MEET OUR EXPERTS
Scientists, pediatricians and infant nutrition specialists on a mission to give families clear, trustworthy information.
Dr. Prem Fort is a double board-certified Pediatrician and Neonatologist with over 20 years of research experience, ranging from basic science to multicenter clinical trials. Originally from Lima, Peru, he emigrated as a teenager to the U.S. and completed his undergraduate and medical training at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, followed by pediatric specialty training at Duke University Medical Center and a Neonatal-Perinatal fellowship at the University of Alabama in Birmingham. He most recently worked at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital in Florida for the last 9 years, where he was Chair of the MFNI Research Council.
Dr. Fort has published in over 10 peer-reviewed journals in the last three years and has been involved in national clinical trials with both the NIH and industry. His clinical trial on vitamin D doses in extremely low birth weight infants won him awards from the Society of Pediatric Research and the Southern Society of Pediatric Research as well as successfully securing funding for a national, multicenter RCT from the NICHD, known as the MOCHA trial, which was recently published.
Passionate about medical education, Dr. Fort has won awards for his teaching at several hospitals. He is also a social media medical educator with over 65,000 followers overall and a YouTube channel with over 1 million views. He has given talks nationally and internationally, including a TED talk in South Florida.
Dr. Fort is an extrovert who values communication and teamwork. As a bilingual speaker with a certificate in Global Health Medicine, he understands the cultural aspects of medicine and aims to make a global impact for optimal healthcare.
PREM
FORT
Double-Board Certified
Pediatrician+ Neonatologist
Sarah Maria focuses on enabling our understanding of the deep complexity, broad diversity, and critical functionality of breastmilk. The foundations of her research include both highest quality analytical characterizations and strong academic and clinical study collaborations to help drive the future of human milk science and pediatric nutrition. Sarah has 19 listed medical research publications according to Research Gate. Her research on human milk has been published by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), and The American Society for Nutrition (ASN).
SARAH
MARIA
R&D Scientist, Human Milk Science
+ Pediatric Nutrition
Jodee A. Le Vin, MS, RDN, LDN, CNSC, CLC, has over 25 years’ experience in nutrition as a Registered Dietitian with an extensive blend of clinical experience in preterm, pediatric and adult nutrition in the hospital and industry settings. Le Vin is focused on the science of human milk and advancements in infant and child nutrition, translating evidence-based science into clinical practice. Jodee leads the Medical Science Liaison (MSL) team in North America, scientific discussions, fosters Key Opinion Leader (KOL) insights, and promotes clinically driven innovations, research, and education.
Jodee earned her Bachelor of Science in Nutrition Sciences and Psychology at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana and completed her nutrition and dietetics internship Registered Dietitian (RD) certification at St. Louis University, and her Master of Science in Nutrition Sciences from Arizona State University. She is currently completing her PhD in Health Sciences from Liberty University, Lynchburg, Virginia.
Jodee is a Certified Nutrition Support Clinician (CNSC), Certified Lactation Counselor (CLC), and holds a NIH certification in Practice of Clinical Research (IPPCR). She is a member of The Academy Nutrition and Dietetics (AND), Pediatric Nutrition Practice Group (PNPG), American Society Parenteral & Enteral Nutrition (ASPEN), American Nutrition Society (ASN) and the Medical Science Liaison (MSL) Society. She is an avid volunteer and supporter of Habitat for Humanity, No Kid Hungry organization, St. Jude Research, and the Clean Water Project.
JODEE
LE VIN
Registered Dietitian
+ Certified Lactation Counselor
Dr. Maria Teresa Murguia Peniche is a pediatrician and neonatologist with over three decades of clinical, academic, and research experience.
Dr, Murguia earned her Medical Degree (MD) at Universidad La Salle, Mexico City, Mexico; she completed her neonatology fellowship at Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, and a master’s in public health at the Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA.
She has held leadership roles across Latin America and the U.S. including neonatal care, public health policy, and clinical research.
Dr. Murguia has numerous publications in peer-reviewed journals focusing on perinatal epidemiology, neonatal infectious diseases, and nutrition. She has led or contributed to international collaborative studies funded by NIH, WHO, and Reckitt, among others.
She is the Editor-in-Chief of the textbook Neonatología: Esencia, Arte y Praxis. Her academic contributions include teaching roles at Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Universidad Panamericana, and Universidad La Salle (Mexico).
She is an active member of several professional societies and serves as an Adjunct Professor of Clinical Pediatrics at the Indiana University School of Medicine.
Her career is marked by a deep commitment to improving neonatal outcomes, mentoring future physicians, and advancing evidence-based practices in pediatric care.
TERESA
MURGUIA
Pediatrician + Neonatologist,
Professor of Clinical Pediatrics
Alberto Hernandez is a Research & Development Scientist with over 20 years of experience in the food industry.
He holds a master’s degree in food science and has a specialized background in dairy, beverages and plant-based applications.
Herndandez’s expertise spans both neutral and acidified pH systems. His deep knowledge of ingredients enables him to develop product formulations that meet nutritional, regulatory and consumer requirements.
ALBERTO
HERNANDEZ
R&D Scientist
Alayne Gatto is a Senior Medical Science Liaison and Registered Dietitian, as well as adjunct faculty at Florida International University.
Gatto uses her clinical nutrition background to provide insights for product innovation, science, and development. She also translates scientific research for social media platforms and supports health care professionals by developing and leading virtual and live nutrition education seminars to speak on recently published evidence. She has been an invited speaker at various conferences and has provided hundreds of presentations across the United States and internationally.
Gatto is a board-certified infant and pediatric specialist (CSP) and medical science liaison (MSL-BC), certified lactation counselor (CLC) and a Fellow of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (FAND). She earned her MS in clinical nutrition from Arizona State University and her executive MBA from Texas A&M.
Her science interests have led her to becoming a PhD Nutrition candidate (graduation 11/25) and her research endeavors include infant feeding, parental behavior modification using technology, online study recruitment, and neonatal dietitian competencies.
ALAYNE
GATTO
Board-Certified Pediatric Specialist
Fellow, Academy of Nutrition + Dietetics
Alessio Fasano, MD is a world-renowned expert in celiac disease, autoimmunity and the gut microbiome. He is also a Professor of Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School and Professor of Nutrition at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. He currently serves as the W. Allan Walker Chair of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Vice Chair of Research at Mass General Brigham for Children and is the Director of the Mucosal Immunology and Biology Research Center.
Dr. Fasano founded the Center for Celiac Research and Treatment in 1996, where he treats adults and children for gluten-related disorders. Additionally, he is President and Director of Research of the European Biomedical Research Institute of Salerno (EBRIS), a joint venture between Mass General Brigham and the Fondazione Scuola Medica Salernitana in Salerno, Italy.
His current research interests encompass basic science focused on bacterial pathogenesis, the gut microbiome and intestinal mucosal biology, as well as translational science focused on interventional clinical trials in autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Dr. Fasano’s objective is to understand how specific microbiota profiles are influenced by lifestyle, including nutrition, control the molecular mechanisms of the host’s functional and immune, with the ultimate goal of developing preventive strategies for chronic inflammatory diseases. In 2000, the work of his team led to the discovery of the zonulin, a molecule that control gut permeability and antigen trafficking as a key element in the pathogenesis of a variety of chronic inflammatory diseases.
Dr. Fasano has authored more than 450 peer-reviewed papers and has filed more than 160 patent applications. He has been cited over 69,000 times and since 2019 he has been among the Highly Cited Clarivate Researchers (top 1%) Worldwide. He has received numerous awards for his translational science including the Harry Schwachman Award, the Linus Pauling Award and both the Entrepreneur of the year Award and the Researcher of the year Award from the University of Maryland. Dr. Fasano’s research has been continuously funded by the NIH since 1996 and he served as a member of the Gastrointestinal Cell and Molecular Biology NIH study section from 2005 to 2008 and continues his activity as an ad hoc reviewer, serving as chair to many NIH study sections.
Dr. Fasano is widely considered an expert in celiac disease, intestinal permeability, human microbiota and autoimmune disorders and has been featured in media outlets around the world, including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, CNN, Huffington Post, TIME, National Public Radio and other online and media outlets. His publications include two books for general readers: Gluten Freedom from Turner Books and Gut Feelings: The Microbiome and Our Health, published by MIT Press in March 2021.
ALESSIO
FASANO
Pediatrician, Gastroenterologist
+ Harvard Pediatrics Professor
Dr. Walsh's career in Nutrition Science spans over twenty years in academia, industry, and the private sector. He is the founder and president of Walsh Nutrition Solutions, LLC, an independent scientific consulting firm.
Dr. Walsh also worked as a Senior Human Nutrition Scientist for Archer Daniels Midland Company. He is an Adjunct Associate Professor in the Department of Applied Health Science at Indiana University School of Public Health. He received his doctorate in Nutritional Biochemistry from The Ohio State University where he also received his training as a Registered Dietitian and Nutritionist. He holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Evansville and an associate degree in Electrical Engineering Technology from Cayuga Community College.
Dr. Walsh is a veteran of the United States Army with active-duty tours in Korea and the United States. He is a Fellow of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and a member of the American Society for Nutrition. His current research interests include healthy weight management, general health and nutrition across the lifespan, and bioavailability of dietary bioactive components.
He has authored multiple peer-reviewed publications in the areas of pediatric nutrition and bioavailability and metabolism of dietary bioactive components. He is a co-inventor of numerous pediatric and maternal nutritional products.
KELLY
WALSH
PhD, Nutritional Biochemistry
+ Preclinical Research Expert
Heather Evans is a Registered Dietitian, Certified Nutrition Support Clinician, and a Board-Certified Medical Science Liaison.
As a science ambassador, Evans has research and clinical experience in the field of nutrition for women, infants, and children. She is an influential educator, leader, and advisor for clinical and research teams. Her focus is on allergy, gastroenterology, and clinical investigation. She adores connecting people with great science.
Evans received a BA from Luther College, a MS from Oregon State University, and attended the Dietetic Internship at Edward J. Hines Veterans Administration. She has been the lead Pediatric and Maternal Clinical Dietitian for a Level I Trauma Adult and Pediatric Hospital with a Level III Perinatal Center where she worked closely with the Baby Friendly and Milk Room creation teams. She was a researcher at the Linus Pauling Institute focused on Vitamin E, a part of a clinical research team at an urban academic medical center, and an Advisory Board Member to the International Hospital Federation. Her team also held the Best Practice Award at the Illinois Council of Health-System Pharmacists for their work on Neonatal Bone Health.
HEATHER
EVANS
Board-Certified Medical Science Liaison
+ Registered Dietitian Nutritionist
Lisa Beatrice, RD, LDN, CLC, MSL-BC, is a Board-Certified Medical Science Liaison, Registered Dietitian and Certified Lactation Counselor with over 30 years of combined experience in clinical nutrition, healthcare management, and professional education. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition from Framingham State University and is an active participant in monthly nutrition seminars at Harvard Medical School, where she collaborates with healthcare professionals from Boston’s academic hospitals on case studies and nutrition research.
Lisa is recognized as a subject matter expert in neonatal and pediatric nutrition, with a particular focus on human milk composition and neonatal growth and outcomes. She has served as a speaker on infant nutrition for more than a decade and provides live nutrition education lectures on recently published evidence.
LISA
BEATRICE
Certified Lactation Counselor
+ Registered Dietitian
Bethany Hodges is a Registered Dietitian and Medical Science Liaison (MSL) specializing in preterm nutrition. She has a Bachelor of Science in Dietetics from the University of Georgia and a Master of Science in Clinical Nutrition from the University of Memphis. For over a decade, her clinical experience included pediatric care for patients with inborn errors of metabolism, hematology and oncology disorders, generalized pediatric disorders, and those requiring intensive neonatal care and nutrition support.
Beyond providing clinical care in the hospital setting, she also specialized in formula and breastmilk management and served as the director of the donor human milk bank. Bethany is credentialed as an MSL-BC. As an MSL, her primary focus is connecting with healthcare professionals regarding preterm nutrition to synthesize and disseminate scientific information, provide clinical insights, and conduct medical education.
She has authored, peer-reviewed, and edited several key publications related to preterm nutrition including the most recent edition of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics’ “Pocket Guide to Neonatal Nutrition.” Translating clinical scientific data into actionable insights for healthcare professionals, contributing to improved nutrition outcomes for infants is a passion.
