Mary Ellen DiPaola, RD, CDE, IBCLC has been a registered dietitian for over 25 years and has been employed by UCSF since 2007.  She is a certified diabetes educator and international board certified lactation consultant.  Her experience has been in the hospital outpatient setting providing medical nutrition therapy and counseling for weight management, diabetes, renal disease, cardiac health, gastrointestinal disorders, women health and infant/pediatric feeding issues. 

Mary Ellen has been the dietitian for UCSF Bariatric Surgery Clinic since October, 2011, and participates in the bariatric support group to include periodic nutrition and behavior change education.  She provides nutrition evaluation and weight management nutrition counseling for patients prior to pre-bariatric surgery, as well as medical nutrition therapy and counseling for  post-bariatric surgery patients.  Her training and experience in weight management includes a focus on individualized, realistic goal setting for permanent lifestyle change to aid positive weight management outcomes for improved health and well-being.