Our Clinical Care Team

Robin Goland, MD

Robin Goland, MD

Endocrinologist and Co-Director, Naomi Berrie Diabetes Center, J. Merrill Eastman Professor of Clinical Diabetes

Magdalena Bogun, MD

Magdalena Bogun, MD

Adult Endocrinologist

Rachelle Gandica, MD

Rachelle Gandica, MD

Pediatric Endocrinologist

Natasha Leibel, MD

Natasha Leibel, MD

Pediatric Endocrinologist

Jacqueline Lonier, MD

Jacqueline Lonier, MD

Adult Endocrinologist

Utpal B. Pajvani, MD, PhD

Utpal B. Pajvani, MD, PhD

Researcher and Endocrinologist

Jacqueline Salas-Spiegel, MD

Jacqueline Salas-Spiegel, MD

Adult Endocrinologist

Barney Softness, MD

Barney Softness, MD

Pediatric Endocrinologist

Ileana Vargas, MD

Ileana Vargas, MD

Pediatric Endocrinologist

Kristen M. Williams, MD

Kristen M. Williams, MD

Pediatric Endocrinologist

Ericka Arrecis, RD, CDCES

Ericka Arrecis, RD, CDCES

Registered Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Educator

Emily Casciano, RD, CDCES

Emily Casciano, RD, CDCES

Registered Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Educator

Jamie R Hyatt, RN, BSN, CDCES

Jamie R Hyatt, RN, BSN, CDCES

Registered Nurse and Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist

Jaki Johnson, RN, BSN, CDCES

Jaki Johnson, RN, BSN, CDCES

Registered Nurse and Certified Diabetes Educator

Cara Lampron

Cara Lampron

Program Coordinator, Art Therapy

Rosie McNeil, RN, BN, BMid, GradCertDiabEd

Rosie McNeil, RN, BN, BMid, GradCertDiabEd

Registered Nurse and Credentialed Diabetes Educator

Courtney Melrose, MPH, RD, CDCES

Courtney Melrose, MPH, RD, CDCES

Registered Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Educator

James Pring

James Pring

Senior Type 2 Diabetes Clinical Trial Coordinator

Robin Goland, MD

Robin Goland, MD

Endocrinologist and Co-Director, Naomi Berrie Diabetes Center, J. Merrill Eastman Professor of Clinical Diabetes

Dr. Robin Goland, J. Merrill Eastman Professor of Clinical Diabetes, Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics at Columbia University, directs the patient care and clinical research programs at the Berrie Center. She was instrumental in establishing the Naomi Berrie Diabetes Center in July 1998. Under the leadership of Dr. Goland and Berrie Center Co-Director Dr. Rudolph Leibel, the Berrie Center has become recognized nationally and internationally for excellence and innovation in patient care and research in diabetes. Dr. Goland has a B.A. from Harvard University and an M.D. from Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons. She was a resident and chief medical resident at NY-Presbyterian Hospital and did her endocrinology research training at Columbia University.

Magdalena Bogun, MD

Magdalena Bogun, MD

Adult Endocrinologist

Dr. Magdalena Bogun is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine at Columbia University. She received her MD from Poznan University of Medical Sciences in Poland, where she was born and did her Internal Medicine residency training at the Jacobi Medical Center, Bronx, NY. Dr. Bogun completed a fellowship in Endocrinology at the Yale University School of Medicine-New Haven Hospital.  Her clinical practice at the Berrie Center focuses on adults with type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes as well as on diabetes in hospitalized patients. 

Rachelle Gandica, MD

Rachelle Gandica, MD

Pediatric Endocrinologist

Dr. Rachelle Gandica is a pediatric endocrinologist with a special interest in diabetes. Her research interests are in monogenic diabetes, cystic fibrosis-related diabetes as well as clinical type 1 and type 2 diabetes trials. She received her M.D. from Albert Einstein College of Medicine and completed her pediatrics residency and pediatric endocrinology fellowship at the Children’s Hospital of New York Presbyterian at Columbia University, College of Physician & Surgeons.

Natasha Leibel, MD

Natasha Leibel, MD

Pediatric Endocrinologist

Dr. Natasha Leibel, Assistant Clinical Professor of Pediatrics, is a pediatric endocrinologist with a focus in diabetes. She received her M.D. from Cornell University Medical College and completed her pediatrics residency, chief residency and pediatric endocrinology fellowship at the Children’s Hospital of New York at Columbia University, College of Physician & Surgeons.

Jacqueline Lonier, MD

Jacqueline Lonier, MD

Adult Endocrinologist

Dr. Jacqueline Lonier is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine at Columbia University and an adult endocrinologist at the Naomi Berrie Diabetes Center. She received her BS from Yale University and her MD from Columbia University, College of Physicians & Surgeons. She completed her residency training in internal medicine and a fellowship in endocrinology at NYU. Her clinical practice focuses on adults with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.

 

Utpal B. Pajvani, MD, PhD

Utpal B. Pajvani, MD, PhD

Researcher and Endocrinologist

Dr. Utpal Pajvani is an endocrinologist with a focus in diabetes. Dr. Pajvani’s research focuses on the role of developmental pathways in the regulation of Type 2 Diabetes, and the use of existing therapeutic agents in other scientific areas in novel applications to ameliorate obesity-induced insulin resistance.  He received his M.D. and Ph.D. degrees from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, and completed his residency training in Internal Medicine and fellowship in Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism at Columbia University.

Jacqueline Salas-Spiegel, MD

Jacqueline Salas-Spiegel, MD

Adult Endocrinologist

Dr. Jacqueline Salas-Spiegel, Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine, is an Endocrinologist with a special interest in diabetes. Dr. Salas’ research interests include diabetes clinical outcomes in minorities and underserved populations, as well as the diagnosis and management of cystic fibrosis related diabetes (CFRD). She received her M.D. from the Universidad Central de Venezuela in Caracas and completed a Fellowship in Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism at Beth Israel Medical Center in New York.

Barney Softness, MD

Barney Softness, MD

Pediatric Endocrinologist

Dr. Barney Softness, Associate Clinical Professor of Pediatrics, is a pediatric endocrinologist with a special interest in diabetes. His research interests are in the use of insulin pumps in very young children and in prevention of type 1 diabetes. He received his B.A. from Amherst College and his M.D. from Columbia University. His pediatric endocrinology training was at Cornell University Medical College.

Ileana Vargas, MD

Ileana Vargas, MD

Pediatric Endocrinologist

Dr. Ileana Vargas, Assistant Clinical Professor of Pediatrics, specializes in the treatment of children with diabetes and children with obesity. Dr. Vargas’ research interests are in the cause, treatment and prevention of childhood obesity. Dr. Vargas is a graduate of Fordham University and Albert Einstein College of Medicine.

Kristen M. Williams, MD

Kristen M. Williams, MD

Pediatric Endocrinologist

Dr. Kristen M Williams, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, is a pediatric endocrinologist with a focus in diabetes. She received her M.D. from Stony Brook University School of Medicine and completed her pediatrics residency and pediatric endocrinology fellowship at the Children’s Hospital of New York at Columbia University, College of Physician & Surgeons.

Ericka Arrecis, RD, CDCES

Ericka Arrecis, RD, CDCES

Registered Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Educator

Ericka Arrecis is a Registered Dietitian who provides diabetes education and nutritional counseling to Berrie Center patients. She individualizes the diabetes recommendations to match each patient’s medical and cultural needs in order to improve diabetes self care and glucose control. A native Spanish speaker, Ericka leads our Spanish-language diabetes education classes. She received a BA in Nutrition and General dietetics from Queens College and completed her dietetic internship at New York Institute of Technology.

Emily Casciano, RD, CDCES

Emily Casciano, RD, CDCES

Registered Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Educator

Emily Casciano is a Registered Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Educator. She focuses on the integration of healthy lifestyle habits and safe diabetes management. Emily helps children and their families problem solve and set appropriate individualized self-care goals related to nutrition, exercise, and diabetes.  Emily is a certified trainer for insulin pump therapy and continuous glucose monitor technology.  Emily received her Bachelors of Science in Dietetics from the University of Connecticut and completed the Coordinated Program in Dietetics from the University of Connecticut.


Jamie R Hyatt, RN, BSN, CDCES

Jamie R Hyatt, RN, BSN, CDCES

Registered Nurse and Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist

Jamie R. Hyatt is a Registered Nurse and Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES). She received an Associate degree in Nursing from Chippewa Valley Technical College in Wisconsin and a Bachelor's degree in nursing from the University of Wisconsin Eau-Claire. In 2017 she started working in diabetes research at the International Diabetes Center in Minneapolis. Jamie's area of expertise is T1D, pediatrics, and diabetes devices. She also holds a volunteer position with the American Diabetes Association in the technology advisory group. 

Jaki Johnson, RN, BSN, CDCES

Jaki Johnson, RN, BSN, CDCES

Registered Nurse and Certified Diabetes Educator

Jaki is a Registered Nurse and Certified Diabetes Educator. She has been working with children with diabetes since 2011, providing education and support to children and their families. Jaki believes in a teamwork approach to diabetes management and works closely with her patients to help them achieve their personalized goals. She received her Bachelor's in Health Promotion and Disease Prevention from the University of Southern California and her Bachelor's in Nursing from New Mexico State University. She is a certified trainer for insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitors. Jaki also speaks both Spanish and Portuguese.

 

Cara Lampron

Cara Lampron

Program Coordinator, Art Therapy

Cara is a visual artist who received her BFA in Painting in 2014 from the Pratt Institute. In May 2017 she received her MPS in Art Therapy from the School of Visual Arts in New York City. Cara was an art therapy intern at the Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital before joining the Berrie Center. Cara believes that art is a way to express and accept complex feelings in a visual way.

Rosie McNeil, RN, BN, BMid, GradCertDiabEd

Rosie McNeil, RN, BN, BMid, GradCertDiabEd

Registered Nurse and Credentialed Diabetes Educator

Rosie McNeil is a Registered Nurse and a Credentialed Diabetes Educator. She earned a Bachelor of Nursing and Bachelor of Midwifery from Deakin University, Australia. Her Graduate Certificate in Diabetes Education is also from Deakin University. Rosie is a Registered Midwife with the Australian Regulation Board (AHPRA). From Melbourne, Australia, Rosie’s background is in Critical Care nursing (Emergency Department), delivering babies and diabetes research. She enjoys working with women who have type 1 and type 2 diabetes during pregnancy to achieve optimal outcomes, and also loves diabetes camps!

Courtney Melrose, MPH, RD, CDCES

Courtney Melrose, MPH, RD, CDCES

Registered Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Educator

Courtney Melrose is a Registered Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Educator who works with the pediatric and adult teams. Courtney specializes in helping patients transition from pediatric to adult care. She helps patients achieve their self-care and diabetes management goals. Courtney is a certified trainer for insulin pump therapy and continuous glucose monitor technology. Courtney received her Master's degree in Nutrition and Public Health from Hunter College.

James Pring

James Pring

Senior Type 2 Diabetes Clinical Trial Coordinator

James is an English Scientist who graduated from The University of Exeter, United Kingdom with a degree in Cellular and Molecular Biology. He is a veteran of over 20 clinical trials both at Columbia University and elsewhere. He joined the team at Naomi Berrie Diabetes Center in 2017 as the Senior Type 2 Diabetes Clinical Trial Coordinator where he oversees 3 clinical trials that relate to improving the understanding and treatment of diabetes in a real world setting.