Healthy Aging Leadership

Chair
Lynnsey Bogash, MS, RD, LDN

Lynnsey lives in Chicago, IL and works at Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center as the MOVE! Coordinator. She received her Master’s degree in Human Nutrition at Oregon Health & Science University in Portland, OR and developed an interest in geriatrics while receiving her BS from Arizona State University. Lynnsey has previously served with the Weight Management DPG and the Illinois Academy Media Team.

Chair Elect
Emily Schilling, RD, LDN, CDCES

Emily is the Nutrition Manager for Upham’s PACE, a Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly in Boston. Emily has spent over a decade working with older adults in nursing homes and community settings. Professional interests include therapeutic cooking, innovations in diabetes care, and equitable food access. Emily previously served as the Editor in Chief for The Spectrum, the HA DPG newsletter.

Emily Schilling, RD, LDN, CDCES

Past Chair 
Nancy Munoz, DCN, MHA, RDN, LDN, FAND

Dr. Nancy Munoz holds a Doctorate in Nutrition, Masters in Healthcare Administration, and a BS in Food and Nutrition. Her areas of expertise include nutrition and pressure injuries as well as geriatric nutrition. A highly-acclaimed speaker and author, Nancy is a Lecturer for the U. of Massachusetts Amherst Nutrition Department and the Chief for Nutrition and Food Service at the Southern Nevada VA Healthcare System. She is the past VP and alumni of the National Pressure Injury Advisory Panel (NPIAP).

Secretary
Kim Duhon, MS, RD, LDN

Kim Duhon, MS, RDN, LDN works with older adults to help them live with dignity in their community with PACE (Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly) in Lafayette, LA. She graduated with her Bachelor’s from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and obtained her Master’s from Louisiana Tech University. She has worked in food service management and clinical nutrition. She is an active member with the local (ANDA) and state (LAND) affiliations.

Treasurer
Laura Last, MA, MBA, RDN, LD, FAND, CPTM

Laura Last, MA, MBA, RDN, LD, FAND, CPTM has 30 years of clinical dietetics experience in a variety of areas, including long-term care, food service, and industry. She received her Bachelor's from Kansas State University and her MA in Health Services Management and MBA from Webster University, and is currently pursuing her EdD from Capella University. Laura has served on various local, state, and national committees and boards during her career.

Nominating Chair
Jacob T. Mey, PhD, RD

Dr. Jacob T. Mey, PhD, RD completed his nutrition and dietetic training at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, OH. He then pursued a PhD in Kinesiology and Nutrition at the University of Illinois at Chicago, where he investigated skeletal muscle mechanisms in individuals with diabetes. Jake is now an Assistant Professor at Pennington Biomedical Research Center where he investigates human metabolism and nutrient utilization to better understand the role of food in health and disease. He is a passionate advocate for the RD profession and encourages all health professionals to be active members on social media.

Nominating Chair Elect
Catherine Conrad, MHA, RD, LDN

Catherine Conrad, MHA, RD, LDN is a registered dietitian and the current Clinical Nutrition Manager for South County Health. A lifelong senior living advocate, Catherine serves as a consultant for senior living communities, helping them prepare for state survey. She also dedicates her time as a preceptor, with a passion for helping future RDs gain the skills to be successful in today’s healthcare environment. Her professional goals include completing her Doctorate in Clinical Nutrition from her alma mater, Rutgers University, and continuing to compose wellness publications.

Nominating Committee Member at Large
Ben Graff, MS, RDN

Ben received his MS in Nutrition from Drexel University and completed his DI at Simmons College. Ben has experience in the community and clinical settings, and currently works for LDM Group as a Nutrition Technologist contracted with USDA. In his free time he enjoys hiking, cooking and playing sports.

Membership Chair
Mary Ellen Camire, PhD, CFS

Mary Ellen Camire, Ph.D., CFS has been a faculty member in Food Science and Human Nutrition at the University of Maine since 1989. Her doctoral training in Nutrition and Food Sciences was completed at Texas Woman's University. Mary Ellen teaches undergraduate and graduate classes on nutrition and aging and conducts research on food insecurity among older adults and food technologies to improve food acceptance, especially among persons with dysphagia.

Delegate
Maureen Janowski, RD, LDN, CSG, FAND

Maureen Janowski is the Corporate Director, Malnutrition Program with Morrison Healthcare.  Prior to her recent position change she had spent over 20 years working exclusively with older adults in the CCRC and Skilled Care environment.  Maureen has a passion for nutrition and wellness for older adults. She played a key role in the development of EmpowerU, a Morrison resident focused wellness initiative. Maureen has published articles as well as presented at many professional conferences on the topic of Nutrition and Wellness for Older Adults.
Maureen is a Certified Specialist in Gerontological Nutrition and also a Fellow of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

Professional Development Chair
Ronna Robbins, PhD, RD, LD

Ronna Robbins, Ph.D., RD, LD, holds a doctorate in Nutritional Sciences from The University of Texas at Austin. She is currently an Advanced Practitioners Post-Doctoral Fellow in the Geriatric Research, Education & Clinical Center at the Department of Veterans Affairs. Ronna’s research focuses on conducting randomized control trials that focus on clinical applications of lifestyle interventions to prevent and treat chronic diseases in older adults. She also has over fifteen years of experience working as a Field Consultant Dietitian for long-term care communities across Texas.

Sponsorship Chair
Claire Schmelzer, PhD, MPH, RDN, LD

Claire retired in December, 2012 from the dietetics program at Eastern Kentucky University (EKU). Her focus was Nutrition and Aging.  Her university teaching career also included many years teaching and directing programs in Food Service and Hospitality Management. Currently, she is a part-time instructor at EKU. She develops and teaches online introductory nutrition courses. Claire has been a Registered Dietitian for over 40 years. Prior to becoming a university professor, she worked with the aging population in hospitals and long term care.

Policy and Advocacy Leader
Katherine Bechdol, MS, RDN, CSG, LD

Katherine is the clinical nutrition manager for Crestview Health & Rehab in Atlanta, Georgia. She completed the coordinated program at Georgia State and graduated in 2019. Dietetics is Katherine's second career after working as an environmental consultant. Professional interests include improving the life and dignity of those living in LTC communities, advocating for the dietetics community, and helping families understand the aging process.

Communications Chair
Sophia Sanchez, MBA, RD, LD

Sofia Sanchez, MBA, RD, LD is a Community Health Specialist with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System SNAP-Ed at Auburn University, a USDA-funded program that offers nutrition education and policy, systems, and environmental changes for SNAP-eligible communities. She is also completing a doctorate in community nutrition with a focus on nutrition security and the food pantry environment, of which the majority of clients are at-risk, older adults.

Newsletter Editor in Chief
Kellie Kirschbaum, MS, RDN, LDN

Kellie Kirschbaum is a recent graduate of Loyola University Chicago. She previously served as the student executive committee member in 2020 and served as an Editorial Assistant in the Healthy Aging Spectrum Newletter in 2021. Her interests include community health, Healthy Aging, public health, and chronic diseases. She is very excited to jumpstart her career as a Registered Dietitian.