My goal is never to scold someone for not eating healthy or clean enough. My goal is always to make targeted nutrition changes to get someone feeling their best without upending their entire lifestyle and way of eating.

Ilana Kersch is a registered dietitian with over a decade of clinical experience across hospital, outpatient, and private practice settings. In her role at Oshi, she supports patients in improving digestive symptoms and quality of life using a “least change” philosophy—focusing on targeted nutrition adjustments without unnecessary disruptions to daily life. Her goal is to help patients feel better as quickly and as sustainably as possible, while preserving the foods and habits that matter most to them.

Before joining Oshi, Ilana worked at Mount Sinai Hospital, specializing in liver transplant, hepatobiliary and gastrointestinal (GI) surgery, and critical care nutrition. She also provided outpatient GI-focused care at New York-Presbyterian/Columbia University. She is Monash-certified in the low FODMAP diet and has a strong interest in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), functional gut disorders, and nutrition management after GI surgery.

Alessandra was drawn to GI care because of the central role nutrition plays in both symptom management and daily well-being. She finds it especially rewarding to see how even small, thoughtful changes can lead to meaningful improvements that patients can feel in their everyday lives. Rather than suggest rigid plans, she focuses on practical strategies that support symptom relief without feeling overwhelming or restrictive. She believes GI nutrition care should never feel like “food policing.”

Outside of work, she enjoys yoga and spending time with friends and family.

Education

  • Master of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics, concentration in Clinical Nutrition, New York University
  • Monash University Low FODMAP Training Certification
  • Certified Specialist in Digestive Health (CSDH), Commission on Dietetic Registration
  • Certified Nutrition Support Clinicians (CNSC), National Board of Nutrition Support

Favorite Gut Health Tip

Slow down and chew your food! It's such a simple strategy that is easy to overlook but it can really help with digestion.