Meet the Team

Lacey Anderson, MS, RD, LDN
Outpatient Nutrition — Durant 
Cardiac Rehab 
Pediatric Weight Management
Phone: 919-350-2450 
Email: lacanderson@wakemed.org

Heather Cupp, RD, LDN
Pediatric Weight Management, Medical Weight Loss
Primary Care
Phone: 919-350-3827
Email: hcupp@wakemed.org

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Olivia Fassino, MS, RD, LDN 
Pediatric Dietitian 
Pediatric Weight Management, Outpatient Nutrition — Clayton, Cary and Raleigh 
Phone: 919-350-3821 
Email: ofassino@wakemed.org

Olivia Fassino is a registered dietitian with clinical interests in pediatric nutrition specifically infant nutrition, slow weight gain in infants and pediatrics, malnutrition and eating disorders. She earned her bachelor's degree from University of Georgia in Athens, GA. She continued her education, completing a master's degree at Meredith College in Raleigh, NC.

Fassino empowers children, encouraging them to have a positive relationship with food in order to develop lifelong healthy habits. 

When not working, Fassino enjoys running, cooking, sewing and spending time with family and friends.

Charlotte Jackson, RD, LDN
Primary Care, Oncology, Heart Failure
Phone: 919-350-3824
Email: chajackson@wakemed.org

Charlotte Jackson is a registered dietitian with clinical interests in oncology, nutrition support and geriatrics. She earned her bachelor's degree from University of Florida in Gainesville, FL. She went on to complete her master's degree at University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, NC. She is a Certified Nutrition Support Clinician (CNSC) by the National Board of Nutrition Support.

Jackson's patient care philosophy involves an individualized approach to improve quality of life through nutrition.

When not at work, Jackson enjoys gardening and spending time with family. 

Parul Kharod, MS, RDN, LDN
Primary Care, Gastroenterology
Diabetes Management, Kidney Stone Center 
Phone: 919-350-3823 
Email: pkharod@wakemed.org

Parul Kharod is a registered dietitian and licensed nutritionist with clinical interests in gastroenterology, food allergies, kidney disease, kidney stones, diabetes and heart health. She counsels adult and pediatric patients in the outpatient setting. Besides individual nutrition counselling, Kharod also teaches group classes for WakeMed's Diabetes Management Program  and is a member of the Prevention Team at WakeMed Urology Kidney Stone Clinic. She collaborated with the Celiac Disease Foundation to start a support group for people with Celiac Disease and gluten intolerances; she has now expanded it as a support group for Celiac and food allergies as a branch of the Gluten Intolerance Group. She contributes to WakeMed Voices blogs and writes health and nutrition articles for various publications. Kharod earned her bachelor's and master's degrees from M.S. University in Vadodara, Gujrat, India. She is formally certified by the Commission on Dietetic Registration and has certifications in vegetarian nutrition, food allergies and gastroenterological disorders from the Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics.

Kharod has a global perspective about diverse eating habits and is able to assist people in making appropriate lifestyle changes while still conforming to their cultural preferences. She believes in a "no-diet" approach, focusing on practicality and balance to improve overall health for the mind and body.

Outside of work, Kharod enjoys reading, listening to music, watching movies and traveling.

Krista Kiger, MEd, RD, LDN
Cardiac Rehab — Raleigh, WakeMed Physical Therapy — Brier Creek, Cambridge Village
Phone: 919-350-3829
Email: kkiger@wakemed.org

Krista Kiger is a registered dietitian and certified wellness coach with a clinical interest in heart disease. She earned her bachelor's degree in foods, nutrition and institution management from East Carolina University in Greenville, NC. She went on to complete a master's degree in nutrition at University of NC-Greensboro in Greensboro, NC. She is listed on the NC Board of Dietetics/Nutrition and Commission on Dietetic Registration.

Kiger never assumes anything about her clients. She meets clients where they are and does not come across as the "food police." She realizes that in order to gain trust and confidence, they must work together on goals that the client feels are attainable and important.

When not working, Kiger enjoys weight lifting, hiking, biking, cooking and baking, pet sitting and going on walks with her daughter.

Courtney Kozischek, MS, RD, LDN
Outpatient Nutrition — Raleigh, Durant, Cary
Primary Care
919-350-3830 
Email: ckozischek@wakemed.org

Courtney Kozischek is a CPR-certified, registered dietitian with clinical interests in diabetes, healthy eating, sports nutrition and weight-inclusive nutrition care. She earned her bachelor's degree from Appalachian State University in Boone, NC. She went on to complete a master's degree at Meredith College in Raleigh, NC.

Kozischek believes food is very personal and that nutrition should be individualized to meet each person's specific needs. Healthy eating and exercising navigate people on lifelong journeys best traveled one step at time employing small, attainable goals. She also believes it is important to establish a positive relationship with food and understand that food is not only fuel for the body, but it is also tradition, culture, comfort and natural medicine.

When not working, Kozischek enjoys rollerblading, weightlifting, spending time with friends and family and baking cookies.

Lee MacCabe, RD, LDN  
Pediatric Weight Management
Phone: 919-350-3826
Email: lamaccabe@wakemed.org

Lee MacCabe is a registered dietitian with clinical interests in weight management, community education in both nutrition and fitness and family-oriented goal setting. He graduated with a bachelor's degree from Appalachian State University in Boone, NC and is certified by the Commision on Dietetic Registration and North Carolina Board Dietetics and Nutrition. 

MacCabe's patient care philosophy puts patients and their families first. MacCabe works cooperatively to find individualized, small lifestyle changes, offering step-by-step guidance to help patients improve their overall health, self-confidence and knowledge of nutrition. He focuses on opportunities of interest to patients, guiding them in learning, while setting realistic, long-term action plans to make these changes. Whatever a patient feels is the biggest nutritional challenge, MacCabe helps navigate through it in a way that feels comfortable and manageable.

Outside of work, MacCabe enjoys bicycling, especially mountain biking, exploring parks with family, playing guitar, songwriting, playing group board games and reading. 

Carol Mary Medins, MPH, RD, LDN, CNSC 
Pediatric Dietitian 
Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition 
Phone: 919-350-3822 
Email: cmedins@wakemed.org

Carol Mary Medins MPH, RD, LDN, CNSC is a dietitian with clinical interests in short bowel syndrome, irritable bowel disease (IBD), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) and Celiac disease. She has additional specialty training in pediatrics, gastroenterology, tube feeding and total parenteral nutrition (TPN). Medins earned her bachelor's degree from the University of New Hampshire in Durham, NH. She then relocated to North Carolina and completed a master's at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in Chapel Hill, NC. She is certified by the Commission on Dietetic Registration, North Carolina Board of Dietetics/Nutrition and American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (ASPEN).

Medins collaborates with patients and their families because she acknowledges that wellness is a team effort. By working together, families can see their pediatric patient thrive.

Outside of work, Medins spends her leisure time cycling, swimming, reading and hiking.

Julie H Paul MS RD LDN 
Supervisor Outpatient Nutrition Programs 
Outpatient Nutrition — Clayton 
Email: jpaul@wakemed.org

Julie Paul is a registered dietitian with clinical interests in integrative nutrition, weight management and wellness with specialty training in pediatric weight management. She earned a bachelors and masters degree in nutrition and dietetics from East Carolina University in Greenville, NC.

Paul believes every patient is an individual with different needs. She loves working with patients, empowering them to discover ways they can improve their health.

When not at work, Paul loves being in nature — hiking trails, snow skiing, camping and gardening. She also enjoys cooking, exploring new recipes and spending time with family.

Rebecca Simpson, MS, RD, LDN
Outpatient Nutrition — Raleigh and Cary
Cancer Care — Hematology & Medical Oncology
Primary Care 
Phone: 919-350-3825
Email: resimpson@wakemed.org

Rebecca Simpson, MS, RD, LDN, is a dietitian with clinical interests in oncology (working with those in active treatment as well as survivors), type 2 diabetes and prediabetes, lipid disorders. She earned her bachelor's degree from Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, NC. She then completed a master's at Meredith College in Raleigh, NC. Simpson is certified by the Commission on Dietetic Registration.

Simpson collaborates with patients to come up with realistic changes they can make to improve their health.

When not at work, Simpson enjoys spending time with her husband and two daughters — camping, hiking and swimming.

Trish Vulpis RD LDN
Bariatric Surgery Clinical Dietitian
Email: tvulpis@wakemed.org

Trish Vulpis is an experienced registered dietitian specializing in bariatric patients. She earned her bachelor’s degree in dietetics from Auburn University in Auburn, AL. She is board certified in obesity and weight management and has over three decades of experience as a dietitian. Vulpis has a passion for helping patients meet their individual needs through one-on-one counseling sessions. Her goal is to empower patients to recognize their diet challenges and provides them with the tools to achieve a healthy and sustainable lifestyle.

Megan Woods, RD, LDN
Cardiac Rehab — Raleigh
Energize Program Coordinator 
Phone: 919-350-8325
Email: megwoods@wakemed.org