Meet Our Team

Sandra Pinney

MS, RDN, LD, RYT-200

is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) who has been in private practice in Washington, DC since 1997. She specializes in the treatment of eating disorders in adolescents and young adults. She is an anti-diet, HAES-informed RDN. Sandra completed her internship at New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center, where she found that she had a passion for treating individuals with eating disorders. Sandra received her Master's degree in Clinical Nutrition from Hunter College, CUNY, while working full time as the lead dietitian at Gracie Square Hospital in NYC. Sandra worked with a team that developed the first comprehensive, inpatient eating disorders unit in Manhattan. She also worked at Boston Children's Hospital, where she focused on pediatric and adolescent eating disorders. She was a member of the adolescent psychiatry department at Children’s Hospital and on the adolescent medicine team at Children's National Medical Center when she relocated to Washington, DC. Sandra is a member of the Academy of Eating Disorders, the  Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and the International Federation of Eating Disorder Dietitians.  In 2019 Sandra completed yoga teacher training in Costa Rica and is now a RYT-200. Sandra will bring this new skill into the practice to help clients with body image. Sandra sees clients at our Georgetown and Spring Valley locations.

Elizabeth Davenport

MPH, RDN, LD

is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) who specializes in family feeding issues, picky eating and eating disorders. Elizabeth has been in practice for over 20 years. She is an anti-diet, weight-inclusive dietitian. She especially enjoys working with clients with family feeding concerns, picky eating, and ARFID. She was a clinical nutritionist at Children’s National Medical Center, where her focus was on working with clients with eating disorders, picky eating, and family feeding issues. After graduating from The Ohio State University, Elizabeth spent almost a decade cooking and baking professionally. She attended graduate school at UNC-Chapel Hill, where she received a Master of Public Health in nutrition. Elizabeth is a member of the International Federation of Eating Disorder Dietitians and the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. You can find her writing about family feeding and cooking at Sunny Side Up Nutrition. You can also check out the Sunny Side Up Nutrition Membership: Take the Frenzy Out of Feeding.

Ashley Palatiello

M.Ed., RDN, LD, CEDRD-S

is a graduate of the University of Georgia and holds degrees in Psychology and Dietetics. She completed the VCU Health System Dietetic Internship, where she specialized in Pediatric Nutrition and broadened her understanding of the nutritional impact of diseases states. Ashley has worked extensively with clients suffering from disordered eating, in residential treatment centers and in outpatient settings. She encourages her clients to improve their relationships with food by preparing individualized meal plans, food exposure and nutrition education. In addition to working with Pinney Davenport Nutrition, Ashley has a Masters of Education in Counseling from George Mason University, further enhancing her skills in working with clients who have eating disorders. Ashley is a Registered Dietitian Nutrionist (RDN) and a member of the Academy of Eating Disorders, the  Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and the International Federation of Eating Disorder Dietitians.  Ashley is also a Certified Eating Disorder Dietitian-Supervisior (CEDRD-S).  Ashley sees clients at our McLean, VA. 

Alison (Totta) Crossley

RDN, LD

is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) who specializes in the treatment of eating disorders, and sports nutrition. Alison received her B.S. in Nutritional Sciences from Cornell University and completed her dietetic internship through Simmons College in Boston, MA. Alison has professional experience specific to treating clients with eating disorders at multiple levels of care, including partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient programs. As a former collegiate rower, she also draws from her personal experience when treating athletes. Alison has a passion for helping clients find their personal path to a healthy lifestyle with a focus on enjoying food and activity. Alison is a member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Ali sees clients at both our DC locations: Georgetown and Spring Valley.

Maureen Gately

RDN, LD, CEDRD-S

is a Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist with nearly a decade of experience in treating individuals with eating disorders. Maureen got her start in the field by completing her undergraduate degree at James Madison University and her dietetic internship and Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center. She received her masters degree in Human Nutrition and Functional Medicine in December of 2018 from the University of Western States. Maureen is also a Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor. Maureen became interested in treating eating disorders during one of her internship rotations when she realized human connection and individualized counseling can make a huge impact on the treatment of these diagnoses. Maureen has worked at several area treatment facilities, including The Renfrew Center and Center of Discovery. Maureen has also worked in area outpatient practices in different capacities. Having worked in each level of eating disorder treatment, Maureen has a wealth of knowledge and is able to use her experience to tailor treatment for each individual. Maureen's direct yet compassionate approach has led countless clients towards healing and recovery. Maureen is licensed in Maryland, Washington DC, and North Carolina and sees clients virtually.

Ashley Balderson

RDN, LD

is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) who specializes in treating individuals with eating disorders. Ashley received her B.S. in Nutrition and Dietetics from the University of Maryland and completed her dietetic internship at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore, Maryland. During this internship, she gained experience in nutrition counseling with a wide variety of populations, both in the inpatient and outpatient settings. Ashley then began working at an eating disorder treatment center where she developed a passion for treating this population. Ashley has experience working in both the partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient levels of care, treating adolescents and adults. Ashley has experience working with the following eating disorders: anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder, avoidant restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID), and other specified feeding or eating disorder (OSFED). Ashley has an anti-diet and weight-inclusive approach. She is passionate about helping others develop a positive relationship with food during their recovery journey. Ashley sees clients at our Old Town, Alexandria location as well as both of our DC locations.

Taylor Merloni

MS, RD

is a registered dietitian who specializes in treating individuals with eating disorders. Taylor received her Bachelor’s Degree in Exercise Physiology from Lynchburg College, and after working in the fitness industry realized her true passions were Health at Every Size and Intuitive Eating. Taylor then went on to receive her Master’s Degree in Food and Nutrition from Framingham State University. Taylor began working at a treatment center for eating disorders and has experience working at the residential, partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient levels of care, treating both adolescents and adults. Taylor is passionate about helping her clients repair their relationship with food and physical activity. Taylor sees clients at our Old Town, Alexandria location.

Lauren Jackey

MS, RDN

is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) who specializes in the treatment of eating disorders. Lauren's start to nutrition began with her love of baking and food and evolved into wanting to help others heal their relationship with food. Lauren received her masters degree in Nutrition from George Mason University in 2015 and completed her dietetic internship through Iowa State University. Lauren developed a passion for eating disorder treatment after starting as a diet technician in a treatment facility in 2017 and has been working with eating disorders ever since. Lauren has worked at multiple levels of care including residential, partial hospitalization, and intensive outpatient with both adolescents and adults. Lauren has a health at every size (HAES) and anti-diet approach to eating disorder treatment. Lauren sees clients virtually and in our McLean office.

Emma Usher

RDN, LDN

is a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) who specializes in the treatment of eating disorders. She earned her degree in Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise from Virginia Tech and completed her dietetic internship with Community Support Services in Maryland. During college, Emma discovered her passion for counseling others. She taught workshops on nutrition and led groups where people discussed their own challenges with body image. Through this experience, she saw first-hand how deeply diet culture is woven into societal norms. Emma has experience in partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient care, where she encountered a variety of eating disorders and presentations. Additionally, Emma has worked with individuals with intellectual disabilities, providing tailored support to meet their needs. She works with both adolescents and adults and aims to promote enjoyment of food and movement. As a Health at Every Size ® (HAES)-aligned clinician, Emma strives to dismantle diet culture and provide individualized, compassionate care. Emma sees clients in the Spring Valley and McLean offices.