Meet Our Coaches

Emily Allen, RN, BSN, CPT

Emily is a registered nurse with dual degrees in Nursing and Public Health from Nazareth College, bringing several years of experience in critical care and colorectal surgery. She is also a NASM-certified personal trainer with a specialization in women's fitness and nutrition. A former college lacrosse player, Emily enjoys staying active through strength training, yoga, pilates, running, and long walks. She’s passionate about holistic wellness, fitness, and preventive medicine, with a special interest in supporting menopause-aged clients. Emily also loves volunteering with the American Heart Association in her spare time and is currently on the board for the AHA Heart Ball.

Wellness tip: Strength training increases lean muscle mass. The more lean mass someone has on their body, the easier it is for the body to regulate blood sugar, boost metabolism, increased strength for activities of daily living and boosts our mental health!

Jennifer Dane, RN, BSN, C-EFM, RNC-OB

Jennifer received her Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting from St. John Fisher College, with minors in Marketing and Statistics. She later pursued her nursing degree at Finger Lakes Community College, followed by a B.S. in Nursing from SUNY Brockport. For the past 25 years, she has worked in labor and delivery as well as the newborn nursery. Outside of work, Jennifer owns a micro-bakery, Three Suns Bakery, and enjoys running, kayaking, paddleboarding, reading, and traveling.

Wellness tip: Taking time each day for self-care is just as important as exercise and a healthy diet. Everything in moderation is okay!

Ging Hoang, BS, RN

Ging (pronounce “Jing”) received her Bachelor’s in Integrative Neuroscience in addition to Nursing at Binghamton University. She’s worked in emergency, cardiology, and orthopedics before she came to work for UR Medicine’s Employee Wellness program. When Ging is not working, she likes to travel, take walks, bike, and try out healthy (and unhealthy!) recipes. She loves to take the Body Pump class at the gym!

Wellness tip: Set aside at least 15 minutes once a week to do something for yourself. Go for a walk, shop online, read, meditate, clean, whatever it is- it has to be something for yourself that you enjoy. Self-care is healthy, necessary, and important!

Kim Hopkins, MS, RN

Kim is a registered nurse and nurse educator. Kim earned her Master’s degree in Nursing Education in May 2025 from the University of Rochester School of Nursing. Kim works part-time at the Center for Lifelong Learning, where she teaches Microbiology Lab during the summer and Growth and Development Across the Lifespan each semester.

Kim’s nursing background includes experience on an inpatient acute care medical-surgical unit and in the outpatient setting as a Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy nurse and Safety Director at the Strong Wound Healing Center. Kim got married in July 2024 and enjoys traveling with her husband, as well as sailing on Sodus Bay and Lake Ontario. Kim also loves spending time traveling with her twin sister, family, and friends. As a Condition Management coach, Kim’s goal is to leave clients feeling inspired, supported, and empowered through measurable, realistic goal-setting.

Wellness Tip: Take active breaks throughout the workday—even five minutes to get water or go for a quick walk can boost productivity, improve focus, and support a healthier mindset.

Catherine Pluta, MSACN

Catherine graduated with a BA in Musical Theatre followed by receiving her Masters in Science and Applied Clinical Nutrition from New York Chiropractic College. She received her RYT 500 hour yoga instructor certification through Breathe yoga. Catherine is available as a nutritionist and wellness coach within UR Medicine Employee Wellness. She is an active member of the Pluta Cancer Center Junior Board. Catherine enjoys long distance running, golfing, enjoying time with her friends and family; especially her kids, nieces, nephews and her dog, Gryff.

Wellness Tip: Listen to your body! Become so aware of the things your body is telling you and asking you for that you are able to respond by nourishing it properly with what it needs. If all else fails, drink water!

Erinn Rist, BS, RN-BC

Erinn graduated with a Bachelors in Physical Education and a minor in exercise physiology from SUNY Brockport. It was her Wilderness First Responder class for Outward Bound that sparked her interest in emergency medicine and she went on to earn her Registered Nursing degree from MCC. She spent 7 years working in Burn/Trauma at Strong Memorial Hospital before joining the UR Medicine Employee Wellness team in 2020. When not working Erinn enjoys strength training, running, reading, being outdoors, hiking, whitewater kayaking and has a deep fondness for most board sports such as snowboarding, skateboarding, stand up paddle boarding and (recently!) wake surfing.

Wellness Tip: Health is adding intention to every aspect of your life. Be mindful of your habits, how you eat and exercise should provide joy, freedom and peace of mind. You have to nourish in order to flourish!

Maureen Silber, BSN, RYT-200

Maureen is a registered nurse with UR Medicine Employee Wellness who has worked in a variety of healthcare settings throughout her career. She is passionate about helping others build sustainable, healthy habits through practical nutrition, enjoyable movement, and realistic lifestyle changes. She enjoys exploring simple, flavorful ways to prepare whole food, plant-forward meals and believes that wellness should be approachable, sustainable, and personalized. Inspired by the principles of yoga, she embraces a holistic approach that nurtures both physical and mental well-being.

Outside of work, Maureen enjoys running, biking, practicing yoga, traveling, and often, curling up with a good book.

Wellness Tip: Invest in a few quality pieces of clothing and outdoor gear that make it easier to stay active throughout Rochester's long winters and short summers.
"There is no such thing as bad weather, only inadequate clothing." — Norwegian proverb

Natalie Thompson, MS

Natalie is a nutrition and wellness coach with both a Bachelor’s and a Master’s Degree in Human Nutrition and a certification in Plant-Based Nutrition. She practices nutrition at the intersection of human and environmental health, and encourages a mind-body-spirit approach to building sustainable dietary practices. Natalie makes wellness a part of her life by moving as often as possible, spending time outside and in nature, eating foods that nourish her body, sharing experiences with others, and finding time to be quiet and alone to restore her mind and spirit. When she is not offering nutritional guidance, Natalie can be found on (or off!) a trail in the woods, close to (or in!) water, on her bike, atop a mountain, or in her garden and kitchen preparing for the next feast.

Wellness tip: Listening to your body is a skill. Just like any other skill, it is something to practice. If you think you cannot hear what your body is telling you, continue to practice the art of listening: slow down, be kind to yourself, encourage your mind to focus on your body, and breathe; soon you will hear what your body needs. As you become skilled in the art of listening, your capacity for wellness will grow naturally.

Vestina Turner, RN BSN, MSN

Tina graduated from Monroe Community College, and went on to receive her BSN and MSN in Nursing Education from Roberts Wesleyan College. With a background in Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing, Tina came to work for UR Medicine’s Employee Wellness Program in 2017, performing biometric screenings and more recently, coaching clients one-on-one in the condition management program.
When Tina is not working, she enjoys a very robust hobby of making quilts, teaching others to quilt and finding other things to make on Pinterest! Tina enjoys biking on the many trails around, finding new trails to ride and also teaching the love of biking to others. Tina enjoys trying new workouts and has enjoyed boxing, body pump, barre, cardio kickboxing, zumba and weight lifting.

Wellness tip:Take time everyday to do something you absolutely love, that’s just for you and brings you joy. This is a way to fulfill yourself and fill yourself in order to be the best you to others when they need you.