Meet Our Review Board

Learn more about the experts who review our articles to make sure they are accurate and trustworthy.


The Verywell Fit Review Board is a team of board-certified physicians and recognized health and wellness leaders who ensure our content is high-quality and aligned with our core values. They join us in our mission to inspire daily action with realistic, science-backed diet and fitness advice for your healthy living journey.

Get to know the passionate registered dietitians, certified personal trainers, fitness coaches and instructors, cardiologists, orthopedists, physical therapists, and more who make up the Review Board.

Review Board Members

Heather Black, CPT

Certified Personal Trainer, Nutrition Coach
Heather Black, CPT

Heather Black, CPT, is a NASM-certified personal trainer, CrossFit level 2 trainer, and owner of Heather Black Fitness & Nutrition where she offers remote and in-person training and nutrition coaching. Heather has graced the cover of Oblique Magazine and was selected as a STRONG Fitness Magazine “Woman to Watch.”

Read more

Barbie Cervoni MS, RD, CDCES, CDN

Registered Dietitian
Barbie

Barbie Cervoni MS, RD, CDCES, CDN, is a registered dietitian and certified diabetes care and education specialist, counseling patients with diabetes. Barbie was previously the Advanced Nutrition Coordinator for the Mount Sinai Diabetes and Cardiovascular Alliance and worked in pediatric endocrinology at The Steven and Alexandra Cohen Children's Medical Center.

Read more

Sara Clark

Yoga Instructor
Sara Clark

Sara Clark is an EYT 500-hour certified Vinyasa yoga and mindfulness teacher, lululemon Global Yoga Ambassador, model, and writer. Her online yoga and meditation classes are available on SHAPE, Yoga Today, Prevention, and YogaGlo, and she teaches 1000+ yoga practitioners in New York City's Bryant Park every summer.

Read more

Kristy Del Coro, MS, RDN, LDN

Registered Dietitian, Culinary Professional
Kristy Del Coro, MS, RDN, CDN

Kristy is a licensed registered dietitian nutritionist and trained culinary professional. She has worked in a variety of settings, including MSKCC and Rouge Tomate.

Read more

Rachel Goldman, PhD, FTOS

Licensed Psychologist
Rachel Goldman

Rachel Goldman, Ph.D., FTOS, is a licensed psychologist and Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at NYU School of Medicine. She is also a speaker and wellness expert specializing in weight management and eating behaviors, serving on leadership boards of both The Obesity Society and the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery.

Read more

Mikael Hanson

Cycling and Triathlon Coach
Mikael Hanson

Mikael Hanson is a USA cycling and USA triathlon certified coach with over 25 years of coaching experience. He has worked with athletes of all ages, from beginners to World Champions.

Read more

John Honerkamp

Running Coach
John Honerkamp

John Honerkamp is an RRCA and USATF-certified running coach, celebrity marathon pacer, and recognized leader in the New York City running community.

Read more

Tara Laferrara, CPT

Certified Personal Trainer
Tara Laferrara

Tara Laferrara is a certified NASM personal trainer, yoga teacher, and fitness coach. She also created her own online training program, the TL Method, and is the co-owner of Compass Fitness in Denver, Colorado, a gym offering personal and group training, boxing, HIIT, and yoga within a community-driven experience.

Read more

Kristin McGee, CPT

Yoga and Pilates Instructor
Kristin McGee

Kristin McGee, CPT, is a certified personal trainer, yoga instructor, and Pilates teacher. She currently teaches yoga and meditation for Peloton, including prenatal and postnatal classes for new moms. Kristin is one of the most sought-after and recognized fitness instructors in the country and is a pioneer in making yoga and mindful movement more accessible for all.

Read more

Melissa Rifkin, MS, RD, CDN

Registered Dietitian
Melissa Rifkin

Melissa is a Connecticut-based registered dietitian with over 15 years of experience working in the clinical setting. She has worked with a large patient-base with an emphasis on weight management, bariatric nutrition, and oncology nutrition. 

While Melissa is a dietitian by profession, Melissa believes that being healthy does not just mean from a dietary perspective. Melissa practices with the belief that your body is a sanctuary and health encompass eating nutritious foods, exercising, and balancing mental well-being. 

Read more

Marisa Moore, RDN, MBA

Registered Dietitian
Marisa Moore

Marisa Moore is a registered dietitian nutritionist with a BS in nutrition science and an MBA in marketing, and the founder of Marisa Moore Nutrition, a culinary nutrition communication and consulting practice. She is also a contributing editor for Food and Nutrition Magazine, and a contributor to People and U.S. News and World Report.

Read more

Erin Pereira, PT, DPT

Physical Therapist
Erin

Erin Pereira, PT, DPT, is a board-certified clinical specialist in orthopedic physical therapy and an athletic trainer with more than nine years of experience focusing on patients with musculoskeletal conditions. Dr. Pereira cares for athletes of many sports and skill levels and specializes in endurance and overhead-throwing athletes.

Read more

Samina Qureshi, RD

Registered Dietitian
Samina Qureshi

Samina Qureshi RDN, LD is the founder and Registered Dietitian at Wholesome Start, LLC a virtual nutrition practice based in Houston, Texas. She specializes in helping people who struggle with chronic dieting, binge eating, and Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) nourish their bodies without stress, guilt, or shame.

Read more

Michele Stanten, ACE-GFI

Walking Coach, Group Fitness Instructor, Running Coach
Michele Stanten

Michele Stanten is a walking coach, ACE-certified group fitness instructor, and RRCA-certified running coach. She is the author of "Walk Off Weight" and "The Walking Solution," former fitness director of Prevention magazine, and a founding member of the Every Body Walk Collaborative. Michele has appeared on The Today Show, Good Morning America, CNN, NPR, and more.

Read more

Mia Syn, MS, RDN

Registered Dietitian
Mia Syn Headshot

Mia Syn, MS, RDN, is a registered dietitian nutritionist and the host of Good Food Friday on ABC News 4. She has been a spokesperson and consultant for several major commodity boards including The Mango Board, Northwest Cherries, and the Blueberry Council. Mia has been featured in many major publications including Women’s Health, SHAPE, and Buzzfeed.

Read more

Miho J. Tanaka, MD

Orthopedic Surgeon
Miho Tanaka

Dr. Tanaka is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon specializing in the treatment of sports medicine injuries. She is the founding director of the Women’s Sports Medicine Program at Massachusetts General Hospital, a faculty member at Harvard Medical School, and has served as team physician for professional and collegiate sports teams including the St. Louis Cardinals.

Read more

Jonathan Valdez, RDN, CDCES, CPT

Registered Dietitian, Certified Personal Trainer
Jonathan Valdez

Jonathan Valdez, RDN, CDCES, CPT is a New York City-based telehealth registered dietitian nutritionist and nutrition communications expert.

Read more

Dr. Kathleen Gassner, DPT

Physical Therapist, Running Coach
Kathleen Gassner, PT, DPT
Kathleen Gassner is a Doctor of Physical Therapy and certified RRCA run coach. She has over 10 years of experience working in hospital ICUs, orthopedic outpatient settings, and pediatric clinics.
Read more

Amy Walsh, M.D.

Emergency Physician
Amy Walsh, M.D.
Amy Walsh, M.D., M.D.P., is an Emergency Physician practicing in western Wisconsin. She has over 15 years of experience in the field. Her practice involves caring for all sorts of patient emergencies, including heart attacks, severe infections, and car accidents.
Read more

Former Verywell Fit Review Board Members

  • Michael Lau, PT, DPT
  • Emmy Ludwig, MD
  • Yasmine S. Ali
  • Grant Hughes, MD
  • Meredith Shur, MD
  • Richard N. Fogoros, MD
  • Anisha Shah, MD
  • Amanda Baker Lemein, MS, RD, LDN
  • Huma Sheikh, MD
  • Shaheen Lakhan, MD, PhD, MEd, MS, FAAN
  • Paul Rufo, MD, MMSc
  • Tyra Tennyson Francis, MD
  • Elena Klimenko, MD
  • Vanessa Nzeh, MD
  • Ayana Habtemariam, MSW, RDN, LDN

How Our Review Board Process Works

Every article created by our team of expert writers that contains verifiable facts or medical information makes its way through our comprehensive Review Board process and gets assigned to a specialist based on their area of expertise. Even our custom illustrations go through the Review Board.

Review Board

When you see this check mark on a Verywell Fit article, you can trust it meets the high standards of our Review Board.

The Verywell Fit Review Board members confirm each piece of content they review is up-to-date, thorough, and authoritative—containing unbiased facts and guidelines that reflect the latest in evidence-based research (not just the latest fads), as well as practical healthy living advice you can use right away.

If the Review Board suggests improvements, those are shared directly with our editorial staff so our editors can make any changes needed. Once a piece of content is approved, it receives the Review Board stamp in the byline—and you’ll know exactly who reviewed it and when.