Idamarie Laquatra earned her graduate degrees in nutrition from
The Pennsylvania State University. A licensed registered dietitian, Dr.
Laquatra has experience in the clinical, academic and business fields.
She has extensive training in nutrition counseling, has conducted research in this area, and authored and co-authored articles in peerreviewed journals and chapters in texts. Prior to earning her advanced degrees, Dr. Laquatra worked as a clinical dietitian in the hospital and nursing home settings. After completing her PhD at Penn State, she became a postdoctoral fellow in Preventive Cardiology at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. In addition to her postdoctoral studies, she served as adjunct faculty at Montclair State
University in Upper Montclair, New Jersey. Her food industry experience began at the H.J. Heinz Company in 1984, where she was employed as Nutritionist for Heinz USA and then Manager of Nutrition for Weight Watchers Food Company. She joined Diet Center, Inc. in
1992 as Vice President of Scientific Affairs and Training. In 1995, Dr.
Laquatra began her nutrition consulting business, contracting with clients in both the non-profit and for-profit sectors. She rejoined the
H.J. Heinz Company as Director, Global Nutrition in 2005.
Dr. Laquatra is also an active member of the American Dietetic
Association (ADA). She served as President of the Pittsburgh Dietetic
Association, was elected Pennsylvania Delegate, and was appointed
Chair of the Advisory Committee of ADA’s 2002 Food and Nutrition
Conference and Exhibition. The Pennsylvania Dietetic Association honored her with the Outstanding Dietitian of Pennsylvania Award in
2002, the Nutrition and Dietetics Alumni Society at Penn State presented her the Outstanding Nutrition Alumni Award in 2007, and most recently, the American Dietetic Association recognized her service and contributions to the field of nutrition with the 2007
Medallion Award.