معرفی
Joanne Kouba is an Emerita Professor in the Department of Applied Health Sciences at Loyola University Chicago’s Parkinson School of Health Sciences and Public Health. She is a registered dietitian with expertise in promoting health through nutrition, focusing on community food access, pediatric health, and school-based interventions. Her roles include directing graduate programs in dietetics, coordinating nutrition services at a school-based health center, and serving on the Chicago Public Schools’ School Wellness Advisory Board.
Education: BS in Food Science and Nutrition (Michigan State University), MS in Nutrition (New York University), PhD in Public Health (University of Illinois Chicago).
Research interests center on optimizing food and nutrition to improve individual and community health. Key areas include vitamin D’s role in diabetes and mental health, asthma management in adolescents, and school-based health programs. Her work bridges clinical practice, policy, and community engagement to address health equity and nutrition literacy.
Publications span topics such as vitamin D supplementation, cardiovascular risk perception, and school food system reforms. She has collaborated with institutions like the Center for Health Outcomes and Informatics Research (CHOIR) and the Center for Health Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CHIE).
Advocacy focuses on translating nutrition science into actionable strategies for diverse populations. Her contributions include program development for asthma and nutrition education in schools and evaluating initiatives like salad bars in Chicago public schools.
