Our Team

Heather Marretta, RDN

Pediatric Dietitian

Heather Marretta is an accomplished pediatric dietitian specializing in various nutritional issues at the NJPNI. She holds a bachelor's degree in nutritional science from Montclair State University and successfully completed her dietetic internship at UMDNJ, now known as Rutgers University School of Health Related Professions. During her internship, Heather's exceptional service earned her the prestigious Certificate of Excellence. Additionally, she pursued a Master's of Science in Teaching from Rowan University.

Before embarking on her career as a pediatric dietitian, Heather worked as a dedicated special education teacher, focusing on children with ADHD and Autism Spectrum Disorders. This experience has given her valuable insights into addressing the unique dietary needs of these children.

Heather Marretta's expertise extends to pediatric weight management, selective eaters, and children with sensory disorders. She is passionate about assisting families in adopting healthier lifestyles and recognizes the importance of tailoring plans to suit each child's individual requirements.

Beyond her professional endeavors, Heather leads a fulfilling personal life. She is happily married with two daughters and enjoys exploring new recipes, embarking on family adventures, and staying updated on pop culture trends

Published In

1. Block BR, Collins JJ, Rios JC, Mazzola CA. Levothyroxine Treatment as an Etiologic Factor in the Development of Infantile Craniosynostosis. Submitted to PEDIATRICS. October 2021.

2. Caruso JP, Ravinderjit S, Mazzola CA, Eldridge CM, Chilakapati S, Deme P, Swartz K, Schirmer CM, Huntoon K, Cheng J, Steinmetz M, Adogwa O: Are Neurosurgeons Leading the Way? A Comparative Assessment of Racial and Ethnic Diversity Among Specialties in Residency Training. Submitted to NEUROSURGERY. July 15,2021.

3. Bautista A, Bogan M, Mazzola CA: Secondary Craniosynostosis and Slit Ventricle Syndrome — A Dangerous Combination: Case Report and Literature Review. Submitted to Pediatric Neurosurgery. Summer, 2021.

4. Mazzola CA: Letter: United States medicolegal Progress and Innovation in telemedicine in the Age of COVID-19: A Primer for Neurosurgeons. NEUROSURGERY. NEU-D-21-01510, accepted October 2021.

5. Huntoon K, Stacy J, Cioffi S, Profitt C, Mazzola C, Sales Representatives in the Operating Room: Conflict of Interest or Clinical Support? World Neurosurgery, 2021,ISSN 1878-8750,. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wneu.2021.08.088

6. Mazzola CA. Invited Commentary: The Role of Gender in Neurosurgical Residency Applicants’ Letters of Recommendation, Neurosurgery, Volume 89, Issue 3, September 2021, Page E155, https://doi.org/10.1093/neuros/nyab235

7. Ca M, Luo Y, Wu Z, Mazzola CA, Goodman A, Catania L, Alvarez TL, Halperin JM, Li X: Topological Aberrance of Structural Brain Network Provides Quantitative Markers of post-TBI Attention Deficits in Children. Brain Connectivity doi: 10.1089/brain.2020.0866

8. Bertoli MJ, Parikh K, Klyde D, Mazzola CA, Shah SP: Spinal arteriovenous malformation in a pediatric patient with a history of congenital syphilis: a case report. BMC Pediatrics (2021)21:242 https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-021-02707-y

9. Franklin RC, Behmer Hansen RA, Pierce JM, Tsitouras DJ, Mazzola CA. Reply to Oleske et al., Blood Lead Concentrations in Newark Children. Comment on “Franklin et al. Broken Promises to the People of Newark: A Historical Review of the Newark Uprising, the Newark Agreements, and Rutgers New Jersey Medical School’s Commitments to Newark. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18, 2117. Online Version: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/8/4215.

10. Kandregula S, Lefever D, Trosclair K, Savardekar A, Menger R, Agarwal N, Kimmell K, Mazzola CA, Cozzens J, Rosenow J, Schirmer C, Guthikonda B: “There has got to be a better way: The Medical Legal Environment in Neurosurgery: An Informative Overview of the Stages of Litigation and Distinct Challenges. Accepted by World Neurosurgery. March 6, 2021. WNS-21-296R1.

11. Caruso JP, Adogwa O, Mazzola CA, Steinmetz M, Simon SD, Schirmer CM: An Assessment of Neurosurgery Resident Clinical and Socioeconomic Training: The 2013 Council of State Neurosurgical Societies Post-Residency Survey Results. World Neurosurg. 2021 Mar 12; S1878-8750(21)00401-0. doi: 10.1016/j.wneu.2021.03.033

12. Franklin RC, Behmer Hansen RA, Pierce JM, Tsitouras DJ, Mazzola CA. Broken Promises to the People of Newark: A Historical Review of the Newark Uprising, the Newark Agreements, and Rutgers New Jersey Medical School’s Commitments to Newark. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021,18, 2117. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18042117

13. Ellen L Air, MD, PhD, Katie O Orrico, JD, Deborah L Benzil, MD, Alan M Scarrow, MD, JD, James R Bean, MD, Catherine A Mazzola, MD, Linda M Liau, MD, PhD, MBA, James T Rutka, MD, PhD, Karin M Muraszko, MD, Developing a Professionalism and Harassment Policy for Organized Neurosurgery, Neurosurgery, 2021; nyab051, https://doi.org/10.1093/neuros/nyab051

14. Snee IA, Mazzola CA. Chiari I Malformation with Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome: case report and review of the literature; Childs Nerv Syst (25 January 2021) https://doi.org/10.1007/s00381-020-04992

15. Bogan MH, Bautista AC, Natoli LT, Morin RJ, Reddy GM, Mazzola CA. Secondary Craniosynostosis and Elevated Intracranial Pressure with Functioning Shunt: An Imaging Report. J Clin Med Img. Jan 25, 2021; V5(5): 1-3.

16. Snee I, Mazzola CA, Fellus J: Kleptomania and other Disinhibition Linked with Pseudobulbar Affect Resulting from TBI; Treatment Remission from Dextromethorphan/Quinidine 39 Years Post-Injury. J Cogn Neuropsychol. Vol. 4 No. 2: 02. 2020.

17. Markosian C, Mazzola CA, Tomycz LD: “Sodium Fluorescein-Guided Gross Total Resection of Pediatric Exophytic Brainstem Glioma: 2-Dimensional Operative Video”. Operative Neurosurgery, opaa357, https://doi.org/10.1093/ons/opaa357. Published: 12 December 2020

18. Huntoon K, Stacy J, Cioffi S, Swartz K, Mazzola CA, Profitt C, Adogwa, O: The Enforceability of Noncompete Clauses in the Medical profession: A Review by the Workforce Committee and the Medicolegal Committee of the Council of State Neurosurgical Societies. Neurosurgery 87:1085-1090, December 2020. CNS ANNUAL SOCIOECONOMIC PAPER OF 2020.

19. Mazzola CA, Christie C, Snee IA, Iqbal H. Atlantoaxial subluxation in the pediatric patient: Case series and literature review. J Neurosci Neurol Disord. 2020; 4:069-074, November 2020.

20. Hansen RT, Hansen RA, Markosian C, Mazzola CA, Mammis A: Neurosurgery Community Engagement and Lessons Learned. World Neurosurg. 2020 Nov;143:579-580. Doi:10.1016 PMID: 33167119

21. Markosian C., Mazzola CA, Tomycz, LD. Gross Total Resection of Pediatric Cervical Intramedullary Ependymoma with D-Wave Monitoring: A Case Report. SN Compr. Clin. Med. (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42399-020-00618-0

22. Guthikonda B, Mazzola CA, Steinmetz MP, Cheng JS, Stacy JD, Wohns RN: Introduction. The importance of understanding the medicolegal climate in neurosurgery. Neurosurgical Focus. Volume 49 (2020): Issue 5 (Nov 2020): Medicolegal issues. neurosurgery https://doi.org/10.3171/2020.8.FOCUS20765

23. Bauer DF, Baird LC, Klimo P, Mazzola CA, Nikas DC, Tamber MS, Flannery MA. Congress of Neurological Surgeons Systematic Review and Evidence-Based Guidelines on the Treatment of Pediatric Hydrocephalus: Update of the 2014 Guidelines. Neurosurgery, Published: 28 October 2020

24. Menger R, Esfahani DR, Heary R, Ziu M, Mazzola CA, LeFever D, Origitano T, Barnes T, Cozzens J, Taylor S. Contract Negotiation for Neurosurgeons: A Practical Guide. Menger Neurosurgery. 2020 Sep 15;87(4):614-619. doi: 10.1093/neuros/nyaa042.PMID: 32310279

25. Snee IA, Mazzola CA. C1-C2 subluxation after mild cervical spine trauma in a child: a case report; Surgical Case Reports doi: 10.31487/j.SCR.2020.07.17

26. Erdman CM, Christie C, Iqbal MO, Mazzola CA, Tomycz: The utilization of sodium fluorescein in pediatric brain stem gliomas: a case report and review of the literature. Childs Nerv Syst. 2020 Aug 11. doi: 10.1007/s00381-020-04857-3.

27. Iqbal H, Mazzola CA: Recurrent Torticollis and Cervical Subluxation in a Pediatric Patient. Surgical Case Reports doi: 10.31487/j.SCR.2020.08.02

28. Silva NA, Cerasiello SY, Herendeen JA, Sotayo A, Say I, Mazzola CA, Liu JK, Eloy JA. Gender Differences in NIH Grant Funding in Neurological Surgery. J Clin Neurosci. 2020 Oct;80:43-49. doi: 10.1016/j.jocn.2020.07.052. Epub 2020 Aug 17. PMID: 33099365

29. Cao M, Luo Y, Wu Z, Mazzola CA et al: Topological Aberrance of Structural Brain Network Provides Quantitative Markers of post-TBI Attention Deficits in Children. The preprint in perpetuity. medRxiv preprint doi: . this version posted June 16, 2020.

30. Zhang HJ, Silva N, Solli E, Ayala AC, Tomycz L, Christie C, Mazzola CA: Treatment options and long-term outcomes in pediatric spinal cord vascular malformations: A case report and review of the literature. Childs Nerv Syst. 2020 May 6. doi: 10.1007/s00381-020-04624-4.

Helpful Links

Pediatric Dietitian Near Me - Contact Heather Marretta RDN

For personalized nutritional guidance tailored to your child's needs, reach out to Heather Marretta, RDN, our dedicated nutritionist at NJ Pediatric Neurosience Institute. To schedule a consultation and start your child's journey towards optimal health, contact Heather directly at 9733269000.

Dr. Marretta's Reviews

Jeffrey Hansbury
Jeffrey Hansbury
2024-01-23
The best nutritionist we've ever seen. Heather has wonderful, creative ideas for introducing new foods to our picky eater. Thanks to her help we have expanded our son's diet to include new foods that he wouldn't even have considered before. Highly recommend!
Maria Andrade
Maria Andrade
2024-01-19
Heather was awesome!
Sharon Eaves
Sharon Eaves
2024-01-05
I wish I could give Heather Marretta more than 5 stars. What a fabulous nutritionist. Personable, passionate, knowledgeable, and professional. She understands ADHD and how it and other mental health issues can impact a child getting proper nutrition. I finally feel hopeful that my teen will now have a chance of improving his overall health with Heather on his team. Highly, highly recommend. Thank you Heather!!
Kharie Garcia
Kharie Garcia
2023-12-13
Staff are nice , polite and caring.
Barbara Checkur
Barbara Checkur
2023-12-13
Heather was knowledgeable and made me feel comfortable and hopeful. Thank you Heather!
Nahed Andraous
Nahed Andraous
2023-12-11
Heather has been so patient with my picky eater daughter and she know who to interact very well with my 12 years old and encourage her always to a new recipes which is her favourite to improve her eating habits. highly recommend her

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NOTICE: This website is for informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice or as a substitute for a patient/physician relationship.

NJPNI is committed to creating a culturally diverse, inclusive and collaborative community for patients and their families, employees and associates where each person is celebrated and has a sense of equal belonging. See our DEI Statement Page for more information.

NJPNI does not exclude, deny benefits to, or otherwise discriminate against any person on the grounds of race, color, or national origin, or on the basis of disability or age in admission to, participation in, or receipt of the services and benefits of any of its programs and activities or in employment therein. This statement is in accordance with the provisions of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, and Regulations of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services issued pursuant to the Acts, Title 45 Code of Federal Regulations part 80, 84, and 91.

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