Meet Our Nutrition Science Experts

Areas of Expertise:

- Neonatal Nutrition - Bridget is a Research Fellow specializing in neonatal nutrition. Passionate about caring for the most vulnerable of newborns, her research is centered on the critical nutrition needs of preterm babies to give them the best start in life. Bridget’s first experience in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) inspired her life’s work. She saw how preterm babies were extremely tiny, vulnerable and fragile, but mighty when it came to fighting to overcome health challenges. Since then, Bridget’s vision, insight and direction have led to clinical trials and the introduction of innovative nutritional products for the NICU. She is dedicated to bringing the latest nutrition science to healthcare professionals worldwide to help them better care for premature babies. Bridget joined Abbott in 1993 as a Clinical Research Associate. She belongs to the American Society of Nutrition and the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Bridget holds more than 16 patents and has been awarded prestigious Abbott awards for her neonatal nutrition work. Bridget earned her master's degree in Medical Science (MMSc) from Emory University and Doctorate (PhD) from University of Georgia. Previously, she was a research nutritionist in the Maternal and Child Health Department at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta.

Areas of Expertise:

- Healthy Aging, Muscle Health and Cognitive Health - Jacqueline Boff, Ph.D., MBA, is a research scientist at Abbott. Over the past decade, she has conducted research on the role of nutrition in healthy aging, chronic disease management and strength and energy in older adults. In her different roles, Jacqueline provides global scientific and medical support for Abbott’s nutrition products. Jacqueline also has expertise in nutrition and its benefits on brain health and development. In the area of infant nutrition, she’s contributed to science with her studies on the role of carotenoids and natural vitamin E in cognition. Jacqueline received her Ph.D. in neuroimmunology and a master’s degree in biochemistry from The Ohio State University and her MBA from Ohio University.

Areas of Expertise:

- Preventative Nutrition, Diabetes and Heart Health, Mindful Eating and Behavior Change - Janna Boloten is a registered dietitian with a strong passion to inspire healthy eating, cooking, fitness and wellness in others. Her mission is to empower people of all ages to discover their healthiest and most enjoyable life through good nutrition. Janna is part of Abbott’s Nutrition Science and Regulatory Affairs team in Canada where she collaborates with leading healthcare professionals to translate the most relevant nutrition research and guidelines into to practical action tips. She specializes in diabetes and healthy behaviour interventions, to support management and prevention. Prior to joining Abbott, Janna worked in both private practice and as a clinical dietitian at the Jewish General Hospital in Montreal. Her areas of focus were diabetes, heart health and weight management through motivational counseling and behavior change. Janna promotes balance, moderation, and above all, mindful and meaningful lifestyle choices. She has a B.Sc. in Dietetics and Human Nutrition and a B.Ain Psychology from McGill University in Montreal.

Areas of Expertise:

- Clinical and Preclinical Research, Product Development - Hakim Bouzamondo is division vice president of Global Research and Development at Abbott. He is responsible for pediatric and adult nutrition product development, education, and clinical and preclinical research. He leads a team of more than 600 nutrition scientists and experts, across five R&D Centers globally. He joined Abbott in 2014 as division vice president of Global Scientific & Medical Affairs. In this role, he was responsible for developing and managing an integrated Medical & Scientific Affairs organization, enhancing the quality of clinical research conducted and ensuring interdisciplinary collaboration across the business. Hakim redefined key science research platforms and created a user experience team to better address rapidly evolving consumer needs. Hakim is a medical doctor by training. He has an MSc degree and completed his pharmacology post-doctoral training at Paris University. He also completed an executive MBA from Ashridge Business School in the United Kingdom.

Areas of Expertise:

- Immune Health, Human Milk Oligosaccharides, Nucleotides - Rachael Buck works on the forefront of infant nutrition. As the director of Preclinical Research and a discovery scientist in the field of immune health, Rachael studies the components of breast milk to help Abbott nutritionists develop infant formulas that are as close as possible to breast milk. She designs clinical trials to study the effects of these nutrients on babies’ development in the first year of life. Rachael leads the pioneering research program for human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs). HMOs are beneficial, prebiotic- like nutrients found in breast milk that help support immune and gut health. Abbott has driven the clinical research behind HMOs for more than 20 years, paving the way for this breakthrough ingredient to be added to infant formulas. The research on HMOs has demonstrated improved immunity benefits similar to breast-fed infants. Rachael joined Abbott in 1995 and over her career has received numerous prestigious Abbott awards for her research on nucleotides, pediatric immunity and HMOs. She was also named a Research Fellow for her pioneering work. She has authored more than 50 journal articles and filed 55+ patents. Rachael received her PhD degree in immunology from the University of Cambridge, U.K.

Areas of Expertise:

- Infant Nutrition and Feeding, Immune Health - Tiffany DeWitt is a registered dietitian providing clinical and scientific support for nutrition products at Abbott. She specializes in nutrition support that gives babies a strong start in life. Her areas include nutrition for digestive and immune health as well as infant growth and development. Tiffany also has expertise in nutrition counseling for healthy aging, muscle health and chronic disease management. She has a strong passion for working on quality improvement projects to help improve access to nutrition services. Tiffany earned her bachelor’s degree in Dietetics and completed her dietetic internship at The Ohio State University. She earned a master's degrees in nutrition and in Business Administration from The Ohio State University.

Areas of Expertise:

- Adult Malnutrition, Diet and Disease, Protein Trends, Diabetes - Dr. Refaat Hegazi is the head of Global Medical Affairs for Nutrition at Abbott. As a physician scientist, Dr. Hegazi oversees a team of nutrition experts and medical directors that advance education, clinical research, science and product development of nutrition products. He is passionate about leading his team to uncover the role of nutrition in health and disease. He has interest in studying the correlation between nutrition and immune and glycemic responses to develop therapies to manage chronic and acute diseases. Dr. Hegazi joined Abbott in 2009 and helped develop a global diabetes nutrition care model that encompassed transcultural differences in diets and lifestyle. Also an expert in malnutrition, he has contributed to advances in the treatment of malnutrition through healthcare coalitions and educational programs. Dr. Hegazi is a graduate of Mansoura University Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura, Egypt. He earned a Master of Occupational Health and Industrial Medicine from Mansoura University Faculty of Medicine in Mansoura, Egypt. He also has a Master of Public Health from the Graduate School of Public Health at the University of Pittsburgh. Additionally, he has a Ph.D. in Nutritional Epidemiology from the Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh and Master of Business Administration from the Franklin University. He completed his Post-Doctoral fellowship in Gastrointestinal Immunology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. Dr. Hegazi is certified by the American Board of Physician Nutrition Specialist and has authored 50 peer reviewed articles and five book chapters.

Areas of Expertise:

- Protein, Muscle Health and Metabolism - Steve Hertzler is a senior scientist of clinical research with Abbott’s Global Scientific and Medical Affairs team. He supports the scientific research and product development for adult nutrition products. With 25 years of experience as a dietitian, researcher and professor, Steve drives the development of new adult products by advising on key nutrients and therapeutic formulations to support healthy aging and recovery from health setbacks. Steve joined Abbott in 2007; he is the author of multiple chapters on nutrition and has published more than 20 peer-reviewed scientific research articles. He’s been a speaker for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, addressing muscle health, diet and ingredients including HMB. Prior to joining Abbott, Steve was a faculty member at The Ohio State University in the Division of Medical Dietetics and the Department of Human Nutrition. Steve earned his Ph.D. in Human Nutrition from the University of Minnesota and his bachelor’s degree in Community-Medical Dietetics at Viterbo College.

Areas of Expertise:

- Pediatric and Geriatric Nutrition - Anna Jacob is the director of Nutrition for Singapore, Myanmar and Cambodia and is responsible for medical affairs and consumer communications at Abbott. She joined Abbott in 2008 and is an expert in pediatric and geriatric nutrition. Throughout her 30-year career, Anna has had achievements including establishing the first nutrition consultancy partnership in Singapore which provides services ranging from clinical to community nutrition intervention to research and scientific advocacy. Anna helped develop the school-based physical activity and nutrition education for ILSI Southeast Asia Region’s obesity prevention program. “PowerKids” was launched in Singapore and adapted in Thailand, Philippines, Indonesia and India. Over the years, Anna has also supported several initiatives of the Health Promotion Board including nutrition education of school-age children, healthier dining programs both in schools and the community as well as corporate wellness programs.   Anna is a co-author of FirstFoods, SmartFoods for Tweens, Fit Not Fat and The Essential Guide for First-time Asian Mums and Dads, published by Marshall Cavendish International (Asia) Pte Ltd. Anna graduated from Women’s Christian College, Madras University with a bachelor’s degree in Nutrition and Dietetics and a master’s degree in Food Service Management and Dietetics.

Areas of Expertise:

- Premature Infant Nutrition and Care - Michelle Johnson is a registered dietitian and research scientist in the Pediatric Global Science, Innovation and Education team at Abbott where she provides clinical and scientific expertise for Abbott’s nutrition preterm infant products. Michelle helps develop life-saving preterm nutrition products to support strong starts in life and provides medical nutrition expertise for educational initiatives. Her areas of expertise include neonatal clinical nutrition and pediatric clinical nutrition. Prior to joining Abbott in 2014, Michelle was a neonatal and pediatric nutritionist for 17 years in multiple neonatal intensive care units and pediatric hospitals in the U.S.

Areas of Expertise:

- Pediatric Nutrition, Diabetes Nutrition Management - Rachel Johnson is a registered dietitian and researcher specializing in infant nutrition and diabetes nutrition and disease management at Abbott. Rachel draws on her extensive clinical background to drive global continuing education and programs to help healthcare professionals access the latest nutrition science. Her research drives the development of nutritional products and formulas that help babies get strong starts in life. Before joining Abbott in 2000, Rachel worked as a hospital-based clinical dietitian and she provided nutrition counseling services to patients with chronic disease and illness including diabetes and HIV/AIDS. Rachel earned a bachelor’s degree in Dietetics, Nutrition, and Food Science from Northern Illinois University and completed her internship at Ingalls Memorial Hospital.

Areas of Expertise:

- Pediatric Nutrition, Food Allergy and Eosinophilic Disorders - Jan Kajzer is a registered dietitian and research scientist at Abbott. She specializes in global pediatric specialty nutrition, including the dietary management of food allergies and eosinophilic disorders. Her work on pediatric formulas includes a variety of specialized nutritional therapies for babies and children affected by allergic disease such as cow’s milk allergy. Her role includes conducting clinical research and providing nutrition expertise in the development new product formulas. She also provides clinical and scientific expertise to support nutrition education for healthcare professionals and consumers around the world. Jan spent 13+ years in various business positions before entering the field of nutrition. Prior to joining Abbott in 2009, she was a pediatric clinical dietitian providing medical nutrition therapy for pulmonary patients, including cystic fibrosis, for both hospital patients and outpatients. Jan has a bachelor’s degree from Miami University, a bachelor’s degree in dietetics from The University of Dayton and completed her dietetic internship and master's degree in medical dietetics from The Ohio State University.

Areas of Expertise:

- Nutrition and Brain Health, Clinical Research - Matt Kuchan is a discovery scientist and leads scientific discovery and research on the impact of nutrition on cognition and memory. Matt oversees a global team of cognition experts who are studying nutritional compounds and their benefits to discover new uses to develop nutritional therapies that address health needs in children and adults. His research has focused on the role of lutein and vitamin E in brain development in babies and in cognitive decline in older adults. Matt joined Abbott in 1993 and has held various roles in research and development in pediatric and adult nutrition. He assumed the Global Cognition Platform Lead and Science Lead in 2011. Matt earned his bachelor’s degree in Biology from Saint Louis University, a master’s degree in Human Physiology from Illinois State University and his PhD in Nutritional Science from the University of Illinois. He completed his post doctorate in Chemical Engineering at the Pennsylvania State University.

Areas of Expertise:

- Maternal Nutrition, Childhood Growth, Nutrition Science - Yen Ling Low is the director of Research & Development at Abbott’s Asia-Pacific nutrition center. She leads a multi-disciplinary team of 50 scientists, researchers and specialists who design and develop science-based nutrition innovations to help consumers live healthier lives. Yen Ling oversees maternal, pediatric and adult nutrition product development, packaging, preclinical, clinical and sensory research, partner development, as well as, nutrition education. Yen Ling has worked in the field of food and nutrition, spanning government, academic and industry settings. She joined Abbott in 2009 as a scientist and has held roles of increasing responsibility which include leading nutrition projects and studies in Singapore, Philippines, Vietnam, China and India. Prior to Abbott, she held appointments at the Health Promotion Board under the Ministry of Health in Singapore. She spearheaded public health projects including the review of dietary standard guidelines and recommended daily allowance (RDAs) for Singapore. Yen Ling graduated with Bachelor of Nutrition and Dietetics with First Class Honors from the University of Surrey and her Ph.D. in Nutrition from the University of Cambridge in United Kingdom. She is also an adjunct assistant professor at the Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health at the National University of Singapore.

Areas of Expertise:

- Metabolic Disorders, Pediatric and Maternal Nutrition - Barbara Marriage is a pediatric research dietitian and scientist with Abbott. She is a leading expert in genetic metabolic disorders. Over the years, she has conducted extensive global research in pediatric nutrition contributing to the development of nutrition therapies that help children with metabolic disorders get the nutrition they need to flourish. Barbara’s research interests include maternal nutrition, childhood obesity and inborn errors of metabolism. Barbara has published over 25 articles in peer-reviewed journals, written book chapters and newsletters, and has given many presentations on nutrition-related topics. Barbara received a bachelor’s degree in Applied Human Nutrition from the University of Guelph, a master’s degree in Nutrition and a doctorate’s degree in Medical Sciences from the University of Alberta.

Areas of Expertise:

- Sports Nutrition, Diet Trends, Marathon Training, Meal Planning - Pamela Nisevich Bede is a registered dietitian with Abbott's ZonePerfect Nutrition business. As a member of the Scientific and Medical Affairs team, she leverages the latest nutrition science and lifestyle trends to recommend and develop new products that help active people achieve health, wellness, and weight goals. As a marathoner, Ironman triathlete, and dietitian, Pam knows firsthand the important role nutrition plays in health and performance. Pam enjoys staying abreast of trends and novel approaches to nutrition, weight loss, and endurance training methods. Her next book will focus on a new approach to food journaling. Pam is frequently sought out as a nutrition expert, has contributed to multiple books, and regularly writes a column, “Fuel School ,” published by Runner’s World magazine. Prior to joining Abbott, Pamela was a consultant to the food industry, a college instructor, and a pediatric clinical dietitian working in the areas of pediatric obesity, genetics, Type 1 diabetes, and general pediatrics. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Dietetics from Miami University and a master’s degree in Medical Dietetics from The Ohio State University.

Areas of Expertise:

- Sarcopenia, Muscle Health, Healthy Aging - Suzette Pereira is an associate research fellow at Abbott leading studies focused on muscle health and muscle loss due to aging. Her research is focused on evaluating nutritional therapies that can prevent muscle and strength declines due to sarcopenia, hospitalization and chronic diseases. She has led preclinical studies to identify key ingredients (such as HMB) that can prevent muscle wasting. Her current work is focused on translating the findings from preclinical studies to human clinical studies to help improve nutritional products for adults. Over the last 12 years at Abbott, Suzette has led several collaborations with scientific key opinion leaders, business partners and across Abbott. She currently serves as the Abbott representative to the ‘FNIH- Sarcopenia Biomarker Consortium’, a group dedicated to developing a consensus definition of Sarcopenia and driving awareness. Prior to joining Abbott, Suzette obtained her Ph.D. and carried out post-doctoral research in the department of Microbiology at the Ohio State University. She has co-authored more than 30 peer-reviewed scientific publications, and routinely presents her research at national and international scientific conferences. She is also a co-inventor on over 80+ filed patents.

Areas of Expertise:

- Healthy Aging, Adult Malnutrition, Oncology Nutrition - Abby Sauer is a registered dietitian specializing in adult nutrition. She helps drive nutrition education and science by working with experts across the country. Abby has also developed new product formulas by providing clinical and scientific expertise on various nutritional therapies. Since joining Abbott in 1999, she has been involved in medical affairs, clinical research and nutrition science and education initiatives. Before Abbott, Abby worked as a clinical dietitian and provided medical nutrition therapy and counseling to hospital patients including medical-surgical patients, ICU patients, and oncology patients. Abby is a frequent presenter on various nutrition topics and publishes nutrition articles; she serves as a member of professional nutrition organizations and work groups. Abby earned her bachelor’s degree in Dietetics from Miami University and completed her dietetic internship at Barnes Jewish Christian Hospital. She earned a master’s degree in Public Health from The Ohio State University.

Areas of Expertise:

- Nutrition Science and Research, Medical Nutrition - As the director of Evidence Development and Compliance, Christine leads scientific research and compliance for Abbott’s adult and pediatric nutrition products. An expert in food science, sports medicine and medical nutrition, she helps develop products backed by research that support healthy growth and aging and the management of chronic health conditions including diabetes, malnutrition and more. Christine joined Abbott in 2004 and has led teams of scientists responsible for developing new products, conducting nutrition research and delivering education globally. She has directed over 75 clinical nutrition trials and has authored many consumer and scientific articles including a peer-reviewed article on the importance of an overall healthy diet and lifestyle. Christine is also active in the Institute of Food Technologists. Christine earned her PhD in Nutrition from Cornell University, Division of Nutritional Sciences and a Master of Science in Food Science also from Cornell University. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Food Science from Purdue University and completed her dietetic coursework from the University of Northern Colorado. Christine has completed an International Food Law Certificate from the Michigan State University, and she continues to develop her knowledge and professional skills through her current pursuit of an MBA from The Ohio State University.

Areas of Expertise:

- Research and Innovation, Health Economics, Population Health Management - Suela Sulo is a health outcomes researcher in the department of Health Economics and Outcomes Research of Abbott. Since joining Abbott in 2016, Suela has helped design and implement numerous U.S. and ex-U.S. research and quality improvement projects, which measure the impact of nutrition interventions on patient outcomes and healthcare costs. Prior to joining Abbott, Suela was manager of Patient Centered Outcomes Research for a large healthcare system in Illinois, where she led the efforts to implement a nutrition-focused quality improvement program developed to reduce 30-day readmissions and length of stay in hospitalized patients. Suela received a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Psychology and Counseling from University of Sheffield, United Kingdom, and a Ph.D. in Organization Leadership from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. Suela has over 10 years of research experience and has published more than 40 articles in peer-reviewed journals in the areas of medicine, healthcare leadership and psychology.

Areas of Expertise:

- Neonatal Nutrition, Maternal Nutrition - Melody Thompson is a registered dietitian and pediatric nutrition specialist at Abbott. She has worked with the tiniest of preterm babies to recommend neonatal nutrition therapies to help them get the best start in life and achieve healthy growth and development. Her expertise has supported the development of many Similac® formulas for neonatal intensive care units (NICU). Melody joined Abbott in 1997 and has held increasing roles of responsibility as a clinical nutrition expert. Prior to Abbott, Melody was the neonatal nutritionist for 20 years in the NICUs at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. She continues as a clinical consultant there – attending NICU rounds when possible. As a nutrition expert, she has co-authored and co-edited the seminal neonatal nutrition book, Nutritional Care for High-Risk Newborns and the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics’ Pocket Guide to Neonatal Nutrition. Melody earned a bachelor's degree in Nutrition and Food Science from The University of Kentucky and completed a Dietetic Internship at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. She has a master’s degree in Medical Dietetics from The Ohio State University. She is a registered dietitian and a licensed dietitian in the state of Ohio.

Areas of Expertise:

- Clinical Research, Adult Malnutrition, Oncology, Diabetes - Katie Thrush is a registered dietitian specializing in clinical research and evidence development. She oversees clinical research and evidence development programs to support Abbott nutrition research. Katie’s areas of clinical and research expertise include: adult malnutrition, oncology, diabetes, sarcopenia, quality improvement, Good Clinical Practice and emerging technologies in clinical research. Since joining Abbott in 1996, Katie has been involved in medical affairs and clinical research. She is currently leading Abbott’s efforts to bring technology into clinical research to increase the effectiveness and efficiencies in the evidence development process. Katie earned her Bachelor of Science in Dietetics from Miami University and completed her Master of Science in Human Nutrition and dietetic internship at The Ohio State University.

Areas of Expertise:

Pediatric Nutrition, Feeding Difficulties, Kids' Growth, Hydration - Jennifer Williams is a research scientist at Abbott specializing in hydration and pediatric nutrition. Jennifer has conducted more than 20 clinical trials for Abbott. She leads nutrition science research and education in the area of rehydration, examining the benefits of electrolytes and fluid replacement in children and adults who experience dehydration. She has also led research on feeding difficulties in children and the role of nutritional supplementation in healthy growth in children. In prior roles, she has studied the benefits of various nutrients in people managing diabetes. Jennifer has authored 13+ peer-reviewed papers and has presented scientific data at both domestic and global scientific conferences. Jennifer received her undergraduate degrees in biology and chemistry from Cedarville University in Ohio and a master’s degree in Public Health from The Ohio State University.

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