Joelle Abi Kharma is an instructor of nutrition and ACEND Coordinator. She teaches the practical therapeutics nutrition courses on both campuses, as well as providing supervision for interns enrolled in the Nutrition & Dietetics Coordinated Program (CP) at LAU Medical Center-Rizk Hospital and affiliated sites. She also precepts dietetic practicum students at LAUMC-RH in their clinical rotations and is actively involved in research projects with professors from the nutrition, nursing and the psychology programs.

Abi Kharma completed her dietetic supervised practice training at Saint Georges Hospital University Medical Center where she earned her Lebanese dietetic licensure (LD). As an aspiring clinician, she honed her skills as a practitioner at various healthcare sites including the Rafik Hariri University Hospital where she was the foodservice and clinical dietitian as well as the preceptor to dietetic interns and practicum students training at the site.

Aside from her love for clinical work, Abi Kharma decided to diverge from the traditional clinical training stream in dietetics and began to recognize the continuum of health determinants and care that has the potential to inform not only individuals but also the population needs. For that, she pursued her graduate studies in public health, emphasis Epidemiology and Biostatistics. As part of her master’s studies practicum training at the Ministry of Public Health, she acquired the healthcare demands that required the integration of health and social systems, as well as inter-professional education & collaboration.

Abi Kharma is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN), by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR), and an active member of the US Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND), and the American Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (ASPEN). She has provided several accredited training sessions for practicing dietitians pursuing continuous education related to therapeutic nutrition. 

Besides her academic and clinical work, Abi Kharma likes to build puzzle sets, travel and practice various exercises including Ubound and weight training.

SDGs Research Mapping

Ms. Joelle Abi Kharma conducts research relevant to the following SDGs:

Publications

An updated list of publications can be found here. 

Academic Degrees and Credentials

• MPH, Epidemiology & Biostatistics, American University of Beirut, Lebanon, 2014
• BS, Nutrition and Dietetics Coordinated Program, emphasis in Medical Nutrition Therapy, American University of Beirut, Lebanon, 2010
• Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN), Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND), Illinois, USA, 2018
• Licensed Dietitian (LD), Ministry of Public Health, Lebanon, 2010