ODS Welcomes New Staff

Stefan M. Pasiakos, Ph.D.

January 2025

I am excited to welcome several talented new individuals to the Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS): Coretté Byrd, Maria Canino, Alyssa Dolge, Laura Dwyer, Madison Haise, Jasmine Hayes, Gabrielle Parisi, Candace Sibley, Zoe Walters, and Jun Wu. Together, they bring diverse and unique knowledge to our team and a shared commitment to advancing our mission.

This expansion directly supports the goals outlined in our 2025–2029 Strategic Plan. As we build on our team’s existing expertise, we will be better equipped to address our mission to coordinate collaborative, cutting-edge research and optimize health across the lifespan. I am confident that the contributions of our new staff will strengthen our competencies and enhance our ability to deliver on our strategic priorities and broaden our impact in the field of dietary supplement science.

Coretté Byrd, M.S., R.N., a Senior Health Science Policy Analyst, brings a wealth of expertise in program management, policy development, and clinical initiatives. Her diverse experience spans clinical nursing, public health, and the translation of science into practical applications.

Maria Canino, Ph.D., a Postdoctoral Fellow, will leverage her experience in human performance research to enhance the understanding of health and performance optimization across the lifespan. Her efforts will address critical gaps in musculoskeletal health and dietary supplement use, particularly in the military.

Alyssa Dolge, M.P.H., our new Senior Operations Advisor, will head up our efforts to optimize how ODS goes about executing and communicating its mission. Her previous experience in leading program operations and managing other key activities, such as co-funding and communications, will be an invaluable asset to our team.

Laura Dwyer, Ph.D., a Social and Behavioral Scientist Administrator, is trained in social/health psychology and has focused her career thus far on studying health behavior theory and how intrapersonal, interpersonal, and environmental factors contribute to health behaviors and health-related decisions. Laura will apply this perspective to better understand how individual factors, behavioral patterns, social relationships, and contexts interact to affect use of dietary supplements.

Madison Haise, M.P.H., a Presidential Management Fellow, brings expertise in policy analysis, planning, evaluation, and systems thinking and will be an integral part of ensuring our initiatives are executed seamlessly. Her organizational acumen, attention to detail, and passion for advancing nutritional health make her a perfect fit for our team.

Jasmine Hayes, Ph.D., a Health Sciene Administrator, is a former research chemist with the William Beaumont Army Medical Center. She has a Ph.D. in molecular and clinical nutritional sciences and comes to us with a breadth of knowledge that will be vital to our team as we carry out our new strategic priorities.

Gabrielle Parisi, M.S., R.D., a Nutritionist, brings a unique perspective to ODS, having worked with a diverse population of patients. She will leverage her background in clinical nutrition, research, and community outreach to help summarize the latest dietary supplement research, ensuring evidence-based information is accessible to the public.

Candace Sibley, M.S.P.H., a Health Science Policy Analyst, is an experienced evaluation scientist specializing in enhancing evaluation capacity and aligning initiatives with strategic goals to guide decision-making. A former Centers for Disease Control and Prevention evaluation lead, Candace will use her expertise in program evaluation to enhance ODS programs and assist with implementing the strategic plan.

Zoe Walters, an Administrative Professional for ODS, excels in managing office functions and fostering organizational efficiency. She is dedicated to supporting her colleagues and enhancing daily operations.

Jun Wu, Ph.D., M.S., a Climate and Health Scholar, brings a remarkable depth of experience in environmental exposure assessment, environmental epidemiology, and community-based participatory research on environmental justice. Her experience, passion, curiosity, and dedication to advancing science will make her an invaluable addition to our efforts.

As we welcome our new team members, we bid farewell to those who have recently embarked on a new chapter. We are grateful for their innumerable contributions to our team: Claudia Faigen, M.A., Director of our Communications Program, retired from ODS in August. Her unwavering commitment to ODS enhanced media relations and communication efforts to educate the public, health care providers, and scientists about the benefits and risks of dietary supplements. Claudia’s collegiality and mentorship left an indelible mark on her colleagues.

Patricia Haggerty, Ph.D., Director of our Grant Funding Program, retired from ODS in November. Joining our team in 2021, Patricia managed the Grant Funding Program, which allows ODS to promote and share the costs of dietary supplement-related research with NIH Institutes, Centers, and Offices (ICOs). She also developed partnerships and collaborations with NIH ICOs on extramural research funding initiatives of high priority to NIH and ODS.

I would be remiss if I did not also express my appreciation for our existing staff who have continued to rise to the occasion as ODS continues to evolve during my short tenure as its director. I want to recognize our Deputy Director, Stephanie George, Ph.D., M.P.H., M.A., who has brought the expansion of our team to fruition. Without her experience in building effective teams at NIH, we would not be where we are today.

“What impresses me most is how our new staff jumped right in—ready to learn, connect, partner, and contribute,” said Dr. George. “Their talent, thoughtfulness, kindness, and curiosity radiate in all settings, and teamwork with them feels electric and inspiring.”

The ODS team is also energized by this expansion and what lies ahead. “It has been incredibly rewarding to work with such talented and passionate scientists,” said Edwina Wambogo, Ph.D., M.P.H., R.D., a Nutritional Epidemiologist. “Their fresh perspectives and dedication to advancing the field of dietary supplements are inspiring.”

“It is very exciting to see our team grow. Our new teammates bring more vibrancy and an expansive wealth of knowledge to our work,” said Adam Kuszak, Ph.D., Director of the Analytical Methods and Reference Materials Program. “I am enthusiastic to collaborate with them on many projects ahead.”

Please join me in extending a warm welcome to our newest team members Coretté, Maria, Alyssa, Laura, Madison, Jasmine, Gabrielle, Candace, Zoe, and Jun, and stay tuned for more updates on the ODS team. Together, we will continue driving innovation and fostering collaboration, and will remain committed to serving the American public as the trusted source for advancing dietary supplement science.