06/01/2008

American Dietetic Association Names National Media Spokespeople for 2008-2011

FOR RELEASE JUNE 1, 2008

Media contact:  Jennifer Starkey, Phil Allen
800/877-1600, ext. 4802, 4769
media@eatright.org

Editors: Please note local interest.

CHICAGO – The American Dietetic Association has appointed six registered dietitians to three-year terms as media spokespeople for ADA and reappointed 10 current spokespeople. ADA’s nationwide volunteer spokesperson network consists of 30 RDs who conduct more than 2,000 print, broadcast and electronic interviews each year on behalf of ADA on nutrition and healthful eating.

New ADA spokespeople for 2008-2011 are:

  • Constance Brown-Riggs, MSEd, RD, CDE, CDN, Massapequa, N.Y., African-American nutrition specialist. Brown-Riggs is the owner and president of CBR Nutrition Enterprises. Her areas of expertise include diabetes and obesity, particularly among African-Americans.
  • Angela Ginn-Meadow, RD, LDN, CDE, Baltimore, Md. Ginn-Meadow is an outpatient dietitian and diabetes educator at Joslin Diabetes Center, an affiliate of Maryland General Hospital. Her areas of expertise include diabetes, women’s health and nutrition education.
  • Sari Greaves, RD, CDN, New York, N.Y. Greaves is a private-practice nutrition consultant and a clinical dietitian working with HIV and cardiac patients at New York Presbyterian Hospital. Her areas of expertise include HIV/AIDS, cardiovascular disease and weight management.
  • Ximena Jimenez, MS, RD, LD, Miami, Fla. Jimenez is a consultant dietitian with Head Start/Early Head Start, and counsels patients with diabetes and pre-diabetes. Her areas of expertise include children’s nutrition, diabetes and cardiovascular health.
  • Toby Smithson, RD, LDN, Chicago, Ill. Smithson is the community dietitian for the Lake County Health Department. Her areas of expertise include community nutrition, cardiovascular disease and women’s nutrition.
  • James White, RD, Virginia Beach, Va. White is the owner and president of Jim White Fitness Studios and a certified health fitness instructor. His areas of expertise include men’s nutrition, sports nutrition and exercise physiology.

In addition, the following current ADA spokespeople have been reappointed for 2008-2011:

  • Dawn Jackson Blatner, RD, LD, Chicago, Ill.
  • Suzanne Farrell, MS, RD, Denver, Colo.
  • Ruth Frechman, MA, RD, Los Angeles, Calif.
  • Andrea Giancoli, MPH, RD, Los Angeles, Calif.
  • Amy Jamieson-Petonic, Cleveland, Ohio
  • Melinda Johnson, MS, RD, Phoenix, Ariz.
  • Lalita Kaul, PhD, RD, LDN, Washington, D.C.
  • Malena Perdomo, RD, CDE, Denver, Colo., Latino nutrition specialist.
  • Katherine Tallmadge, MA, RD, LD, Washington, D.C.
  • Beth Thayer, MS, RD, Detroit, Mich.


Journalists seeking interviews with ADA food and nutrition experts may contact Jennifer Starkey, media relations manager at the American Dietetic Association, at 800/877-1600, ext. 4802, or e-mail media@eatright.org.

The American Dietetic Association is the world’s largest organization of food and nutrition professionals. ADA is committed to improving the nation’s health and advancing the profession of dietetics through research, education and advocacy.