The nutrition community is made up of individuals with diverse experiences, perspectives, and ideas. This diversity is the main strength of our professional society. Through this member attention serieswe celebrate our diversity and the great achievements of our members in the field.
Meet Dr. Diane Stadlerprofessor of medicine and director of graduate programs in human nutrition at Oregon Health & Science University, a 35-year ASN member and dedicated leader. In conversation with ASN’s Member Engagement Coordinator, Sarah Genal, Dr. Stadler reflects on her nutritional journey.
From the first ASN meeting in 1996 to his current role on the Scientific Program Committee (SPC) for Nutrition 2026His involvement reflects a deep commitment to scientific exchange and community. He describes SPC as a “nutrition innovation hub” and looks forward to contributing to the NUTRITION meeting. Systematic reviews: Understanding quality, implementation of findings and driving impactwhich enables participants to interpret and apply nutrition research with confidence.
In addition to his work with SPC, Dr. Stadler as Academic Nutrition Departments and Programs (ANDP) He is a member of the ASN Board of Directors and past president of the ANDP Society, where he values the opportunity to share knowledge, learn from peers, and solve problems.
Sara Genal: Thank you, Dr. Diane Stadler, for joining me today for this interview. We have a lot to cover, so let’s get right into it. What sparked your interest in nutrition through the lens of genetics and development?
Dr. Diane Stadler: The discovery of food happened to me by accident. When I was 11 years old, my mother volunteered to take me as a “mother’s helper” to a family in our neighborhood. The family had two young children, the eldest of whom had Tay-Sachs disease. It was an exciting and terrifying experience for me. I did not understand the situation and I did not feel that what I was doing would help the family. Later, in high school and college, I studied the genetics and biochemistry of conditions like Tay-Sachs, which led me to focus on a similar but specific condition, phenylketonuria (PKU), specifically maternal PKU, for my thesis project as an undergraduate. Gaining an appreciation for the power of nutrition in treating metabolic conditions like PKU, and its impact on fetal development in mothers with PKU, provided a way for me to make a difference, a difference I was unable to make when I was younger. After a short stint working in a genetics lab, I enrolled in the MS in Nutrition program at Virginia Tech and then completed the requirements to apply for a nutrition fellowship at the Kennedy Institute/Johns Hopkins Hospital. My experience at the Kennedy School allowed me to immerse myself in working with children (and their parents) with very rare metabolic conditions and developmental disabilities. With this experience, I joined the clinical staff at the University of Iowa as a metabolic dietitian in the Department of Pediatrics and enjoyed clinical, research, and teaching opportunities that led me to join the doctoral program in human nutrition a few years later.
General: I think many of us can relate to early life experiences that shape our curiosity for a future goal, so thank you for sharing. You first joined ASN 35 years ago! Can you tell us a little about your early days at ASN and why you decided to join during your PhD program?
Dr. Stadler: There were several factors that contributed to my decision to join ASN, formerly known as the American Society for Nutrition (ASNS) and the American Society for Clinical Nutrition (ASCN), as a doctoral student. First, all of the faculty in my program at the University of Iowa were members of ASNS and ASCN, and every year they attended and presented at the “Federation Meetings” (FASEB), later the Experimental Biology and then the NUTRITION meeting. The first meeting I attended was in Montreal in 1996 when I presented part of my thesis research as a finalist for the Young Investigator Award. It was a welcoming and uplifting experience. Later in the meeting, my mentor, Charlie Rebusch, pulled me aside and encouraged me to watch my program director, Dr. Samuel Faumon, during a social event with the members. I stepped back and watched. This experience instilled in me the importance of reaching out to introduce myself, start a conversation, find common interests and experiences, and offer connections and facilitate collaboration. Just thinking about it puts a smile on my face.
General: I know what you mean, one of my favorite parts NUTRITION meeting, is seeing its network of members grow and strengthen day by day. Speaking of NEWS, you’re on the Scientific Program Committee (SPC), can you tell us a little bit about how SPC works?
Dr. Stadler: Serving on the Scientific Programs Committee is like being a member of an innovative food think tank. The members of the committee present, discuss and prioritize proposals on the topics of the session. They expand on topics and recommend innovative presenters and formats. They provide a wide range of topics and opportunities for students and beginning scholars to showcase their work. They think creatively and come up with new ways to engage audiences and promote discussion of important issues – during and after poster sessions, presentations, workshops and comfortable gathering spaces. Becoming an SPC member will not only expand your ASN community, but it will also help you discover existing connections you didn’t know existed.
general: You are in a session named ‘Systematic reviews: Understanding quality, implementation of findings and driving impact‘. What are your plans for this meeting?
Dr. Stadler: We are pleased to present this session and, as the title suggests, for the audience to gain an in-depth understanding of the defining characteristics, methodology and ability to reliably interpret and apply the findings of nutrition-related systematic reviews. We will use stories to illustrate how to navigate important components of the systematic review process, a “creating your next journey” experience to illustrate how decisions in the design phase affect study coverage, data analysis (qualitative and quantitative) and outcomes, “flash talks” to describe how to interpret and apply findings, and inform future research directions. We publish best practices for disseminating the results of systematic reviews through posters and oral presentations and as comprehensive reports and manuscripts..
general: What do you hope attendees will take away from your session?
Dr. Stadler: Our goal is for participants to walk away with a stronger understanding of the complexities of conducting systematic reviews; the consequences of sometimes ignoring decisions made at the design stage; advantages and limitations of this methodology; and the ability to interpret and apply findings to inform policy guidelines and future research.
general: Aside from your personal meeting theme, can you tell us what topics you are most excited about at this year’s annual meeting?
Dr. Stadler: There are so many! I have been involved in global nutrition work in Asia, Africa and Central America, so presenting on programs to support nutrition and maternal and child health is high on my list. The use of GLP-1 receptor agonists and their effects on food intake and nutrition will add to this story – specifically, identifying nutrients of concern and ensuring that sustainable healthy dietary changes are adopted to promote weight loss maintenance. Given the changing environment, agricultural landscape, and international trade, the Presidential Symposium on “One Health in a Global Context” is especially important and more important than ever. And it will be interesting to talk about new technologies, from AI to big data science to organoids and organs on a chip … just to name a few!
Pre-registration ends soon!
In NUTRITION Table 2026 Available now – sessions on AI-powered dietary tools, obesity treatment and GLP-1, regulation of nutritional supplements and the future of dietary guidance.
Early registration deadline: Friday, May 1, 2026
general: In addition to SPC, you have other volunteer opportunities within ASN, such as leadership with Academic Nutrition Departments and Programs (ANDP) as past chair and currently as ANDP representative on the ASN Board of Directors. What motivates you to be actively involved in the ASN community?
Dr. Stadler: I have met some of the most amazing people through working with ASN. These interactions grew into friendships that provided valuable resources and sound boards as we each progressed through our degrees and took on new responsibilities. Like many ASN members, my ability to give back to the ASN community has changed and grown over time. I believe the ASN community has a professional responsibility to help grow, support and recognize the next generation of nutrition scientists, clinicians and educators. In doing so, I honor those who have supported me and lift up those who are filling my shoes. The full circle creates a sense of peaceful fulfillment.
general: ANDP brings together leaders of nutrition departments and programs across the country and with new ASN Presidential Student Scholarship offering free membership to graduate students at member institutions. Have you seen how this benefit affects the students in your program?
Dr. Stadler: I am very proud that ASN has established the Presidential Student Scholarship for free membership for students at ANDP-affiliated institutions. Free membership allows all postgraduate nutrition students and those interested in nutrition at these institutions to learn from them, grow as professionals and contribute to their professional organisation. This scholarship breaks down financial barriers to membership at a time of high financial pressure and promotes inclusion and opportunity. All postgraduate nutrition students joined ASN when the scholarship was announced. In addition, we have offered the same opportunity to our medical students and the number of entries has been impressive and the opportunity has been appreciated. Access to DiscoverNUTRITION provided access to information and learning opportunities that would otherwise have been missed. Being a big part of the food community is empowering and empowering.
general: How has being a member of the community of department heads through ANDP influenced your direction?
Dr. Stadler: Events of the last 6-7 years have presented challenges that were not anticipated (e.g., COVID, extreme weather events, e.g., fires, floods, etc. that close schools, transition from in-person to virtual learning formats, changing priorities and funding resources). Being a member and in a leadership role with ANDP has allowed me to share what I know and learn from others. Being part of this group reinforced the importance of having a critical mass, sharing ideas and being able to ask relevant questions and come together to make an impact. Specifically, my leadership style, my credibility, and my reach have expanded beyond my program and academic institution statewide, regionally, and nationally.
general: Thank you once again for your participation in this interview. One last question to wrap up: what brings you back to the ASN Annual Meeting?
Dr. Stadler: I like advanced science. Clinical and translational applications. Discussion of important and influential issues. A chance to convince me to change my mind. The opportunity to create new friendships and restore cooperation. I hope to connect with all the readers of this interview at NUTRITION 2026 later this year.
