Health and Human Rights (Professor Emmanuel Kabengele Mpinga)

Krystel Ouaijan

Photo
Krystel Ouaijan

Country: Lebanon


Employment

  • Senior instructor and dietician specialized in critical illness in Saint George Hospital University Medical Centre
  • Lecturer in American University of Beirut

Diplomas

  • Bachelor of Sciences in Nutrition and Dietetics – American University of Beirut
  • Master of Sciences in Nutrition – American University of Beirut

Biography

I have graduated in 2009 with a MSc and BSc in Nutrition and Dietetics with honors at the American University of Beirut. This education path allowed me to get a solid knowledge in clinical nutrition along with fundamental research skills and to publish my thesis manuscript. Afterwards, I have been working in a university hospital as senior coordinator of the dietetic internship program, which is a requirement to graduate as clinical dietitian and accredited by the Accreditation Council of Dietetics Education ACEND in the United States. I am also the specialized nutrition support dietitian of the hospital. I have also had the opportunity to work as a Lecturer in the American University of Beirut, where I teach a course on advanced nutrition practices. I am also the General Secretary of the official union of Dietitians in Lebnon, a positions that i was grateful i have been elected for. It allows me to work at a national level on public healh campaigans for the community and on the same time on polcies and regulations for the dietetics profession. After eight years of work, I have been recently aiming of pursuing a PhD since I would like to advance my career in academics and most importantly in research. I have always been interested in clinical research especially that studies in this area in my home country are limited. I have been following closely, while attending annually as a member the European Society of Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism the ESPEN congresses, the initiatives done to fight malnutrition in health care centers by different research teams, especially in Switzerland.

Why is this PhD important for you (for your career, organisation or country)?

In Lebanon, data on hospital malnutrition is scarce and almost inexistent. In addition, nutrition care in a clinical setting has rarely been a priority in clinical practice and national health policies. This has stimulated me to conduct studies on the prevalence of malnutrition and the importance of a validated screening tool in the hospital where I work. I was very happy to present the results of this study in a poster and an abstract in one of ESPEN congresses in Leipzig. I have always been conducting studies in different hospitals in Beirut and they are being submitted for publication. I am aiming to take this research project into an advanced level to demonstrate the impact of malnutrition on health care costs and the importance of targeting malnutrition in an interdisciplinary approach to lessen its economic burden. I am hoping to develop national policies to fight malnutrition in my country like it is now being done globally. I have been planning to pursue a PhD to gain the necessary research skills and to collaborate to the clinical research in my country. I would like to be part of clinical research to advance the health status in my own home country especially that the primary care centers and hospitals are facing many challenges due to the regional crisis situation and the increasing number of refugees. My nutrition and dietetics background will allow me to add an innovative impact to this research field.

Why did you choose our PhD?

I believe that curricula fully suits my intentions. The coursework will give me the scientific competencies I need to develop and the distance learning will allow me to stay in my job and conduct the research in my home country. Moreover, global health is the emphasis I am probing for, since it focuses on improving health status and achieving health equity among countries. Moreover, I would be pleased to be part of the prestigious University of Geneva, whose high-status reputation is known worldwide. I am determined to make the most of this opportunity.


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