Maria Adams, MS, MPH, RDN has joined our Nutrition team
Maria was born in Sweden and moved to New Hampshire with her family when she was seven years old. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nutrition Science from Cornell University in 1997, completed her dietetic internship at the University of Connecticut, and went on to receive both a Master of Science in Nutrition Communication and a Master of Public Health from Tufts University in 2003.
Maria began her career as a clinical dietitian before transitioning to freelance writing and recipe development, a move that allowed her to balance her professional goals with raising her young family. She has spent the past eight years working as a private practice dietitian and teaching nutrition at Endicott College.
With a passion for helping kids and families learn how to nourish their bodies and feel their best, Maria takes a compassionate, non-diet approach to health and wellness. As a Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor, she believes that cultivating a positive relationship with food is just as important as what’s on your plate.
Outside of work, Maria enjoys spending time with her husband and two college-age sons. She loves baking traditional Swedish pastries, taking her dog Harper on long walks, curling up with a good book, and getting outdoors to ski, bike, or kayak.
Melissa Diruzza, RN, FNP has joined our team of nurse practitioners
After completing her undergraduate nursing degree from Salem State University in 2021, Melissa began working at Pediatric Healthcare Associates as a pediatric triage nurse. While attending Endicott College to complete her Family Nurse Practitioner Degree, she found a love for pediatric primary care, especially throughout her clinicals at the PHCA office. After graduating from Endicott in 2024, she started at Regis College to complete her Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Certification. Her clinical interests include newborns, preventative medicine, adolescents, nutrition and mental health. She strives to provide compassionate and comprehensive care across the pediatric population, to positively impact the child throughout the developmental years.
"I believe that we can make a significant difference in the development of all children by providing compassionate and optimal patient care. Pediatric primary care provides a huge impact on the future lives of our patients, and with the combination of medical and nursing science, we can truly influence the pediatric population."