Skip to main content.

Lab Alumni

Students from the EDGE lab have graduated to do great things! The lab tries to remain connected as alumni pursue professional careers and celebrates their successes. Read about some of them here.

Hilary Robertson, Jessica Keller and Shelby Rissler

Hilary Robertson, MS, RDN, LD (pictured left), graduated from KU Medical Center with her master's degree in dietetics and nutrition and certificate in dietetics and integrative medicine in 2018. She helped develop the curriculum used in the WARRIOR study in addition to streamlining data entry and verification through the integration of web-based portals. She currently works full time in the EDGE lab developing recipes and coaching participants in the WARRIOR study. She also assists with developing educational videos to help bladder cancer patients address their personal nutritional needs.

Jessica Keller, MS, RDN, LD (pictured center), graduated in 2018 with her master's degree in dietetics and nutrition and a graduate certificate in dietetics in integrative medicine. Jessica helped develop curriculum for the WARRIOR weight-loss trial for prostate cancer and engaged with participants through cooking demonstrations and skills-building classes. For her master's thesis, Jessica worked with data from the RC Nutrition trial for bladder cancer patients investigating the role of neutrophil extracellular DNA traps, immune system dysregulation and cancer recurrence. She presented her research at the American Society for Nutrition conference in June of 2018.

Shelby Rissler, MS, RDN, LD (pictured right), graduated in 2018 with her master's degree in dietetics and nutrition. After graduation, she began working as a clinical dietitian for The University of Kansas Health System. While in the EDGE Lab, Shelby helped develop materials for the WARRIOR study. She also created videos on the importance of high-protein nutrition for bladder cancer patients.


Abby Stanley and Cole Chana

Abigail Stanley, MS, RDN, LD (pictured left), graduated with honors in 2016 with a master’s degree in dietetics and nutrition. Upon graduation, she took a position at Mosaic Life Care as an integrative nutritionist. While in the EDGE lab, Abby worked with participants in the PCaGRIT weight-loss trial for prostate cancer patients. She also worked with the data from the RC Nutrition trial for bladder cancer patients and wrote a manuscript. Abby also worked to set up a new trial for bladder cancer patients with diabetes involving a low-carb diet.

Cole Chana, MS, ACSM-CPT (pictured right), graduated in 2016 with a master’s degree in dietetics and nutrition. While in the EDGE Lab, Cole worked with participants in the PCaGRIT weight loss trial for prostate cancer patients. He helped design the exercise program used for that study. During his time here, Cole also worked as a graduate teaching assistant, teaching an anatomy lab at the University of Kansas in Lawrence.


Jacob Taylor and Dr. Hamilton-Reeves

Jacob Taylor, Ph.D., RD (pictured with Dr. Jill Hamilton-Reeves) graduated in 2015 with a Ph.D. in medical nutrition science. He then took a role as a postdoctoral fellow in the Expertise Center for Polycystic Kidney Disease and CKD Epidemiology at the Groningen Kidney Center, Netherlands. While in the EDGE lab, he worked on multiple projects in polycystic kidney disease, including developing an interventional diet for patients. Jacob also conducted multiple studies aimed at improving care in children with kidney failure, including studying nutrient composition of infant renal formula.


Lauren Hand and Dr. Hamilton-Reeves

Lauren Hand, MS, RDN, LD (pictured with Dr. Hamilton-Reeves) graduated with honors in 2015 with a master’s degree in dietetics and nutrition. She also earned a graduate certificate in dietetics in integrative medicine. After graduating, Lauren took a position as an outpatient clinical dietitian at College Park Family Care Center. Lauren also returned to the EDGE lab as a part-time research assistant. During her time as a student in the EDGE Lab, she worked with participants from the RC Nutrition trial for bladder cancer patients and also with participants from the PCaGRIT weight loss trial for prostate cancer patients. Lauren helped design the curriculum for the PCaGRIT study.

School of Medicine

University of Kansas Medical Center
Department of Urology
Mail Stop 3016
3901 Rainbow Boulevard
Kansas City, KS 66160
Phone: 913-588-6146