Meet Diane, our new dietitian/nutritionist.

We would like to take the time to introduce our new Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist, Diane Alpern, RD.  Sadly, our dietitian for the last 5 years, Catherine Lukas has left us to relocate to the Eastern side of the state.  We miss her, and wish her all the best. Diane has been working with Valley Medical Group since June and she comes to us after serving our community for 5 years at The Food Bank of Western MA.  While there, she developed an expertise in assisting individuals on a limited income to afford, shop for and prepare nutritious meals for themselves and their family.  She has been gradually becoming credentialed for most insurance companies at VMG.  The current list of  credentialed insurers include:

HNE (including Medicare and Medicaid replacement plans)

Tufts Health Public Plans

MassHealth (if Primary Care is VMG provider and not seeing them the same day as nutritionist)

BMC Healthnet

Medicare – If you have diagnosis of diabetes or kidney failure

Unicare-GIC

Fallon Health Plan

Blue Cross (any state approved – it is submitted through BCBS-MA for billing)

Fallon Health Plan (but not Fallon Medicare plan)

Harvard Pilgram

CIGNA

She speaks Spanish and is able to provide consultation in Spanish, which we consider to be a huge asset!  She is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to inexpensive recipes and resources for people on limited income to eat healthier.  She has personal experience and familiarity with Weight Watchers.

Here at VMG she does individual appointments and she is is also involved in the Diabetes SMA in Northampton and Easthampton and the Weight Loss SMA in Easthmapton (SMA stands for: Shared Medical Appointment).  For fun, Diane loves to sing and is a member of Rock Voices in Northampton & Hadley.

She is in Northampton on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and Easthampton on Mondays and Thursdays.  If you are interested in scheduling an appointment, please call our Northampton office at: 413-586-8400 and our Easthampton office at: 413-529-9300.  

Diane looks forward to meeting you all!