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

Green Tea Polyphenol Supplementation Reduces Igf-I In Men At High Risk For Prostate Cancer: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial

Christopher Errante

Poster presented at OHSU Research Week 2013

Regularly Scheduled Artificial (IV) Hydration among Head and Neck Cancer Patients Undergoing Radiotherapy-based Treatment

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

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 Cullen

Poster presented at Food and Nutrition Conference and Expo in 2013

Weight Loss Induced by Low-Carbohydrate or High-Carbohydrate Diets does not Imporve Serum 25(OH)D Concentrations

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

Respiratory Quotient, Substrate Oxidation and Energy Expenditure After Consumption of Low versus High Carbohydrate Meals

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