MS Program with DI Thesis and Capstone Projects
MHSN with DI Program
Thesis Projects
Students completing Master of Science in Human Nutrition, combined with the Dietetic Internship, engage in a variety of thesis research projects in conjunction with the world-class faculty and staff at OHSU.
Class of 2023
Simran Bhakta
Effects of Dietary Intake on Visceral, Adipose Tissue, Subcutaneous Adipose, Tissue, and Intrahepatic Lipid Levels in Pregnancy
Chair, Jonathan Purnell, MD
Alice Hsieh
Effects of Transitioning from a Daytime Work Schedule to a Shift Schedule on Diet and Health in Shift Workers
Chair, Melanie Gillingham, PhD, RD
Class of 2022
Rachel Moore
Food Photography Method to Measure Dietary Intake in Healthy Controls and Subjects with Urea Cycle Disorders
Chair, Melanie Gillingham, Ph.D., R.D.
Class of 2021
Emily Diana
Impact of Blenderized Enteral Nutrition on Bowel Function in Critically Ill Patients on ECMO
Chair, Julie McGuire, M.S., R.D.N.
Corrin Kalinich
Food Security Status in the OHSU Students Population before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Chair, Diane Stadler, Ph.D., R.D.
Aloura Linfesty
Nutrient Analysis of Water Buffalo Milk and Water Buffalo Milk Acid Whey: A Pilot Study to Evaluate Suitability as Protein Supplement for Human Consumption in Lao PDR
Chair, Diane Stadler, Ph.D., R.D.
Sarah Miller
Handgrip Strength and Body Composition in Individuals with and without Kidney Disease
Chair, Julie McGuire, M.S., R.D.N.
Keala Swafford
Post Prandial Glycemia following High Protein and High Fat Meals among Subjects with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus
Chair, Melanie Gillingham, Ph.D., R.D.
Class of 2020
Tyler Chase
Muscle Assessment through the Nutrition Focused Physical Exam compared to Skeletal Muscle Index measured by CT Imaging
Chair, Julie McGuire, M.S., R.D.
Lauren Martin
The Food Pharmacy at OHSU Knight Cardiovascular Institute: The Impact of a Pilot Fruit and Vegetable Provision Program on Cardiovascular Health: A Sample
Chair, Melanie Gillingham, Ph.D., R.D.
Georgia Brown
Triheptanoin in Long Chain Fatty Acid Oxidation Disorder Patients
Chair, Melanie Gillingham, Ph.D., R.D.
Josie (Oleson) Banks
Relationships between Leptin Levels, Body Composition, and Glucometabolic Parameters as a Function of Sex and Bariatric Surgery Type
Chair, Jonathan Purnell, M.D.
Crystal (Hayes) Leatherman
Comparison of Body Composition and Handgrip Strength between Hospitalized Lao Adults with and without Malnutrition
Chair, Diane Stadler, Ph.D., R.D.
ViVien Khoo
Secondary Dietary Data Analyses of Pegvaliase PRISM Clinical Trial
Chair, Sandra van Calcar, Ph.D., R.D.
Nicole Thelan
Impact of Multidisciplinary Care Management on Clinical and Nutritional Outcomes in Patients with Complex Gastrointestinal Conditions
Chair, Julie McGuire, M.S., R.D.
Class of 2019
Mallory (Soares) McAllese
Nutrient Intake, Body Composition, and Lipid Deposition among Subjects with a Fatty-Acid Oxidation Disorder and Matched Controls
Chair, Melanie Gillingham, Ph.D., R.D.
Becky Johnson
Biopsychosocial Factors that Influence Dietary Behavior in Pregnant Women
Chair, Jonathan Purnell, M.D.
Lindsay LeBrun
Factors Related to Progression of Retinopatthy in Long-Chain 3-Hydroxyacyl CoA Dehydrogenase and Trifunctional Protein Deficiencies
Chair, Melanie Gillingham, Ph.D., R.D.
Class of 2018
Denise Crowley
The Impact of Low and High Carbohydrate Diets on Subcutaneous Adipose Tissue versus Visceral Adipose Tissue during Weight Loss
Chair, Diane Stadler, Ph.D., R.D.
Natalie (Damen) Scandurro
Maternal Dietary Fat Intake During Pregnancy and Infant Body Composition at Birth
Chair, Nicole Marshal, M.D.
Jessica Hummel
Effects of Feeding Tube Placement on Nutritional Outcomes in Head and Neck Cancer Patients
Chair, Julie McGuire, M.S., R.D.
Jaime Ruisi
Body Composition and Health of Children with Hemophilia
Chair, Elizabeth Adams, Ph.D.
Crystal Tsai
Adult Female Asian Oregon WIC Participants' Perceptions of the WIC Food Package and Breastfeeding Support
Chair, Diane Stadler, Ph.D., R.D.
Jessica Somohano
Identifying Risk Factors for Cystic Fibrosis Related Diabetes in Children & Adolescents
Chair, Diane Stadler, Ph.D., R.D.
Class of 2017
Sara (Hudson) Sundstrom
Prevalence, Predictors, and Experience of Food Insecurity Among Patients with Inborn Errors of Metabolism
Chair, Joyanna Hansen, Ph.D., R.D.
Makena (Whitaker) Mehringer
Malnutrition and its Relationship with Skeletal Muscle Index in Patients with Bladder Cancer Undergoing Radical Cystectomy
Chair, Julie McGuire, M.S., R.D.N.
Amanda Wittenberg
Effect of Aerobic Exercise versus Resistance Training on Energy Balance and Glucose Control in Patients with Type 1 Diabetes
Chair, Melanie Gillingham, Ph.D., R.D.
Nicole Choyce
Development and Evaluation of an Educational Tool to Count Protein for Adolescents and Young Adults with PKU
Chair, Joyanna Hansen, Ph.D., R.D.
Sarah (Kunz) Larimer
Intestinal Colonization of a Probiotic Strain, Lactobacillus salivarius salivarius UCC118, in Critically Ill Patients
Chair, Robert Martindale, M.D., Ph.D.
Antoinette Kruger
An evaluation of body composition and physical activity in children and adolescents with classical galactosemia
Chair, Sandra van Calcar, Ph.D., R.D.
Class of 2016
Grace (Burlingame) George
Visceral Adiposity is Inversely Related to Dietary Intake of Fiber
Chair, Diane Stadler, Ph.D., R.D.
Kayla (Gahuman) Guillory
A Comparison of the Digestion and Absorption of Medium-Chain Triglyceride (MCT;C8) and Triheptanoin (C7) in Patients with Long-Chain Fatty Acid Oxidation Disorders
Chair, Cary Harding, M.D.
Class of 2015
Melissa Sailer
Nutrient Intake and Body Composition in Children with Phenylketonuria
Chair, Cary Harding, M.D.
Madeline Kinzly
Physical Activity, Maternal Weight Gain, and Postpartum Weight Retention of Participants in the OHSU Pregnancy, Exercise, and Nutrition Study
Chair, Diane Stadler, Ph.D., R.D., L.D.
Guadalupe Lopez
Use of Defatted Breast Milk in Infants with Postoperative Chylothorax
Chair, Melanie Gillingham, Ph.D., R.D.
Jeremy O'Neal
Vitamin D Supplementation Regimens for HIV-Infected Patients: A Historical Chart Review
Chair, P. Todd Korthuis, M.D., Ph.D.
Jane Riebold
Carnitine Status of Children Treated with Ketogenic Diet for Intractable Epilepsy
Chair, Diane Stadler, Ph.D., R.D., L.D.
Amanda Rosenberg
The Impact of Nutrtion Education on Post-Surgical Weigh Maintenance and Glycemic Control Among Renal Transplant Patients
Chair, Maureen McCarthy, M.P.H., R.D.N., C.S.R., L.D.
Class of 2014
Lucille (Glaize) Frey
The Relationship Between Maternal Dietary Fat Intake, Glucose Control, and Infant Birth Weight in Women Participating in the OHSU Pregnancy Exercise and Nutrition Study
Chair, Diane Stadler, Ph.D., R.D., L.D.
Cassie (Graziano) Boisvert
Fruit and Vegetable Intake and Gestational Weight Gain in OHSU Pregnancy, Exercise, and Nutrition Study Participants
Chair, Diane Stadler, Ph.D., R.D., L.D.
Joanna (Helm) Cummings
The Effects of an Acute Bout of Moderate Intensity Exercise on Plasma Amino Acids Concentrations in Adolescent Boys with Phenylketonuria (PKU)
Chair, Melanie Gillingham, Ph.D., R.D., L.D.
Class of 2013
Tysen (Cullen) Christensen
Association between Body Mass Index and the Development of New Onset Diabetes Mellitus or the Worsening of Pre-existing Diabetes Mellitus in Adults after Kidney Transplantation
Chair, Maureen McCarthy, MPH, RD
Christopher S. Errante
Green Tea Supplementation Lowers IGF-I in Men at Risk for Prostate Cancer Versus Placebo
Chair, Jackilen Shannon, Ph.D.
Katie Geiger
Serum Vitamin D Among Children with Inherited Metabolic Disorders
Chair, David Koeller, MD
Christina (Germann) Johnson
The Effect of Dietary MCT and LCT Oils on Acyl Ghrelin and Relationships to Hunger and Satiety
Chair, Jonathan Purnell, M.D.
Jessica (Mooney) Collopy
Regularly Scheduled Artificial (IV) Hydration Among Head and Neck Cancer Patients Undergoing Radiotherapy-based Treatment
Chair, Diane Stadler, Ph.D., R.D., L.D.
Ariela (Brodsky) Nielson
Comparison of Plasma Vitamin E Concentration in Maternal Smokers and Non-Smokers and Matching Umbilical Blood Cord Pairs
Chair, Cynthia McEvoy, MD
Class of 2012
Emily Kennedy
The Effects of High Fructose Meal on Postprandial Substrate Oxidation
Chair, Melanie Gillingham, PhD, RD
Jessica (Peretti) Peterson
Group Education for Children with Phenylketonuria
Chair, Melanie Gillingham, PhD, RD
Anne Southworth
A Single Session Nutrition Intervention in the Context of a Health Fair Might Positively Influence the Factors that Determine and Mediate the Dietary Behaviors of 4th-6th Grade Students
Chair, Diane Stadler, Ph.D, RD
Class of 2011
Hebah Bensalamah
The Effects of Weight Loss Induced by a Melanocortin 4 Receptor Agonist on Plasma Fatty Acid Composition in Non-Human Primates
Chair, Melanie Gillingham, PhD, RD
Anne Behrend
Effects of MCT Supplementation on Exercise Tolerance in Patients with Long-Chain 3-Hydroxy Acyl-CoA Dehydrogenase (LCHAD) Deficiency
Chair, Cary Harding, MD
Class of 2010
Sarah Lowe
Risk of Fasting Induced Hypoketotic Hypoglycemia in Children with CPT1A Deficiency
Chair, Melanie Gillingham, PhD, RD
Stephanie (Miksa) Crabtree
Change in Vitamin D Concentration in Obese Individuals After a 6 Month Weight Loss Intervention of High-versus Low-Carbohydrate Diets
Chair, Diane Stadler, PhD, RD
Sarah (Bergman) Tesar
Effects of Low-and-High Carbohydrate Meals on Postprandial Concentrations of Circulating Plasma Lipids
Chair, Melanie Gillingham, PhD, RD
Class of 2009
Svetlana (Zubkova) Didenco
Normal Plasma Vitamin E Metabolite Concentrations in Pregnant Women and Umbilical Cord Blood Plasma
Chair, Melanie Gillingham, PhD, RD
Julie (Feifers) McGuire
Omega-3 Fatty Acids, Inflammation, and Outcome in Men with and without Prostate Cancer
Chair, Jackilen Shannon, PhD, RD
Julie (Smith) Ross
The Postprandial Excursion of Total and Undercarboxylatated Osteocalcin Following Low-versus High-Complex Carbohydrate Meals in the Healthy Weight Adult
Chair, Tracy Ryan-Borchers, PhD, RD
Mary Travis
Food Insecurity and Children With Special Health Care Needs
Chair, Elizabeth Adams, PhD, RD
Erica (Strobl) Van Mieghem
Food Insecurity During Pregnancy and Its Relation to Birth Weight
Chair, Elizabeth Adams, PhD, RD
Class of 2008
Anna (Forester) Francois
Quercetin and Prostate Cancer: A Case–Control Study
Chair, Jackilen Shannon, PhD, RD
Sherri (Fechter) Hall
The Effects of High-and Low-Carbohydrate Diets on Urinary Calcium Excretion, Bone Turnover Markers, and Bone Quality
Chair, Diane Stadler, PhD, RD
Class of 2007
Natalia Bailey
Influence of Food Consistency on Spontaneous Caloric Intake Following Traumatic Brain Injury
Chair, Robert Martindale, MD
Stacey (LaVoie) Lamb
Normal Plasma Fatty Acid Concentrations Among Young Children With Phenylketonuria
Chair, Melanie Gillingham, PhD, RD
Yueh-Han Lin
Vitamin D and Thrombosis
Chair, Jackilen Shannon, PhD, RD
Class of 2006
Whitney (Silverstein) Ellersick
Comparison of Body Composition by Dual-Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry and Bioelectrical Impedance in Obese Individuals: A Subanalysis of the Insight Weight Loss Study
Chair, Diane D. Stadler, PhD, RD
Clair Stephenson
Impact of a School-Based Nutrition Curriculum on Intake of Dietary Calcium among Adolescents
Chair, Victoria Warren-Mears, PhD, RD
Elizabeth Legg
Are Nutritional Beliefs Consistent with the Dietary Practices of Female Endurance Walkers?
Chair, Dorothy Hagan, PhD, RD
Maternal dietary fat intake during pregnancy and newborn body composition
Natalie Damen, Melanie Gillingham, Joyanna Hansen, Kent Thornburg, Jonathan Purnell, Nicole Marshall
J Perinatol. 2021 January, 28.
Nutrient Intake, Body Composition, and Blood Phenylalanine Control in Children with Phenylketonuria Compared to Healthy Controls
Melissa Sailer, Gabriela Elizondo, Julie Martin, Cary O. Harding, Melanie B. Gillingham
Mol Genet Metab Rep. 2020 June; 23: 10599.
Normal Vitamin D Levels and Bone Mineral Density Among Children with Inborn Errors of Metabolism Consuming Medical Food-based Diets
Katie E Geiger, David M Koeller, Cary O Harding, Kathleen L Huntington, Melanie B Gillingham
Nutr Res. 2016 Jan; 36(1): 101-8.
Use of Automated Self-administered 24-hour Recalls (ASA24-2011) and Diet Quality Scores to Characterize Women who Met or Exceeded Weight Gain Recommendations during Pregnancy
Cassandra Graziano, Joyanna Hansen, Angela Horgan, Esther Moe, Maggie McLain, Linn Goldberg, Diane Stadler
Proc Food Sci. 2015; 4: 60-70
Body Mass Index and the Development of New-Onset Diabetes Mellitus or the Worsening of Pre-Existing Diabetes Mellitus in Adult Kidney Transplant Patients
Tysen J Cullen, Maureen P McCarthy, Michael R Lasarev, John M Barry, Diane D Stadler
J Ren Nutr. 2014 Mar; 24(2): 116-22
Change in Postprandial Substrate Oxidation After a High-Fructose Meal is Related to Body Mass Index in Healthy Men
Anne C Smeraglio, Emily K Kennedy, Angela Horgan, Jonathan Q Purnell, Melanie B Gillingham
Nutr Res. 2013 Jun; 33(6): 435-41.
Substrate Oxidation and Cardiac Performance During Exercise in Disorders of Long Chain Fatty Acid Oxidation
Annie M Behrend, Cary O Harding, James D Shoemaker, Dietrich Matern, David J Sahn, Diane L Elliot, and Melanie B Gillingham
Mol Genet Metab. 2012 Jan; 105(1): 110–15.
Impaired Fasting Tolerance Among Alaska Native Children with a Common Carnitine Palmitoyltransferase 1A Sequence Variant
Melanie B. Gillingham, Matthew Hirschfeld, Sarah Lowe, Dietrich Matern, James Shoemaker, William E. Lambert, David M. Koeller
Mol Genet Metab. 2011 Nov; 104(3): 261-4
Increased Vitamin E Intake is Associated with Higher α-tocopherol Concentration in the Maternal Circulation but Higher α-carboxyethyl Hydroxychroman Concentration in the Fetal Circulation
Svetlana Didenco, Melanie B Gillingham, Mitzi D Go, Scott W Leonard, Maret G Traber, and Cindy T McEvoy
Am J Clin Nutr. 2011 Feb; 93(2): 368–373
Normal Plasma Fatty Acid Concentrations Among Young Children with Phenylketonuria (PKU)
Stacey M Lavoie, Cary O Harding, Melanie B Gillingham
Top Clin Nutr. 2009 October; 24(4):333-340
Christopher Errante
Poster presented at OHSU Research Week 2013
Jessica Mooney
Poster presented at OHSU Research Week in 2013
The Effect of Dietary MCT and LCT Oils on Acyl Ghrelin and Relationships to Hunger and Satiety
Christina Johnson
Poster presented at OHSU Research Week 2013
Tysen Cullen
Poster presented at Food and Nutrition Conference and Expo in 2013
Stephanie (Miksa) Crabtree
Poster presented at the North American Association for the Study of Obesity Conference in 2010
Omega-3 Fatty Acids, Inflammation and Outcome in Men with and without Prostate Cancer
Julie (Feifers) McGuire
Oral poster presented at Linus Pauling Diet and Optimum Health Conference in 2009
Julie Smith, Sarah (Bergman) Tesar, Melissa (Kumagai) Nunez
Poster presented at Experimental Biology Conference in 2009
Capstone Projects
Students completing the non-thesis Master of Science in Human Nutrition, combined with the Dietetic Internship, engage in a variety of capstone projects in conjunction with OHSU staff and faculty and members of the community.
Class of 2023
Allie Helein
Development of a Meal Plan for Adolescents with Eating Disorders
Chair, Denise Crowley, MS, RD and Mallory McAleese, MS, RD
Amanda Steele
Impacts of COVID-19 on Food Insecurity of Female Sex Workers in Kenya
Chair, Joanna Cummings, MS, RD
Cole Theobald
Development of a Geriatric Nutrition Curriculum for Caregivers of Older Adults
Chair, Katie Dodd, MS, RD
Class of 2022
Sarah Allen
Increasing Perceived Food Accessibility for Community Members with One of Three Chronic Diseases in Clark County Washington
Mentor, Alison Lauderdale
Class of 2021
Natalie Disher
Perception and Use of Probiotics in the Acute Care Setting - A Market Analysis
Mentor, Julie McGuire, M.S., R.D.N.
Lauren Johnson
Agriculture Education in Lao People’s Democratic Republic: Enhancement of the Farmer Nutrition School Curriculum
Mentor, Diane Stadler, Ph.D., R.D.
Phoebe Luc
Evaluation of the Feeding Management Referral Process for Very Low Birth Weight (VLBW) High Risk Infants from the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)
Mentor, Elizabeth Massey, M.S, R.D.
Lacey Mangano
Safety and Efficacy of Intraoperative Enteral Nutrition During Burn Surgeries
Mentor, Danielle Toepfer, R.D.
Elaine Sim
Developing an Educational Booklet for Women with Maple Syrup Urine Disease (MSUD) During and After Pregnancy
Chair, Sandy van Calcar, Ph.D., R.D.
Kelsey Vanden Heuvel
Review of Evidence on Essential Fatty Acid Supplementation for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Development of Clinical Guidelines and Educational Handout on Mealtime Behavior Interventions
Mentor, April Mitsch, M.S., R.D.
Huiqing (Esther) Xu
Nutrition Education Handbook for Children with Thalassemia
Mentor, Joanna Cummings, M.S., R.D., C.N.S.C.
Class of 2020
Justin Hunt
Childhood Development and Rehabilitation Center (CDRC) Feeding and Swallowing Disorders Program Patient Guide for Blenderized Tube Feeding
Mentor, April Mitsch, M.S., R.D.
Courtney Payne
Increasing Self-Efficacy and Body Appreciation in Collegiate Athletes as Part of a Cooking Education Intervention
Mentor, Lexie Jackson, M.S., R.D.
Sheila Visvanathan
Development of Dietary Guide and Analysis of Blood Phenylalanine and Protein Consumption Trends in Adults with Phenylketonuria Starting Enzyme Substitution
Mentor, Joyanna Hansen, Ph.D., R.D.
A Cooking Education Intervention to Increase Self-Efficacy and Body Appreciation in Collegiate Athletes
Courtney Payne, MS, RD; Alexandra Jackson, MS, RD; Melissa Novak, DO
SCAN's Pulse, Vol 41, No 2, Spring 2021
None at this time
MSFSS with DI Program
Projects will be updated when the first class of MSFSS/DI students begins in 2024. To see projects completed by students in the stand-alone FSS program, please visit the FSS program capstone page.