Verywell Fit 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 Kiesewetter, CPT

Verywell Fit Wellness Reviewer, Certified Personal Trainer, Nutrition Coach

Heather Kiesewetter, CPT, is a NASM-certified personal trainer and CrossFit Level 2 trainer. At Verywell Fit, she has reviewed content ranging from beginning workout plans to proper form for strength training.

Barbie Cervoni MS, RD, CDCES, CDN

Verywell Fit Wellness Reviewer, Registered Dietitian

Barbie Cervoni is a Verywell Fit Wellness Reviewer, a registered dietitian, and certified diabetes care and education specialist. 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.

Sara Clark

Verywell Fit Wellness Reviewer, Yoga and Meditation Instructor, Writer

Sara Clark is a Verywell Fit Wellness Reviewer, an EYT 500-hour certified Vinyasa yoga and mindfulness teacher, a Lululemon Global Yoga Ambassador, and a model. She has collaborated with leaders in the wellness field, creating online yoga and meditation content. Sara reviews fitness and yoga content for the brand.

Kristy Del Coro, MS, RDN, LDN

Verywell Fit Writer, Registered Dietitian, Culinary Professional

Kristy is a health and nutrition writer for Verywell Fit and a member of our Medical Review Board. As a licensed registered dietitian nutritionist and trained culinary professional, she covers all topics related to nutrition, food, and health.

Rachel Goldman, PhD, FTOS

Verywell Fit Wellness Reviewer, Licensed Psychologist

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.

Mikael Hanson

Verywell Fit Wellness Reviewer, Cycling and Triathlon Coach

Mikael Hanson is a Verywell Fit Wellness Reviewer and a certified coach for USA Cycling and USA Triathlon. He reviews fitness content for the brand, assessing articles for accuracy, alignment with current medical guidelines, and adherence to industry best practices. Mikael has over 25 years of coaching experience and has worked with athletes of all ages, from beginners to World Champions.

John Honerkamp

Verywell Fit Wellness Reviewer - Running Coach

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

Tara Laferrara, CPT

Verywell Fit Wellness Reviewer, Certified Personal Trainer

Tara Laferrara is Verywell Fit Wellness Reviewer, and a certified NASM personal trainer, yoga teacher, and fitness coach who believes that movement is medicine. She uses her expertise and experience to instruct readers on proper exercise form.

Kristin McGee, CPT

Verywell Fit Wellness Reviewer, Certified Personal Trainer, Yoga Instructor, Pilates Teacher

Kristin McGee, CPT, brings almost 30 years of expertise in fitness, yoga, and Pilates to her work as a wellness reviewer for Verywell Fit. She has also authored books on yoga and mindful movement, along with teaching yoga, Pilates, mindful movement, and meditation.

Melissa Rifkin, MS, RD, CDN

Verywell Fit Medical Reviewer, Registered Dietitian

Melissa Rifkin, MS, RD, CDN, is a Verywell Fit medical reviewer and a Connecticut-based registered dietitian and nutritionist with over 15 years of experience working in the clinical setting. As a member of the Verywell Fit medical review board, she is tasked with reviewing nutrition and dietary content to ensure that the information provided is accurate and current.

Marisa Moore, RDN, MBA

Verywell Fit Wellness Reviewer, Registered Dietitian-Nutritionist

Marisa Moore is a Verywell Fit Wellness Reviewer, a registered dietitian-nutritionist, and a culinary nutrition expert who has been a member of the Verywell Fit Review Board since 2019. She reviews nutrition, dietary, health, and weight management content to ensure accuracy. She is also the founder of Marisa Moore Nutrition, a culinary nutrition communication and consulting practice based in Atlanta, Georgia.

Erin Pereira, PT, DPT

Verywell Fit Medical Reviewer, Physical Therapist

Erin Pereira, PT, DPT, is a Verywell Fit Medical Reviewer, 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.

Samina Qureshi, RD

Verywell Fit Medical Reviewer, Registered Dietitian-Nutritionist

Samina Qureshi RDN, LD is a Verywell Fit Medical Reviewer, Registered Dietitian-Nutritionist, and founder of Wholesome Start, 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.

Michele Stanten, ACE-GFI

Verywell Fit Wellness Reviewer, Walking Coach, Group Fitness Instructor, Running Coach

Michele Stanten is a Verywell Fit Wellness Reviewer, walking coach, certified group fitness instructor, and running coach. She reviews walking, running, and fitness content for the brand.

Mia Syn, MS, RDN

Verywell Fit Medical Reviewer, Registered Dietitian-Nutritionist, Author

Mia Syn, MS, RDN, is a Verywell Fit Medical Reviewer and a Registered Dietitian-Nutritionist who reviews nutrition and food content for the brand. She has been a spokesperson and consultant for several major food commodity boards and has been featured in a range of major publications.

Miho J. Tanaka, MD

Verywell Fit Medical Reviewer, Orthopedic Surgeon

Miho J. Tanaka, MD, is a Verywell Fit Medical Reviewer and 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.

Jonathan Valdez, RDN, CDCES, CPT

Verywell Fit Wellness Reviewer, Registered Dietitian, Certified Personal Trainer

Jonathan Valdez, RDN, CDCES, CPT, is a New York City-based telehealth registered dietitian nutritionist and nutrition communications expert and wellness reviewer for Verywell Fit. He reviews a wide range of health, nutrition, fitness, and exercise content, including tested products, for the brand.

Dr. Kathleen Gassner, DPT

Verywell Fit Medical Reviewer, Physical Therapist, Running Coach

Kathleen Gassner is a Verywell Fit Medical Reviewer, a Doctor of Physical Therapy, and a certified RRCA run coach. She has over a decade of experience working in hospital ICUs, orthopedic outpatient settings, and pediatric clinics.

Amy Walsh, M.D.

Verywell Fit Medical Reviewer, Emergency Physician

Amy Walsh, M.D., M.D.P., is a Verywell Fit Medical Reviewer and Emergency Physician with over 15 years of experience in the medical field. Her practice involves caring for all sorts of patient emergencies, including heart attacks, severe infections, and car accidents.

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.

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.

Meet Our Review Board