Operational Staff

Kim S. Beall, PharmD, received her Doctor of Pharmacy from the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) and her BS in Pharmacy from Auburn University. She has experience in academics and industry, working at MUSC as part of an Internal Medicine team and serving as adjunct faculty at MUSC College of Pharmacy, then working in Health Sciences with Merck as an academic liaison for those publishing and researching in lipids, hypertension, and heart failure. She has been following research in IBD closely since 2013 with her teenage son's diagnosis of Crohn's disease, and has become committed to the advancement of nutritional therapy as treatment.

Maysa Alzaim, Ph.D., is a licensed dietitian with a bachelor’s degree in Clinical Nutrition from King Saud University in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and a Ph.D. in Nutrition Science from the University of Massachusetts in Amherst, USA.

She specializes in gastrointestinal health, with a primary focus on Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) and Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). Maysa has completed advanced training, including the Monash University Low FODMAP Diet course for nutrition and IBS management. She also completed a 9-month Advanced Dietary IBD Education and Training (DIET) Program at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, focusing on nutrition interventions for IBD patients.

Currently, Maysa runs a virtual private practice in Saudi Arabia, helping individuals optimize their gut health and overall well-being through personalized nutrition plans. She is also in the process of establishing her own private clinic dedicated to nutrition counseling, gut health, and hands-on kitchen education, where patients will learn how to create healthy, culturally enjoyable meals that support their microbiome.

Maysa is also board-certified in Lifestyle Medicine by the American College of Lifestyle Medicine and incorporates its principles into her practice to support long-term patient health and disease management.

Lautaro Arriagada is a Buenos Aires-based dietitian specializing in gastroenterology, with a primary focus on Disorders of Gut-Brain Interaction (DGBI), including Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Functional Dyspepsia (FD), and Chronic Constipation (CC). Drawing on extensive specialized knowledge, he is dedicated to guiding patients through the complexities of functional digestive care to improve their overall quality of life.

Alongside his clinical background, Lautaro currently works in the private sector as a planning analyst for a high-volume catering service provider. He actively contributes to academia as a teaching assistant in pathophysiology at the University of Buenos Aires (UBA) and conducts independent research, with publications featured in leading journals such as Neurogastroenterology & Motility and the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

‍

Darcy Ayton is a London-based registered dietitian consultant specialising in gastrointestinal health, with a particular focus on supporting individuals living with inflammatory bowel disease. With extensive experience guiding patients through every stage of their IBD journey and nutrition, she understands first hand the daily challenges they face.

Alongside her work at a leading NHS trust, Darcy runs a private practice, Darcy The Dietitian, where she provides one to one support for clients with IBD and other gastrointestinal conditions. She combines compassionate, personalised care with evidence-based nutrition to help clients manage symptoms and improve their quality of life.In addition to her clinical practice, Darcy actively contributes to nutritional research in the field of IBD and regularly publishes her findings, helping to advance understanding and treatment in this area.

‍

Liz Hoobchaak, PT, DPT, CNPT, CAHNS, is a Physical Therapist and an Integrative Autoimmune Nutrition Therapist focusing on Inflammatory Bowel Disease. She received her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Northwestern University in 2006 and specialized in orthopedics and sports medicine.  Her passion for nutrition began when her son was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease at the age of 6. After hearing that food won’t make a difference in the course of his disease, Liz began researching nutritional therapy and soon witnessed firsthand the transformation of her son’s health on a therapeutic diet alone. This led her to pursue advanced certifications and is now the owner of her own private practice, Harvest & Healing Nutrition. Liz works with individuals with various autoimmune conditions by helping them manage chronic symptoms through proper nutrition and lifestyle changes. She enjoys creating and photographing recipes, reading, gardening and being active in nature with her family.

Kristi McCollom is a Holistic Nutrition Therapist and a 2004 graduate of the University of Georgia with a degree in Marketing. Kristi initially worked in new home sales and marketing for a decade. However, her life took a significant turn when her 2-year-old daughter was diagnosed with Early Onset Crohn’s Disease, a condition Kristi lovingly refers to as "a special belly." Despite what she was told, Kristi was convinced that diet must play a role in IBD. Four years of research and lots of trial and error finally resulted in the right dietary approach. Nutritional therapy has since become the primary component of her daughter’s IBD management. This experience not only improved her daughter’s health but also ignited Kristi’s own passion for cooking and nutrition. She opened Kristi’s Kitchen, a meal prep service focused on providing fresh, unprocessed food made with love. Now through her website, The Special Belly and her work at Nutritional Therapy for IBD, Kristi strives to empower others with the resources and excitement to eat intentionally and improve their own health outcomes through the use of nutrition.

Nicole is a Science educator and a patient with Crohn's disease.  She received her Bachelor of Science in Biology from Cornell University and her Master of Arts in Teaching from The College of New Jersey. Nicole has volunteered with a variety of non-profit organizations in the fields of education, environment, and public health. Her medical challenges inspired her to spread awareness of evidence-based nutritional therapies in IBD care.  To hear Nicole's IBD story, listen to her episode of the Bowel Moments podcast.  She currently lives in northern New Jersey with her husband and two children where she enjoys swimming, nature, and music.

Dr. Andreu Prados is a science and medical writer specializing in making reliable evidence of non-prescription therapeutics (diet and food supplements) for gastrointestinal conditions understandable, engaging, and ready for use for healthcare professionals and patients. He is also a nutrition communication researcher at the Observatory of Scientific Communication (OCC) at Pompeu Fabra University and assistant lecturer at Blanquerna School of Health Sciences - Ramon Llull University, Barcelona, Spain. He holds bachelor’s degrees in Pharmacy and Human Nutrition and Dietetics and a PhD in nutrition communication.

Nicole Wake, MS, RD, CDN is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist specializing in nutritional therapy for Crohn's disease. Nicole received her undergraduate and master's degree from SUNY Oneonta. She currently is enrolled in a PhD program for Integrative and Functional Nutrition at Saybrook University. Nicole runs a virtual private practice for Crohn's disease and nutrition. She was diagnosed with Crohn's disease in March 2020 and is passionate about helping others manage this condition.