Program Faculty
Nikta Forghani, MD
Pediatric EndocrinologistCHOC Hospital
Clinical Associate Professor
University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine
Dr. Forghani is board certified in pediatrics and pediatric endocrinology. She received her medical degree from the University of California at Davis. She served her internship and residency at Children’s Hospital and Research Center in Oakland, California where she was Chief Resident and then completed her fellowship training in pediatric endocrinology at the Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford University. As an expert in pediatric endocrinology, Dr. Forghani has given numerous lectures and published research on a variety of endocrine topics including growth disorders, diabetes and vitamin D. She has been on staff at CHOC since 2009.
Sally Hara, MS, RDN, CSSD
Owner, ProActive Nutrition, LLC
Sally Hara is a board Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics, and has over 15 years of experience as a Certified Diabetes Educator. She holds BS degrees in both Nutrition Science and Exercise Physiology, and an MS degree in Nutrition Science, all from UC, Davis. Sally has a private nutrition practice in Kirkland, WA, and is a nationally recognized expert on nutrition for diabetic athletes. Her experience includes being an outpatient RD, CDE at Virginia Mason Medical Center, an adjunct professor at Seattle University, and a consultant to the Seattle Sounders professional soccer team. She is an experienced public speaker, and a contributing author to the 4th and 6th editions of the AND/SCAN Sports Nutrition Manual. On a personal note, Sally is an avid road cyclist who trains with the JDRF NW cycling team. She enjoys hiking & backpacking, and is a volunteer Nordic ski instructor for people with disabilities.
Jill Nowak, RD, CDE, CLEC
Certified Diabetes Educator
CHOC Hospital
Jill Nowak is a Registered Dietitian, Certified Diabetes Educator and Certified Lactation Education Counselor with over 20 years of experience working in the field of nutrition. She has worked at CHOC Hospital with the Division of Endocrinology and Diabetes for 12 years. Majority of her career she worked as a Clinical Dietitian specializing in counseling children and adolescents with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, Obesity, Prader-Willi Syndrome and Celiac disease. In addition, she is a class educator for the PADRE (Pediatrics-Adolescents Diabetes Research Education) Foundation and teaches an Advanced Carbohydrate Counting class. She also runs a support group for kids living with both Type 1 Diabetes and Celiac Disease. Recently, Jill changed positions to Diabetes Educator providing education on carbohydrate counting, carbohydrate to insulin ratios, insulin pump therapy and diabetes pattern management. Jill earned her BS degree in Food Administration and Dietetics at California State University, Long Beach.
Leah Blalock, MS, RD, CSP, CDE
Pediatric Endocrine Dietitian
CHOC Hospital
Leah Blalock is a Registered Dietitian with a Master’s Degree in Clinical Nutrition from University of Michigan. Leah has been providing pediatric nutrition counseling for over 18 years and is a Certified Specialist in Pediatrics. Leah is also a Certified Diabetes Educator and has been an active member of the Department of Endocrinology multidisciplinary team at CHOC Hospital since 2008. Leah provides nutritional counseling for children with multiple endocrine disorders and has a special interest in children with Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes, Prader Willi Syndrome, Autism, and Down Syndrome.
Rima Kandalaft, MS, RD, CSP
Pediatric CF Dietitian
CHOC Hospital
Rima received her BS in Food Technology and Nutrition at the American University of Beriut, Lebanon, and her MS in Nutrition and Food Science at Texas Woman’s University in Denton, TX. Rima has credentials in Pediatric Nutrition (CSP). She has worked as a Pediatric Clinical Dietitian at CHOC Hospital for over 12 years. She is one of two dietitians for CHOC’s Pulmonary and Cystic Fibrosis (CF) Center. Rima has attended yearly CF conferences and workshops on CF related Diabetes. She works closely with the CHOC Endocrine team involved in the care of patients with Cystic Fibrosis related Diabetes.
Samantha Thompson, RD, CDE
Certified Diabetes Educator
CHOC Hospital
Samantha is an RD, CDE who has worked in the diabetes field for over 15 years. She is currently the Pump/Sensor Program Coordinator at CHOC Hospital. Samantha has Type 1 Diabetes herself and is passionate about educating kids and their families on the benefits of pump and sensor technology.
Vanessa Aldaz, MPH, RD, CDE
Pediatric Endocrine & Ketogenic Dietitian
Rady Children’s Hospital
Vanessa received her MPH from Loma Linda University in Nutrition in 2004 and has worked at Rady Children’s Hospital since 2005. She specializes in ketogenic diets for intractable epilepsy and medical nutrition therapy for Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes. She also works closely with children who have Prader-Willi Syndrome. She has implemented hospital wide clinical guidelines for management of the ketogenic diet. She has presented talks and abstract posters at national and international conferences including the 1st Annual Dietitians forum in 2006, education conferences sponsored by the Epilepsy Foundation and the 2nd Ketogenic Diet Global Symposium in Edinburgh, Scotland. She is also an elected Keto Ambassador and faculty member of Keto University 2015-2016 (Nutricia NA) and has given webinars on ketogenic diet topics such as MCT oil diet. She has made several TV appearances for the local news media to discuss childhood obesity and diabetes in youth. She is married to a pediatric endocrinologist and is actively involved with JDRF.
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