Nadine R Sahyoun

Dr. Nadine R Sahyoun is a Professor in the Department of Nutrition & Food Science at the University of Maryland's College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. Her research focuses on understanding the relationship between diet, lifestyle, and health outcomes in older adults, with particular attention to food security dynamics in diverse populations, including refugees and marginalized communities in the Middle East, Sub-Saharan Africa, and the U.S. She has led community-based interventions to improve nutrition and reduce disparities, such as the Healthy Kitchens initiative in Palestinian refugee communities. Her work integrates epidemiological methods and cross-cultural perspectives to address global health challenges.

Dr. Sahyoun’s expertise spans nutrition epidemiology, public health policy, and program evaluation. She has developed innovative tools for measuring food insecurity in aging populations and collaborated on studies using national datasets like NHANES to assess dietary patterns and health risks. Her research emphasizes the social determinants of nutrition, including the intersection of food access, economic stability, and cultural factors.

Key areas of investigation include: food security in vulnerable groups, dietary interventions for older adults, micronutrient impacts on cognitive health, and leveraging community kitchens to empower refugee women. Her publications highlight both quantitative analyses (e.g., biomarker studies) and qualitative insights into lived experiences of food insecurity.