Get to know your UHS Dietitians
March 03, 2023
National Nutrition Month is here! Part of this month shows special appreciation for registered dietitians and the work they do for the community in addressing nutritional concerns, providing education, and promoting access to nutritious foods for all. In honor of this, it only makes sense to introduce the registered dietitians from across the UHS System and let you get to know a little about them.
Mary Zelno, MS, RD, CDN
UHS Binghamton General Hospital
What is the last book you've read/TV show you've watched?
The Last of Us. It's an American post-apocalyptic drama about a mass fungal infection. It's WILD. Highly recommend.
If you could only eat/drink one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?
Sushi. Preferably salmon avocado, spicy tuna and shrimp tempura. Hits all food groups and it's just delicious!
Andrea Day, MS, RD, CDN
UHS Chenango Memorial Hospital
What do you like to do outside of work?
Outside of work I love spending time outside gardening, playing with my dog (her name is Maya and she is a black German Shepard), enjoying time with my fiancé and eating! 🙂
What is one goal you have for your future?
A career goal I have is to become board certified in obesity and weight management. I look forward to starting that process this year.
Kelly Eckert, RDN
UHS Diabetes Center
Why Work for UHS?
For the past three years I was working as a Dietitian at a local hospital in Southern Virginia with being both inpatient dietitian in the Intensive Care Unit and an outpatient dietitian with the Cardio Rehab Program. My family moved to Broome County after my maternity leave in November 2022 as we are very fortunate that Grandma retired early and now able to watch my son during the day! I choose UHS diabetes center because my passion is to continue to make a difference in the community by providing my nutrition knowledge in helping patients make dietary changes!
What is one goal you have for your future?
To obtain my Certified Diabetes Educator license and of course to be the best mom I can be for my son!
Kristin Lee, MS, RD, LDN, CNSC
UHS Wilson Medical Center, ICU
What is the weirdest food you've eaten?
I am pretty adventurous when it comes to trying new foods. Some of the weirdest foods I have eaten are tripe, ox tail, snails, jellyfish, and abalone (all of which I surprisingly enjoyed).
What do you like to do outside of work?
When I am not working, you can probably find me in the kitchen. I love cooking and trying new recipes from all around the world. I'm known for my "meal prep Sunday's" and like to batch cook for the week. I also share my recipes on my food instagram and make short cooking videos. Besides cooking, I like to draw and paint in my free time.
Grace Bartolillo, RD, CDN
UHS Delaware Valley Hospital
What do you like to do outside of work?
Outside of work I enjoy spending time with my pups, running and cooking.
What is the weirdest food you’ve eaten?
The weirdest food that I've ever eaten was pig ears, yes, the same ones like a dog would but they were actually prepared in a tomato-based soup and surprisingly not bad.
Jennifer Vallone, RD, CDN, MPH
UHS Home Care TTHH
What is the last book you've read/TV show you've watched?
The last book I read was Comedy Comedy Comedy Drama by Bob Odenkirk; last TV series was "Yellowstone".
What do you like to do outside of work?
Things I like to do outside of work: Ski, be with my kids and husband, hike, run and read books.
Sherri Reed, MS, RD, CDN
UHS Wilson Medical Center, UHS Pediatrics, UHS SBHC Roosevelt and Franklin
What do you like to do outside of work?
Outside of work, I still like food: eating it, cooking it and growing it! We grow vegetables, berries, grapes, flowers and raise our own meat. Our friends help us try new foods - everyone brings a food that goes with the weekly theme. My motto tends to be, if you don't taste different foods, you won't know if it will be a new favorite!
Kasandra Smith, MS, RD, CDN
UHS Senior Living at Ideal
What do you like to do outside of work?
Spend time with family, friends, and my fur babies; I enjoy traveling, motorcycle road trips, reading and golf
What is the last book you've read/TV show you've watched?
Last Book I have read is Pine Street and the Mighty Mutation Circus by Dennis Lantz
Jayne Gosney, MS, RDN, CDN
Clinical Nutrition Coordinator at UHS Senior Living at Ideal
If you could be any fruit or vegetable, what would you pick and why?
I would pick a sweet potato because they are versatile, and delicious both sweet and savory 🙂
Why work for UHS?
I love working with my team at UHS! I felt welcomed here from the first day I started in 2018.
Jaclyn Zindell, MHA, RD, CDN
Clinical Nutrition Coordinator of UHS Hospitals
What did you want to be growing up and how did you end up as a dietitian (if you didn't want to be one to begin with)?
For most of my childhood and into my teens I wanted to be a police officer. One day I realized that if I didn't like walking around in my backyard in the dark, it was probably not the job for me.
I turned my attention towards something different- nutrition. In high school I took an interest in food and cooking as well as the science behind it all and how food can be medicine too!
Why work for UHS?
In my 6 years at UHS, I have really grown as a person and a professional. I feel like I have endless opportunities to expand my skills and show why our team, Clinical Nutrition, is so important to UHS and the industry.
Caroline Burlingame, MS, RD, CDN
UHS Wilson Medical Center, CVICU and UHS Binghamton General Hospital
What is the last book you've read/TV show you've watched?
The last book I read was Where The Crawdads Sing over this past summer. I'm currently reading Small Game by Blair Braverman.
What did you want to be growing up and how did you end up as a dietitian (if you didn't want to be one to begin with)?
I wanted to be MANY things growing up (an author, singer, meteorologist, teacher... etc.). I realized in high school how much I truly loved food and cooking so I initially wanted to go to culinary school to become a chef. They made us take one of those career tests my junior year of high school and my top result was actually a Registered Dietitian which I had never even heard of. It's the perfect combination of my love of science, food and helping others 🙂.
Janelle Oakley, MS, RD, CDN
UHS Wilson Medical Center, ST5
If you could be any fruit or vegetable, what would you be and why?
I would have to be a pineapple because I want to stand tall and wear a crown at all times J (ironically, I don’t even like pineapple).
What did you want to be growing up and how did you end up as a dietitian (if you didn't want to be one to begin with)?
I initially wanted to be a nurse so I could be like my mom, but then realized I don’t like body fluids too much. I then wanted to be a chef because I enjoy cooking, but having those working hours made it very unappealing. However in high school I was diagnosed with cancer, and throughout my treatment nutrition was a HUGE struggle for me. I was given absolutely no help from any of my care team which made it worse. I decided then that I wanted to become the person that ensures that everyone going through cancer treatment has someone to go to for help with their nutrition.
Jessica Kehl, MS, RD, CDN
UHS Wilson Medical Center, NW4
What did you want to be growing up and how did you end up as a dietitian (if you didn't want to be one to begin with)?
Growing up I wanted to either be an author or a chef. I was drawn to dietetics when I was looking at career options in college because I love food and the role it plays in our health. I wanted a career where I could use my passion to help others live healthy lives.
What do you like to do outside of work?
When I'm not working, I enjoy spending time with my husband and our dogs, gardening, reading, trying new recipes, tap dancing, and practicing martial arts.
Jillian Tomsey, MS, RD, CDN
UHS Wilson Medical Center, ST4/SSU
If you could be any fruit or vegetable, what would you pick and why?
I would be my favorite fruit- a mango because I have an outer shell and a deep core, and am generally a sweet and easygoing person on the inside.
What do you like to do outside of work?
I like hanging out with my dog Barnaby who is a 6 year old shih-tzu. Staying physically active makes me feel my best so I like going to exercise classes at the gym. Dancing is my true inspiration so I also try to find time to practice learning choreographies, hula hoop dance tricks, and roller-skating. I also like being creative with cooking/baking, making cakes for birthdays in my family, and recently have started making macarons for holidays.
Rebecca Robins, MSL, RD, CSO, CDN, FAND
UHS Radiation Oncology and UHS Medical Oncology
If you could only eat/drink one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be and why:
Cereal and milk, particularly Cheerios because there are a lot of varieties and it's the ultimate comfort food
- Kelvin Lee, MS, RD, CDN: UHS Binghamton General Hospital
- Maureen Kennedy-May RD,CDN: UHS Primary Care Clinton Street