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Oley Board & Staff Updates

We are pleased to announce that David Mercer, MD, PhD, FRSCS, FACS, will serve as Oley Foundation’s board president in 2025. Dr. Mercer has been a dedicated supporter of Oley for many years, contributing his expertise as a board member and serving as president-elect in 2024. We are equally excited to welcome Lisa Epp, RDN, CNSC, LD, as president-elect. Ms. Epp has been an invaluable member of Oley, with years of service on the board and in her most recent role as governance committee chair. We are excited to continue our mission with such passionate and experienced leadership.

David Mercer, MD, PhD, FRSCS, FACS

Dr. Mercer is Professor of Surgery and Director of the Intestinal Rehabilitation Program at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Originally from Edmonton, Canada, he came to Nebraska to be trained as a liver and intestine transplant surgeon. He developed a love for intestinal rehabilitation during his training and it has become the main focus of his clinical career. He heads a specialized program that looks after hundreds of children and adults from across the country who are dealing with complex intestinal problems including short bowel syndrome, functional disorders of the small and large intestine and enterocutaneous fistulas. His team of dietitians, nurses, social workers and gastroenterologists provides comprehensive nutritional, medical and surgical management of patients ranging from simple TPN and tube feed management to the most difficult nutritional scenarios. He is involved in all major clinical trials in the field, and lectures on the role of intestinal rehabilitation programs in getting people off of TPN, surgical strategies in short bowel syndrome/complex intestinal problems, patient-driven research in quality of life, and all aspects of intestinal transplantation.

Lisa Epp, RDN, CNSC, LD

Lisa Epp, RDN, CNSC, LD is an Advanced Practice dietitian at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, and Assistant Professor in Nutrition at Mayo College of Medicine and Science. She is a member of the American Society for Enteral and Parenteral Nutrition (ASPEN), and currently (2022) co-chairs ASPEN’s enteral committee. She enjoys speaking at meetings of state and national organizations, such as ASPEN’s Nutrition Science and Practice Conference, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Food and Nutrition Conference, and the Oley Foundation.

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Dear Dr. Tappenden,

On behalf of The Oley Foundation and its Board of Directors, we want to express our heartfelt gratitude for your significant contributions to nutrition support and your dedication to our community. Your impact on patients and families relying on parenteral and enteral nutrition (PN/EN) is truly remarkable. Throughout your distinguished career, you have advanced our understanding of intestinal failure, adaptation, and effective nourishment for those with malabsorption. Your service as board president during Oley’s transition period was invaluable, providing continuity and guidance as I stepped into my role as executive director. We appreciate your patience and support during this time. As you continue to inspire as dean of the College of Health at the University of Utah, we hope your legacy within Oley grows. The connections you’ve fostered among research, education, and patient care have greatly impacted our community and the lives of many patients. Thank you for your leadership and passion for advancing nutrition support. You will always have a special place within the Oley family. With sincere gratitude,

Beth Gore, PhD

CEO, The Oley Foundation

On behalf of the Oley Board of Directors

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Oley Board Member Additions

Please join us in welcoming Oley’s newest board memebers, Luccas Borges and Sarah Ellis.

Luccas Borges

Luccas feels incredibly fortunate to be alive after a near-death skiing accident in December 2020. Due to a ruptured superior mesenteric artery (SMA), he lost all but six inches of his small intestine, with his duodenum now connected directly to his colon. He survived after his heart stopped for ten minutes and required over 150 units of blood. Luccas was in a coma for a week, underwent spinal fusion surgery to repair an L2 fracture, and has since relied on daily home parenteral nutrition (HPN).

Originally from Brazil, Luccas grew up moving frequently, living in places such as Malaysia, California, Florida, and Chicago. He graduated from Harvard in three years with a B.A. in Economics, magna cum laude, and later earned his MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. Luccas has experience in strategy consulting, private equity, and real estate investing. He is currently the co-founder and President/COO of Union Industrial Co., a private equity firm based in Dallas.

Sarah Ellis

Sarah is a social policy researcher focused on solutions to homelessness and the proud mom of Maisie, an energetic first grader who has been on TPN since birth due to short bowel syndrome. While Sarah spends her workdays immersed in randomized controlled trials and policy briefs, she likes to think she also specializes in navigating care teams, understanding Medicaid waivers, troubleshooting supply shortages, advocating for quality of life, fundraising for medical research, and building a strong network of medical moms, among many other roles. Sarah lives in Alexandria, Virginia, with her husband, Dwight, and their children, Maisie and August, where they enjoy exploring playgrounds, hiking trails, and local restaurants.

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