MAND February Board Member Spotlight: Leah Qubty

Briefly tell us about your day-to-day work: I have the opportunity to teach undergraduate students pursuing careers in applied health sciences.

Tell us about things you do that you find particularly interesting or motivating: Of course it is important for we as nutrition professionals to collaborate, however, I believe it is equally important for us to collaborate with healthcare professionals who have complementary strengths. I think the interdisciplinary healthcare model is an incredibly effective, holistic way to approach patient care. Therefore, I find educating future members of the interdisciplinary healthcare team to be fulfilling and important work.

What has surprised you about your work? I am consistently amazed and encouraged by the excitement and energy that my undergraduate students bring to the classroom. I enjoy the case study discussions we have in class, and the fresh perspectives the students bring into those discussions.

What trends are you seeing in your work? The undergraduate students I work with often bring questions to class about nutrition information they have seen on social media. As a nutrition professional, I am concerned about the plethora of nutrition misinformation available to consumers. However, I’m thankful for the opportunity to address student inquiries in class, and also enjoy the opportunity to have open discussions about our current food culture in class.