from The University of Delaware and completed her Dietetic Internship through the University of Delaware’s distance learning program. Alexa is currently covering the Cardiothoracic ICU and a Cardiology step-down unit.
Sarah Francolino, MS, RD, CDN
Clinical Nutritionist
Sarah Francolino is a Registered Dietitian who graduated from Drexel University. She completed her dietetic internship at Montclair State University in 2016 and completed her Master’s degree in Human Nutrition with The University of Alabama distance learning program. She currently covers the oncology unit and surgical step-down unit.
Winterlyn Gamoso, MS, RD
Clinical Nutritionist
Winterlyn Gamoso received her Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Food Science at Hunter College of The City University of New York, where she also completed her didactic program in dietetics (DPD) coursework and received her Master of Science in Nutrition. Winterlyn completed her Dietetic Internship at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, then went on to become a Nutrition Fellow at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center, before joining the team full-time.
Alina María Pacheco Irizarri, MS RDN
Clinical Nutritionist
Alina María Pacheco Irizarri earned her Bachelor of Science with a double major in Integrative Biology and Nutrition and Dietetics from the University of Puerto Rico, where she also completed her Dietetic Internship. Then, she obtained her Master of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics with a Concentration in Clinical Nutrition from New York University. Alina María currently covers medicine and behavioral health units.
Amanda Januszanis, MS, RD, CDN
Clinical Nutritionist - Transplant
Brenda Klein, MS, RD, CDN, CDE
Clinical Nutritionist - Transplant
Brenda Klein has provided nutrition care to several patient populations over the course of her tenure with the Clinical Nutrition Department at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital but most recently has covered the Transplant program. She received her Bachelors of Science in Nutritional Biochemistry from Cornell University, and then completed her Dietetic Internship program at New England Deaconess Hospital in Boston. Brenda enjoys providing education to patients, which has been enhanced by becoming a Certified Diabetes Educator
Nicole O’Brien, MS, RD, CDN, CNSC
Clinical Nutritionist
Megan O’Neill, MA, RD, CSP, CDN
Clinical Nutritionist
Megan O’Neill has been a dietitian for over 8 years. She completed her Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Coordinated Dietetic Internship Program at La Salle University in 2012. Megan graduated with a Master of Arts in Nutrition Education and Counseling from Immaculata University in 2017. Before joining the staff, Megan worked as a Pediatric dietitian for 7 years at Nemours/AI DuPont Hospital for Children and currently is a Certified Specialist in Pediatric Nutrition (CSP). Megan is currently working as a staff relief dietitian in cardiology.
Rachael Pollak, MS, RD, CDN
Clinical Nutritionist
Rachael Pollak received her Bachelor of Arts in Nutritional Biochemistry and Metabolism and her Master of Science in Nutrition from Case Western Reserve University. She then completed her Dietetic Internship at NewYork-Presbyterian. Rachael is currently a staff relief dietitian where she covers primarily neurology units.
Margarita Radoulova, MS, RD, CDN
Clinical Nutritionist
Margarita Radoulova is a Registered Dietitian and Certified Dietitian-Nutritionist in State of New York. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Dietetics, Foods and Nutrition at Herbert H. Lehman College - City University of New York, where she also completed her combined Masters of Science and Dietetic Internship Program. At NYP/Columbia Margarita is currently covering Cardiology units and a Cardiac Care ICU.
Kay Stolwyk, MS RD CDN
Clinical Nutritionist
Kay Stolwyk completed her Bachelor in Applied Nutrition Science from North Carolina State University and her Master of Science in Nutrition from Meredith College. She completed her Dietetic Internship at New York-Presbyterian Hospital. She currently covers the bone marrow transplant unit and a medicine/surgery unit.
Monika Tess, MS, RDN, CDN, CNSC
Clinical Nutritionist
Monika Tess received her Master of Science in Food Technology from the Academy of Life Sciences in Poland and her Master of Science in Nutrition from Brooklyn College. Monika completed her didactic program in dietetics (DPD) coursework at Hunter College before completing her Dietetic Internship through NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital. After graduating, she completed an adult nutrition support nutrition fellowship at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia. Monika is currently working as a staff relief dietitian, covering primarily oncology units.