Courtney Santagata, MS, RD, CDN

Courtney is highly dedicated to the field of dietetics, specializing as an Oncology Clinical Dietitian at Yale New Haven Hospital. There, she provides nutrition education and support for oncology patients, precepts twelve dietetic interns annually, and is currently part of the strategy team to transition oncology care to Smilow Cancer Hospital, which will open in October of this year.
As an active member of the coordinating cabinet of GNYDA, Courtney has been the webmaster for the past six years, and has been involved with the GNYDA Public Relations Committee for the past four. In the past, she has also served as newsletter editor for GNYDA, and has been on NYSDA's Annual Meeting Exhibit Committee.

Melissa Buczek, MS, RD, CDN

Melissa Buzcek is a devoted dietitian in the field of corporate wellness. Currently she is the Clinical Product Specialist at WellPoint, Inc, where she is helping to create a childhood fitness program, managing 20 associates, and is responsible for the clinical content, research, review, design, and development of the product. WellPoint has already recognized Melissa’s excellence by awarding her the WellPoint Impact Award for outstanding demonstration of the “One Company, One Team” core value program. Active in both NYSDA and GNYDA, Melissa has served as a NYSDA Membership Chair for the past five years, and served twice as the Annual Meeting Exhibits Co-Chair (thank you Melissa). With GNYDA, she currently serves as the President-Elect, for which she has devoted many hours to planning networking night, and the Mary Swartz Rose Lecture. She also has been an active PR Committee Member for the past 7 years, a contributor to “The Greater New Yorker,” GNYDA’s newsletter, and in the past has served as Secretary and Membership Chair. In addition to WellPoint, and her involvement with NYSDA and GNYDA, Melissa is also on the Junior Committee of the Alzheimer’s Association, and a New York Road Runners Club Member.

Theresa Amborski, RD, CNSD

Theresa Amborski has worked in Clinical Nutrition since 2001, and is currently the Clinical Nutrition Manager at Mercy Hospital in Buffalo, New York, where she manages a staff of 20 Clinical Nutrition employees, is a preceptor for dietetic interns, manages an annual budget, and educates her associates and Nursing staff on the current, and best practices in nutrition. She has worked to improve the system at Mercy Hospital by developing a diet software database, transitioning them to a cook/serve system, and has thereby increased patient satisfaction. As an active member of the ADA, NYSDA, and WNYDA, Theresa has participated in two ADA Calls to Action, and is a current NYSDA Media Representative. In this capacity, she was the guest dietitian earlier this year on an episode of “Our Daily Bread,” and the Feature Dietitian for last year’s Tour: “Chief Health Officer Got Milk?.”

Susan Travis

SusanTravis has been a devoted educator of dietetics at Cornell University for the past 11 years. She also counsels privately for youth and adults, specializing in eating disorders, weight management, and sports nutrition. In her time at Cornell, she began as a Lecturer, teaching Nutrition Communications and Counseling, Nutrition and Exercise, and Community Nutrition in Action, which she (lucky for those students) still continues to do AND has also served as the Director of Dietetics, and the Director of the Dietetic Internship. Interns at Cornell consistently rate their experiences with Sue as one of the highlights of their internship, and elaborate that her exemplary mentoring allows them to grow in both skill and confidence. She is recognized by her students as compassionate, wise, engaging, and inspiring.

In addition to being a true Outstanding Dietetics Educator, Sue is a highly active leader in the field of dietetics. She has published research papers, peer-reviewed research articles, nutrition education materials, technical reports, and co-authored a chapter on Eating Disorders in the Saunders Manual of Pediatrics Practice She is also a leader in the New York State Nutrition Council, and was a previous legislative chair for the Nutrition Education Public Practice Group. Sue's dedication to the community has also been recognized as she was awarded the Reverend Jack Lewis Award for exemplary service to community members in crisis, and the Best Practice Team Award in the National School Lunch and Breakfast Program by the USDA.

Outstanding Student In Dietetic Internship Program Matthew Nulty

Matthew Nulty received his BS in Nutritional Sciences from Cornell University last year with an amazing GPA of 3.92. He is currently completing his DI at Hunter College CUNY, while also earning his MPH in Public Health Nutrition.
Letters of recommendation attest to Matthew’s intelligence, professionalism, ease with communication, and leadership. Matthew’s commitment to the profession is reflected in his involvement in organizations such as the National Student Council Advisory Committee, where he serves as the CADE Representative, and the National Organization of Men in Nutrition. It is also thanks to Matthew’s insight and vision as an undergraduate at Cornell University, that there is now an existing Cornell University Dietetic Association, consisting of a Student Council Liaison to the ADA. His volunteer work includes, SchoolFood, Cornell Cooperative Extension, and Lincoln Medical & Mental Health Center.

Outstanding Dietetic Student - Didactic Program
Michelle Denton

Michelle Denton is in her senior year at Cornell University, where she is completing her B.S. in Nutritional Sciences.
Michelle's professors at Cornell praise her dedication, critical thinking skills, enthusiasm, and her impressive ability to facilitate group interactions, which we all know is not always an easy task.
Michelle has demonstrated dedicated service as a volunteer at the Cayuga Medical Center, and for WIC.
An already established and confident leader, Michelle co-founded the Cornell University Dietetic Association and is the current Student Council Liaison to the ADA. She has remarkably participated in extensive research on Vitamin E content in different varieties of corn, for which she has created four posters to present at various conferences, as well as prepared data for a grant proposal.

Outstanding Dietetic Student Award - Coordinated Program
Danielle Pacella

Danielle Pacella is currently excelling in her fourth year as a dietetic student in the coordinated BS/MS program at D'Youville College, with a cumulative GPA of 3.99.
Letters of recommendation highlight Danielle's intelligence, diligence, and leadership.
Danielle's involvement in the ADA, and WNYDA is remarkable. She is currently serving as the WNYDA Board of Directors Student Representative, is a Student Council Member of the ADA, and a member of various DPGs. Danielle is also the Student Dietetic Association current President at D'Youville. Her leadership skills were recognized by her professors when they recently nominated her for the JW Perry Leadership Award. Danielle has not only involved herself with the school, and the ADA, but also with the community. She has volunteered for the Mercy Hospital Health Fair, Friends of the Night People Soup Kitchen, and the Battered Women's Shelter.

Outstanding Dietetic Tech Student
Rosemarie Dias

Rosemarie received her BS in Dietetics, Foods, and Nutrition Sciences from Mercy College, and is expected to complete her Associate in Applied Science Degree as a Dietetic Technician from Westchester Community College this July.
Rosemarie’s recommendations all provide accolades to her professionalism, enthusiasm, and involvement in the dietetics profession. Already a member of the nutrition workforce, Rosemarie is currently a nutrition counselor at the Personal Training Institute, where she is a powerful motivator and educator for her clients. Serving as a Student Senator and current President of the Foods and Nutrition Club at Westchester Community College, she has shown leadership and initiative. Rosemarie has also demonstrated exceptional involvement in nutrition education through the Westchester County Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and Food PATCH by organizing programs for Health Awareness Day, breast cancer awareness, as well as participating in the Martha Sloan Greenawaldt Mentoring program for young women.