| EARLY Trial | UCSF School of Nursing |
| Endothelial Assessment of Risk from Lipids in Youth | University of California, San Francisco |
Dr. Marguerite Engler is a Professor and Vice Chair of the Department of Physiological Nursing at the University of California, San Francisco. She is also the lead investigator for the EARLY trial team and research project. Dr. Engler received her undergraduate degree in nursing from Marymount University in Arlington, Virginia and graduate degree in biology and physiology from the American University in Washington, D.C. She received her doctorate degree in physiology from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. She completed her doctoral training at the National Institutes of Health, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, and the National Institute of Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse in Bethesda, Maryland. Dr. Engler obtained her clinical experience in critical care and cardiovascular surgery at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, Maryland.
Dr. Engler's basic science and clinical research have focused on the role of nutrients in the treatment and prevention of cardiovascular disease. She has investigated dietary omega-3 and omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids and their effects on the cardiovascular system and lipid metabolism. Various risk factors for coronary artery disease including hypertension and hypercholesterolemia have also been studied. Dr. Engler's basic science and clinical research has focused on nutritional interventions for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease. Dr. Engler has published her research in highly respected, peer-reviewed scientific journals and she is also the Editor-in-Chief of the journal, Progress in Cardiovascular Nursing.
Dr. Engler's dedication to her field has earned her recognition and many honors, including Fellowship in the American Heart Association and the San Francisco Division American Heart Association's "10 Year Service Recognition Award." She also received the "National Institutes of Health Grant Award" from the National Institute of Nursing Research, a 5-year funded study to develop nutritional interventions for children and adolescents with high cholesterol who are at increased risk for coronary artery disease.
Dr. Engler is a long-time member of a multitude of professional societies including the American Heart Association's Council on Cardiovascular Nursing and Council on Nutrition, Metabolism and Physical Activity, as well as the International Society for the Study of Fatty Acids and Lipids and the American Physiological Society.
Dr. Mietus-Snyder is a preventive pediatric cardiologist and molecular geneticist with extensive experience in basic research studying the mechanisms that underpin the earliest phases of atherosclerosis. She received her undergraduate degree in biology and medical degree at UC San Diego. Her pediatric residency and cardiology fellowship were performed at Children's Hospital Boston, Harvard University Medical Center.
Her basic research at Harvard and subsequently at UCSF Gladstone Institute focused on the inflammatory consequences of vascular oxidative stress that trigger atherogenic gene activity in blood vessels. Dr. Mietus-Sndyer's clinical research has also documented untoward consequences of vascular oxidative stress for blood vessel health.
Dr. Mietus-Snyder has written many publications and received honors for her research work. This work has strengthened her clinical commitment to health promotion through optimal nutrition and exercise lifestyle choices that can attenuate vascular oxidative stress. Her collaboration with Dr. Engler and the EARLY trial team has provided an opportunity to carefully evaluate the effects of diet on vascular health. In addition to being Project Director and Co-Investigator on the EARLY Trial, Dr. Mietus-Snyder is an adjunct assistant professor in the Department of Physiological Nursing at UCSF.
Dr. Mary Engler is a Professor & Director of the Cardiovascular and Genomics Graduate Programs in the Department of Physiological Nursing at UCSF. She received her PhD in Cardiovascular Physiology from Georgetown University in Washington DC. She attended Marymount University in Virginia for her undergraduate nursing training and the American University in Washington DC for her undergraduate & graduate programs in Biology. Her clinical experience spans over 13 years in critical care and cardiovascular surgery at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, MD.
Dr. Engler's area of research involves nutritional interventions in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease. Since her faculty appointment at UCSF in 1988, she has focused on the vascular effects of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (fish oils) in the presence of cardiovascular risk factors, including high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, and aging. These experimental models have been used to define the effects and mechanisms of these omega-3 fatty acids in dilating arteries. The inclusion of different nutrients, such as, fish in the diet, may be protective against heart disease especially in individuals who have cardiovascular risk factors. As a co-investigator of the EARLY Trial, Dr. Engler brings her expertise in vascular physiology and nutrition as well as extensive cardiovascular clinical experience.
She is also investigating the effects of dietary flavonoids on vascular health and oxidative stress in healthy subjects. Recently awarded a KO1, Mentored Research Scientist Development Award, from the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, MD, Dr. Engler's clinical and research training focuses on the genetic basis of cardiovascular disease, specifically, the genetic cause of high density lipoprotein (HDL or "good" cholesterol) deficiency.
Dr. Malloy is a pediatrician who has clinical, teaching, and research experience with children, adolescents, and adults. She received her undergraduate degree in child development from UC Berkeley and her medical degree from UCSF. Her residency was at the University of Washington in Seattle and at UCSF Medical Center, specializing in pediatrics.
For many years she was the director of the pediatric outpatient department at UCSF and started the residency program in primary care pediatrics. Dr. Malloy has an extensive bibliography regarding her research work in the Cardiovascular Research Institute and has written book chapters and reviews on the diagnosis and management of dyslipidemias.
Her current research is on the genetics of atherosclerosis and related disorders. She is a clinical professor of pediatrics and medicine. In addition to her role in the EARLY Trial, she is the director of the Pediatric Lipid Clinic at UCSF, co-director of the Adult Lipid Clinic, and consultant to the regional pediatric genetics clinic at Kaiser Permanente.
Dr. Kennedy has extensive background in nutrition and applied developmental health issues in children and youth. She received her undergraduate degree in nursing from Catholic University in Washington, D.C. and her master's degree at Boston College. Her doctorate of philosophy in developmental psychology was obtained at Brown University. Dr. Kennedy's role in the EARLY Trial includes coordinating and leading the focus group activities and the analysis and interpretation of the biobehavioral factors derived from the Youth Health Survey and Child Dietary Self-Efficacy Scale.
Dr. Kools has a rich background in adolescent development, minority youth issues, and qualitative methodology. She received her BS in nursing from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. Her MS and PhD degrees are from the University of California, San Francisco. Her specialty area is child and adolescent psychiatric nursing. She will collaborate with Dr. Kennedy on the focus group analyses related to the secondary aims.
David Besio is a registered dietitian and received his bachelor's degree in finance at Santa Clara University and his master's degree in nutrition from New York University. He also completed his teaching fellowship at New York University and was a food instructor at the International Student Organization, Fall Orientation. David has volunteered at the Community Food Resource Center's nutrition education program as a cook shop instructor. He has worked as a clinical dietitian for the past 4 years and has experience performing nutritional screening, assessment, and education of acute care patients. David is currently the Weight Management Dietitian at the University of California, San Francisco Medical Center.
Julie Stahl is a registered dietitian and received a double bachelor's degree in biology and education in dietetics from the University of Dayton. She has worked as a nutrition assistant at Kaiser Permanente, San Francisco and "Best Self" supporting nutritional health and developing menus for weight loss. She has experience in clinical counseling helping adolescents with disordered eating and obesity. Julie is currently an inpatient Pediatric Clinical Dietitian in the pediatric intensive care unit covering both general and pediatric populations at the University of California, San Francisco Medical Center.
Laurie Chau is a dietetic assistant and received her bachelor's degree in dietetics at San Francisco State University. She has been a diet clerk at the UCSF Medical Center, working with patient's diet orders and nourishments and publishing roster reports, tally guides, nourishment list reports, tray tickets, and menus. She also has experience in inputting data into Food Processor Plus for nutrition analysis. Laurie is currently the Dietetic Technician at Stanford Hospital and works with dietitians to modify menus, conduct calorie counts, and performs follow-up with patients.
Rachel Cain is currently a Dietetic Technician in the Pediatric Clinical Research Center at the University of California, San Francisco Medical Center. She received her bachelor's degree in American Studies from the University of Notre Dame and will complete her Didactic Program in Dietetics at San Francisco State University in May 2004. She has worked as a nutrition intern at the Women Infants and Children (WIC) Supplemental Nutrition Program and has experience in preparing culturally sensitive recipes and analyzing food records for patients.
Carrie Boghosian s the Research Coordinator with several years of research experience at the UCSF School of Nursing. She received her BA at San Francisco State Univ. in Health Education, and has worked in promoting the health and well being of people for many years now in both a community and academic setting. Her research experience also includes counseling on healthy diets and exercise.
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For more information, contact:
marguerite.engler@nursing.ucsf.edu
Version 1.7 · 17 Jan. 2006