Western Area Massachusetts Dietetic Association
Member Spotlight Archives
December Spotlight: Get to Know
Bridget Ondrick
1. What is your educational background?
I earned my undergraduate degree in nutrition and also completed my dietetic internship through UMass Amherst. From there, I earned my Master of Science in nutrition degree from the University of Saint Joseph.
2. How did you get involved in the nutrition field?
Starting in the nutrition field happened quite organically for me. When I was younger, I always enjoyed going grocery shopping with my mom, looking at food labels, and picking out recipes for us to try. Upon learning I could major in nutrition and put my "attention-to-detail" skills to use by helping people, it was a no-brainer!
3. What are you presently doing in the nutrition field?
Currently I am a clinical dietitian II at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield, MA. I am covering the acute geriatric floor, but I am also in the middle of a mentorship in gastrointestinal nutrition. There is so much to learn each day!
4. What do you like to do for fun in your spare time?
I enjoy reading (usually I like a good thriller book), I love trying new coffee places (I'm the type of person who drinks iced coffee year-round), and I'm always interested in checking out local wineries.
5. Do you do any volunteer work in the nutrition field or in your community? If so, please describe.
Most of my volunteer time consists of giving back to the community through WAMDA. I am treasurer this year, and I will be WAMDA president next year, which I am thrilled about. This organization is dedicated to education and philanthropy, and I couldn't ask for a better group of local RDs to help these events come together.
6. If you would like to include info on your family, please add some details including if you have any pets!
I recently got married in April 2025, so I am enjoying the newlywed life! My husband and I have two pets -- a cat named Maybelline and a rabbit named Lacey. I am always asked if they get along. The rabbit has her room with a zipped screen, so they can watch each other without getting too close!
7. Is there anything else you would like to do in your career?
I do see myself staying in the clinical inpatient setting as I advance further into my career. I would like to continue to gain experience, learn from those around me, and maybe even obtain the CNSC certification down the road.
8. Please add anything else that you would like to share so that the WAMDA membership gets to know a little about you.
At this point, I'm looking forward to getting ready for the holidays and spending time with family & friends. My husband and I are also planning an anniversary trip to Ireland for 2026, so there is a lot to look forward to!
February Spotlight: Get to Know Rachel Sapelli
I currently work full-time as the outpatient oncology dietitian at Mercy Medical Center in Springfield MA where I started back in November of 2014. I also provide inpatient per-diem coverage as a clinical dietitian at Cooley Dickinson Hospital in Northampton MA (Mass General Brigham). Pursuing oncology nutrition was a professional goal of mine both while taking dietetics classes at Simmons University and during my dietetic internship at Brigham and Women's Hospital. My rotations at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute solidified my desire to work with this population. I now have the privilege to help guide people during their cancer journey. My favorite days in the clinic may involve teaching a patient how to use a new feeding tube or putting a cancer survivor at ease about a healthy diet after completing treatment. I am very proud of and inspired by our patients as well as their supportive caregivers. Their inspiration fuels all of us in healthcare to keep moving forward and helping others.
March Spotlight: Get to Know
Bree McAlister
1. What is your educational background?
I have a bachelor’s degree in Dietetics from The Ohio State University. I then did my dietetic internship through UMass Amherst. After that, I went back to school to get my master’s in Exercise and Sport Science from Merrimack College. I also recently found out that I was accepted into a Graduate Certificate program (Public Health) through UMass Amherst, so I will be taking classes again in a few weeks!​
2. How did you get involved in the nutrition field?
My first “taste” into the nutrition field was when I went to an Auburn University volleyball camp my freshman year of high school. We got to meet the team dietitian, who told us about her job. I thought it was super cool that she got to work with volleyball players and talk about food, so that was the moment I decided I wanted to pursue that track.
3. What are you presently doing in the nutrition field? (or what had you been doing before your retirement)
I am currently the WIC supervisor for the local WIC program in Barre, VT. I previously had a similar role for the CAPV WIC program in western Mass.​
4. What do you like to do for fun in your spare time?
I have really been enjoying reading (both physical books and listening to audiobooks). I also enjoy camping, hiking, and cross country skiing.​
5. Do you do any volunteer work in the nutrition field or in your community? If so, please describe.
(Bree was an active member on the WAMDA Board when living in the state!)​​
6. If you would like to include info on your family, please add some details including if you have any pets!
I love being an older sister - I have 5 younger sisters, the youngest of which is 9. Some live in Ohio, and some live in Florida, so we are pretty spread out; so, it’s always special to get to see them. My husband also has 6 siblings, so we have a very large family! My husband and I don’t have any pets, but I am trying to convince him to get 2 cats - any pointers would be appreciated
7. Is there anything else you would like to do in your career? (or you could discuss what you would like to do in your retirement)
I would love to work at the state level for WIC and even move on to the federal level at some point (as long as it stays intact!)
8. Please add anything else that you would like to share so that the WAMDA membership gets to know a little about you.
Even though I live in a different state now, I love being part of WAMDA as it has helped me build relationships with other RDs and feel confident about serving in a leadership role. I now serve as the Public Policy Coordinator for VAND, and I don’t think I would have ever sought that out if it weren’t for WAMDA. Thank you!