Experts Available to Discuss Food and Nutrition Topics

March is National Nutrition Month, and this year’s theme is Celebrate a World of Flavors. If you’re planning stories for this month or throughout the year that require independent sources who can discuss a variety of food and nutrition topics, experts from the Nutrition Science and Dietetics program at Syracuse University’s David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics are available for interviews.

One faculty expert is assistant professor Jessica Garay, who specializes in fetal programming, dietary supplements, and the impact of nutrition on athletic performance. With many people reporting unhealthy eating habits during the pandemic and cardiovascular disease remaining the leading cause of death in the United States, Garay recently provided nutritional tips for better heart health in this Q&A.

Here are nutrition and dietetic experts available for interviews and their areas of specialization:

• Lynn S. Brann, department chair, associate professor. Specialization: child nutrition; dietary assessment; overweight children and obesity; nutrition education.

• Kay Stearns Bruening, associate professor, director of the Nutrition Assessment, Consultation and Education Center. Specialization: medical nutrition therapy; dietetic education.

• Jane Burrell, associate teaching professor. Specialization: Lifecycle nutrition; nutrition in health; medical nutrition therapy.

• Chaya Lee Charles, assistant teaching professor. Specialization: vegetarianism and disordered eating behaviors; malnutrition prevention in the elderly; cardiovascular and diabetic nutrition counseling; nutritional intervention for wound healing; weight loss counseling; meal planning guidance; nutritious menus in institutional and home settings.

• Jessica Garay, assistant professor. Specialization: fetal programming; nutrition and athletic performance; dietary supplements.

• Sudha Raj, teaching professor, graduate program director. Specialization: vegetarianism, cultural food practices and the consequences of global nutrition transition. Raj also oversees the Integrative and Functional Nutrition program.

• Margaret Voss, associate professor. Specialization: metabolic physiology; energy balance; and reproductive physiology.

• Maryam Yuhas, assistant professor. Specialization: nutrition and physical activity interventions; childhood obesity; parental influence on child health behaviors; underserved and minority populations; mobile health and digital health; health disparities; health equity.

Falk College remains at the forefront of nutrition science, and the college offers a Certificate of Advanced Study in Integrative and Functional Nutrition for graduate students. The demand for nutrition professionals trained in integrative and functional healthcare systems is fueled by the rising awareness in nutrition, the growing rates of chronic disease, an expanding aging population, childhood obesity, and an increased emphasis on health education and healthy lifestyles.

Thank you for your consideration. If you would like to request an interview or need an expert for a topic that is not on this list, please contact Matt Michael, Media Relations Specialist, at 315.254.9037 or mmicha04@syr.edu.