Our Clinical Care Team
Robin Goland, MD
Endocrinologist and Co-Director, Naomi Berrie Diabetes Center, J. Merrill Eastman Professor of Clinical Diabetes
Srilaxmi Bearelly, MD, MHS
Ophthalmologist
Magdalena Bogun, MD
Adult Endocrinologist
Daniel Casper, MD, PhD
Ophthalmologist
Rachelle Gandica, MD
Pediatric Endocrinologist
Natasha Leibel, MD
Pediatric Endocrinologist
Jacqueline Lonier, MD
Adult Endocrinologist
Utpal B. Pajvani, MD, PhD
Researcher and Endocrinologist
Jacqueline Salas-Spiegel, MD
Adult Endocrinologist
Barney Softness, MD
Pediatric Endocrinologist
Ileana Vargas, MD
Pediatric Endocrinologist
Kristen M. Williams, MD
Pediatric Endocrinologist
Ericka Arrecis, RD, CDE
Registered Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Educator
Emily Casciano, RD, CDE
Registered Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Educator
Jaki Johnson, RN, BSN, CDE
Registered Nurse and Certified Diabetes Educator
Cara Lampron
Program Coordinator, Art Therapy
Courtney Melrose, MPH, RD, CDE
Registered Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Educator
Sarah Pollak, RN, MS, CCRC
Program Coordinator Type 1 Diabetes Research Team
James Pring
Senior Type 2 Diabetes Clinical Trial Coordinator
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.
Srilaxmi Bearelly, MD, MHS
Ophthalmologist
Dr. Bearelly, an Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology at Columbia has been at Columbia since 2010. Prior to working at Columbia, Dr. Bearelly served as Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology on the Retina Service at Duke University since 2004. She trained at both Northwestern and Duke Universities.
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.
Daniel Casper, MD, PhD
Ophthalmologist
Dr. Daniel Casper, Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology, is an ophthalmologist with special interests in comprehensive ophthalmology, ophthalmic imaging and medical informatics and retinopathy prevention and screening. Dr. Casper is also a specialist in medical and scientific art, and is senior author and illustrator of the text “Orbital Disease: Imaging and Analysis”. He received his MD degree from Albany Medical College and his PhD in Anatomy from Tufts University, and completed a research fellowship in experimental retinal pathology at Harvard Medical School. He did his ophthalmology training at the ES Harkness Eye Institute at Columbia University Medical Center, including a fellowship in Orbital and Oculoplastic Surgery.
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
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
Adult Endocrinologist
Dr. Jacqueline Lonier is an Instructor 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
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
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
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
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
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, CDE
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, CDE
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.
Jaki Johnson, RN, BSN, CDE
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
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.
Courtney Melrose, MPH, RD, CDE
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.
Sarah Pollak, RN, MS, CCRC
Program Coordinator Type 1 Diabetes Research Team
Sarah Pollak is a Registered Nurse and certified clinical research coordinator who brings many years of clinical research experience to the Berrie Center. She is involved in screening, prevention, and intervention for type 1 diabetes trials. She received her Bachelor of Science and Nursing degree at Syracuse University and Master's degree in Nursing Administration at New York University.
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.
