MSHN Thesis and Capstone Projects

Thesis projects

Students completing Master of Science in Human Nutrition engage in a variety of thesis research projects in conjunction with the world-class faculty and staff at OHSU.

Class of 2023

Courtney Merrill

Trikafta® Modulator Therapy and Glycemic Status in Pediatric Patients with Cystic Fibrosis

Chair, Sandy van Calcar, PhD, RD

Class of 2022

Emma Whigham

Meal Quality and Timing of Nutrient Intake Among Adolescents and Young Adults with Type 1 Diabetes: Associations with Glycemic Control and Sleep Duration 

Chair, Melanie Gillingham, PhD, RD 

Kiana Aumiller

The Effect of Social Jetlag and Chronotype on Healthy Eating Index (HEI) Score, Energy Intake and Body Composition in Non-Shift Workers Aged 19-65, an NHANES 2017-2018 Cross-Sectional Study

Chair, Melanie Gillingham, PhD, RD

Class of 2021

Morgan Kuiper

Retrospective Chart Review of the Impact of Preoperative Carbohydrate Loading on Length of Stay and Postoperative Recovery in Living Kidney Donors undergoing Laparoscopic Nephrectomy

Chair, Sandy van Calcar, PhD, RD

Class of 2019

Hannah Wilson, R.D. 

Evaluation of a Nutrition Risk Screening Tool to Identify Risk of Malnutrition Among Newly Admitted Hospitalized Patients in Lao PDR: A Pilot Study

Chair, Diane Stadler, Ph.D., R.D. 

Katherine Schuette, R.D. 

Effect of a Feeding Protocol on Nutrition in the PICU

Chair, Joyanna Hansen, Ph.D., R.D. 

Class of 2018

Natalie Gavi, R.D.

Body Composition and Carnitine Status of Children Treated with the Ketogenic Diet for Intractable Epilepsy

Chair, Diane Stadler, Ph.D., R.D. 

Kathryn (Attema) Rappolt, R.D.

Impact of High-Complex-Carbohydrate and Low-Carbohydrate Diets and Resulting Weight Loss on Circulating Aclycarnitine Concentrations in Healthy Obese Adults

Chair, Diane Stadler, Ph.D., R.D. 

Class of 2016

Jessica Gutgsell, R.D.

Diet Influence of Lactobacillus salivariuis salivarius UCC118 Colonization

Chair, Melanie Gillingham, Ph.D., R.D.

Elizabeth Massey, R.D. 

Altered Activities and Shame Resulting from Children Experiencing Food Insecurity in Rural Oregon

Chair, Diane Stadler, Ph.D., R.D.

Class of 2014

Melanie J. Boney, R.D.

Agreement Between Physical Activity Measured by Actical Activity Monitor and as a Component of Total Energy Expenditure Measured by Doubly Labeled Water

Chair, Diane Stadler, Ph.D., R.D.

Candace Waynick, R.D.

Food Status of Households of Children with Special Care Needs

Chair, Elizabeth Adams, Ph.D., R.D.

Class of 2013

Megan Antosik, R.D.

Associations of Thyroid Stimulating Hormone Concentrations Within the Normal Reference Range on Energy Expenditure, Macronutrient Oxidation, and Body Composition. 

Chair, Diane Stadler, Ph.D., R.D.

Sarah (Ziha) Gloeckner, R.D. 

Prevalence and Predictors of Food Insecurity in a Pediatric Population with Hemophilia

Chair, Diane Stadler, Ph.D., R.D.

Class of 2010

Christine Murphy, R.D. 

Breast Feeding Duration of Oregon African-American Women

Chair, Elizabeth Adams, Ph.D., R.D.

Danielle Podesta, R.D. 

Impact of a Low-Carbohydrate Diet versus a High-Carbohydrate Diet on Fasting Plasma Fatty Acid and Inflammatory Marker Concentrations

Chair, Diane Stadler, Ph.D., R.D.

Class of 2009

Melissa (Kumagai) Nunez, R.D.

Acute Effect of High-and-Low Carbohydrate Meals on Postprandial Concentrations of Weight Regulation Markers

Chair, Diane Stadler, Ph.D., R.D.

Krista (Schaefer) Miller, R.D.

SPARTA Pro: Dietary Protein Intake and Injury Rate Among High School Athletes

Chair, Diane Stadler, Ph.D., R.D.

The Effect of Preoperative Carbohydrate Intake on Length of Stay and Postoperative Recovery Following Laparoscopic Living Donor Nephrectomy

Morgan Kuiper, Melanie Gillingham, Julie Martin, Daniella Gardner, Sandy van Calcar

J Renal Nutr. 2023 May; 33: 405-411.

Evaluation of a Nutrition-Risk Screening Tool in Lao PDR: Identifying Malnutrition in a Low-Resource Clinical Setting

Hannah Wilson, Joanna Cummings, Slackchay Rasprasith, Diane Stadler

Clin Nutr ESPEN. 2020 Aug; 38: 99-110.

Reliability of a Malnutrition Risk Screening Tool for Hospitals in Lao PDR

Hannah Wilson

Poster presented at OHSU Research Week 2019

Prevalence and Characteristics of Malnutrition in Hospitalized Children in Lao People's Democratic Republic

Hannah Wilson

Poster presented at Oregon Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Educational Conference 2019

Thyroid Stimulating Hormone Concentrations within the Normal Reference Range are not Associated with Differences in Energy Expenditure, Macronutrient Oxidation or Body Composition 

Megan Antosik

Poster presented at OHSU Research Week 2013

Impact of Low vs. High Carbohydrate Diets on Fasting Fatty Acid and Inflammatory Marker Concentrations

Danielle Podesta

Poster presented at the North American Association for the Study of Obesity Conference in 2010

Acute Consumption of Very Low Carbohydrate Meals Lowers Postprandial Concentrations of Glucose, Insulin, Leptin, and Ghrelin

Melissa (Kumagai) Nunez

Presented at Experimental Biology Conference in 2009

Capstone projects

Students completing the non-thesis Master of Science in Human Nutrition engage in a variety of capstone projects in conjunction with OHSU staff and faculty and members of the community. Please note that capstone projects completed prior to 2018 were completed as part of the Master of Clinical Dietetics, the former non-thesis degree program. 

Class of 2022

Lauren Angelo

Development of an Educational Workbook for Patients of the Harold Schnitzer Diabetes Health Center at Oregon Health and Science University 

Chair, Ashley Klees, RD, CDCES

Nicole Tomasa

Virtual Ongoing Diabetes Support Group for Type 2 Diabetes in Adults

Chair, Serena Oncea, MS, RD

Class of 2021

Zednia Linares

Nutrition Education Modules to Support the Management of Adults with Type 2 Diabetes in Lao PDR 

Chair, Joanna Cummings, MS, RD

Class of 2020

Melissa Martutartus, R.D.

Preventing Type 2 Diabetes:  Education as an Intervention for Adolescents with Prediabetes

Mentor, Jaqueline Chen, M.S., R.D. 

Class of 2019

Lynnsey Bogash, R.D.

Effect of Registered Dietitian Involvement in Pancreatic Cancer Care Post Pancreatic Resection at Oregon Health & Science University

Mentor, Amanda Bryant, R.D., C.S.O.

Class of 2018

Sarah Tracy, R.D.

Improving Bariatric Surgery Patients’ Adherence to Supplements, Lab Draws and Monitoring Micronutrient Deficiencies

Mentor, Bianca Wyatt, R.D.

Class of 2017

Danica Hardwick, R.D.

Acceptability of a Volume-Based Delivery System for Enteral Nutrition

Mentor, Jessie Pavlinac, M.S., R.D., C.S.R.

Jordan Sylvester, R.D.

A Look at Calcium Intake in a Pilot Study Assessing for Patellar Tendinopathy Development in Collegiate Men and Women Basketball Players

Mentor, Diane Stadler, Ph.D., R.D.

Class of 2016

Caitlyn Dempsey, R.D.

The FOoD (Fatty acid Oxidation O Disorder) Kitchen: A Cookbook

Mentor, Melanie Gillingham, Ph.D., R.D.

Ashley (Hilbert) Meyering, R.D. 

Impact of Weight Loss on Grip Strength in Head and Neck Cancer Patients Receiving Radiation Therapy

Mentor, Julie McGuire, M.S., R.D.N.

Class of 2014

Kelly Falter, R.D. 

Assessment of Nutrition Education Handouts for Post-Renal Transplant Patients

Mentor, Maureen McCarthy, M.P.H., R.D.

Class of 2011

Kelly Martin, R.D. 

Overcoming Feeding Problems in Children with Cerebral Palsy: Experiences and Perceptions from Parents

Mentor, Elizabeth Adams, Ph.D., R.D.

Class of 2008

Eugenia Bezzerides, R.D. 

A Literature Review to Examine Potential Health Hazards of Soy Consumption

Mentor, Sonja Connor, M.S., R.D.

The FOoD (Fatty acid Oxidation O Disorder) Kitchen: A Cookbook

Caitlyn Dempsey, Melanie Gillingham

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Impact of Weight Loss on Hand Grip Strength in Head and Neck Cancer Patients Receiving Definitive Radiation Therapy

Ashley Hilbert, John Holland, Julie McGuire

Oncology Nutrition Connection. 2017; 24(4): 10-16
 

Assessment of Nutrition Education Handouts for Post-Renal Transplant Patients

Kelly Falter, Maureen McCarthy, Julie McGuire

Renal Nutrition Forum. 2015; 34(1): 1-6

Impact of Weight Loss on Handgrip Strength in Head and Neck Cancer Patients Receiving Radiation Therapy

Ashley Hilbert

Poster presented at the 3rd Biennial Oncology Nutrition DPG Symposium in 2016, Poster Award of Excellence for Research (winner)