Meet the Staff at Valens Medical

Physicians

At Valens Medical, all our physicians are board certified in Internal Medicine and are accredited by the prestigious American Board of Physician Nutrition Specialists. There are only about approximately 300 certified physician nutrition specialists (PNS) nationwide and only 35 elected in the state of California. In addition to three years of Internal Medicine training, Valens doctors completed three additional years of specialty training in the field of Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism at UCLA School of Medicine, where they were actively involved in clinical research and medical school education.

Lastly, beyond in-person evaluations, as members, you will also have access (via either phone or email) to our medical staff on any contemporary diet issues or other nutrition-related questions you may have. We take pride in being able to offer this unique level of personalized service to you.

Kurt Hong, MD PhD – Physician Consultant

Dr. Hong currently serves as the Chief Medical Officer at Valens Medical. Previously he had served as Director of Stewart Resnick ImmunoNutrition Laboratory at UCLA School of Medicine.

Dr. Hong received a B.S. in Bio-Engineering from UCLA, and an M.D. with Honors from the Harvard Medical School. Following residency training in Internal Medicine at the Scripps Clinic in La Jolla CA, he became a fellow in clinical nutrition and metabolism at UCLA School of Medicine. There, he was awarded the prestigious STAR scholarship and received his Ph.D. in Molecular Pathology, before joining the staff at UCLA School of Medicine. In 2008, Dr. Hong also joined the faculty at Huntington Medical Foundation in Pasadena, where he currently direct the Disease Nutrition Therapy and Weight Management Program.

Dr. Hong is one of the country’s leading investigators in the areas of obesity and Metabolic Syndrome. His research has produced major insights into the molecular mechanism of fat cell biology, role of insulin resistance in cardiovascular disease, and the pathophysiology of obesity. He was one of the first to demonstrate that by inhibiting fat stem cells in the circulation as well as in the adipose tissue, diet-induced weight gain can be stopped. His PhD thesis on the role of fat stem cells in obesity and energy metabolism has fundamentally shaped a new focus in obesity research.

Dr. Hong has been twice named as one of Best Doctors in America® as chosen by peer-to-peer survey of fellow physicians. Just this month, he is nominated for “Who’s Who in America 2009.” Dr. Hong has authored over 100 scholarly papers, abstracts, reviews, and presentations. He also serves on the editorial board of several scientific journals and is frequently invited to speak nationally on topics of Metabolic Syndrome and obesity therapeutics, most recently at the national Obesity Society meeting.

Dr. Hong currently lives in Pasadena CA with his wife and two daughters. He enjoys swimming, golfing, writing, and time with his kids.

Claudia Del Vecchio, B.S. CDN

Degree and Certifications
Registered by the American Dietetic Association
NY State Certified Dietitian/Nutritionist
Certified Personal Trainer- The American Council on Exercise and The Cooper Institute for Aerobic Research
Certified Pace Instructor- The Arthritis Foundation
Certified Food Protection Manager- ServSafe. Registered ServSafe Instructor and Proctor for the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF).

Claudia resided and practiced nutrition in NY until coming to California in 2006.
She travels to Asia several times a year where she oversees menu and product development for a chain of wellness cafes.

A graduate of Penn State University in Clinical Dietetics, she also holds a Bachelor’s degree in business and health care.

Krisi Schwartz, RD

Degree and Certifications
Registered Dietitian
Certified Lactation Educator
Bachelor degree in Nutritional Science, California State Los Angeles

Krisi has over 10 years experience as a registered dietitian. Her experience ranges from community nutrition to clinical nutrition in the acute care setting. In recent years, she has focused on outpatient counseling for varies diseases, such as diabetes and obesity. She enjoys working one on one with patients by educating them on healthy eating principles. She also follows a healthy lifestyle herself by eating a balanced diet and exercises 4 times a week to maintain a healthy weight. She has participated in 2 half marathons.

Lori Aleknavicius, Psy.D.– Behavioral Educator

Degree and Certifications
Registered Psychologist
Psy.D., Argosy University
BS from Michigan State University

Lori attributes her interest in nutrition to her mother, who as a registered nurse, wisely stressed the importance of eating a balanced diet. Her curiosity in nutrition and eating continued throughout graduate school where she developed a specific interest in eating disorders while working at the Eating Disorder program at South Coast Medical Center in Laguna Beach, CA.

As a result of this experience, Lori’s main interests center around eating disorder including: Obesity, trauma and disordered eating, eating as a coping mechanism, the impact of mood on eating behaviors, family patterns and eating, as well as mindful eating. Lori actively practices yoga and meditation and attributes these exercises as the reason for her amazing amount of self-discipline and self-awareness.

Shaby Kia– Patient Services Coordinator

As the patient care coordinator, Shaby handles the phones, schedules appointments and is always here to greet you with a warm smile. She will be able to answer your questions regarding insurance and other options for payment as well.

Shaby is also an excellent reference to ask how she liked the Valens program. She has lost over 50 pounds and has kept it off for more than a year!