Your Dietitians
Providing Health with heart, one patient at a time
Our Story
From the founder, Tricia Sauer, RDN, CDN, IFNCP:
I founded this group of outstanding professionals to help people not only survive in a world of chronic disease, but also to be well. Our Registered Dietitians are expertly trained and advanced certified in Integrative and Functional Nutrition through the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, the credentialing board for RDNs. This specialty practice area uses a holistic approach to treat the entire person, using a systems biology approach, which compliments the traditional nutrition therapies. In addition to being IFN dietitians, each member of my team has specific areas of focus they enjoy working in. We provide medical nutrition therapy for all stages of life and conditions. From infancy and pediatrics to adolescence, pregnancy, lactation, advanced age, critically ill, and chronically ill. Functional nutrition is rapidly evolving, and so we must too - as iron sharpens iron, we grow and learn from each other so we can bring the best care to our patients.
I have been in practice since 2008, with extensive experience in acute care and rehabilitation prior to founding Buffalo Nutrition & Dietetics, PLLC. In addition to being a licensed RDN, I am a board certified Integrative and Functional Nutrition Certified Practitioner (IFNCP). The IFNCP credential is the highest credential in functional (holistic) nutrition and requires 2 years of intensive coursework followed by a board exam through the Integrative and Functional Nutrition Academy (IFNA). In addition to functional nutrition, I specialize in Sports Rehabilitation and Nutri-Genetics. I have consulted for NFL and NHL teams since 2013, healing sick and injured athletes using Medical Nutrition Therapy. My favorite time with the NFL was fueling the Bills as they re-entered the playoffs for the first time in 17 years. In addition to IFNA, I have also completed nutrigenetic coursework through Seeking Health Educational Institute (SHEI), the future of individualized nutrition. I love seeing my patients walk out of their last appointment ready to live their best life ever, and seeing my team offer the same. These women are superheroes!
Noelle Citarella (DeSantis), MS, RDN, CDN is an innovative dietitian provider of Neurological and Regenerative Nutrition, which she provides out of our office in Dent Tower. She is experienced in working with neurological conditions and degenerative diseases using evidenced based practice. Noelle is a published researcher and writer, having released her most recent work "The Multiple Sclerosis Diet Plan and Cookbook" in 2019. We have chosen her to provide care to our dementia patients participating in Dent Neurologic's Integrative Program for Cognitive Decline. Noelle is advancing her Master's level practice with intense coursework through the Integrative and Functional Nutrition Academy (IFNA).
Ashley Carpenter, RDN, CDN is a cutting-edge dietitian provider of Culinary Medicine and Gastrointestinal Nutrition which she provides out of our Kenmore office. Culinary Medicine combines food science, research, and culinary techniques to make satisfying, health-promoting meals. Food as medicine has fewer side effects than traditional medications, tends to be more affordable, and uses traditional foods that can be incorporated in new ways that are metabolically beneficial due to their anti-inflammatory and healing properties. Her passion is to help patients with gastrointestinal diseases work towards and achieve remission as well as restored quality of life. She also holds additional specialty certifications in Health Coaching and Motivational Interviewing to help patients on their journey.
Jessica Masterson, RDN, CDN, LDN, CDCES is an experienced metabolic dietitian and board Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist who has been in practice since 2008. She has a passion for helping others with metabolic diseases and diabetes management. As a Type 1 Diabetic herself, she strives to help others with her condition live fuller and healthier lives. She is passionate about combining integrative and functional nutrition with traditional nutrition therapies. In addition to her degree in Dietetics and Nutrition science, Jessica also holds a degree in Culinary Arts. She has also enjoyed working as an adjunct professor of Applied Food Chemistry and Food Preparation to Dietetics students of the Buffalo State College Food and Nutrition Department.
This July we are saying farewell to Carly Hansen, RDN, CDN, IBCLC, and Erica Aitken, MS, RDN, CDN who are moving on to the next chapters in their careers.
“Maybe you are searching among the branches, for what only appears in the roots." ~Rumi
