Organizing Committee Member
Dr. Haleama Al Shabbah
Associate Professor
Zayed University
UAE
Biography
Haleama Al Sabbah is an Associate Professor and Researcher in Public Health Nutrition. She completed her PhD in Public Health Nutrition (Medical Sciences) in 2008 from the Faculty of Medicine,/ Gent University, Belgium. She was awarded a doctoral scholarship from Belgian Technical Cooperation (BTC). Her Ph.D study was part of the National Study of Palestinian Health Behaviors in School-aged Children (HBSC-2004). From 2011 to 2012, Haleama was a Fulbright Senior Visiting Scholar and did Post-Doctoral studies in Public Health and Nutrition at Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Center,/ Tufts University, Boston, USA. From 2009 to 2013, she served as director of the Public Health Department,/ Faculty of Medicine,/ An-Najah University, Palestine. Dr Al Sabbah has published numerous articles in scientific journals and served as an editorial board member and reviewer for several peer-reviewed journals. She has participated in many conferences, courses and research studies all over the world, including Europe, USA, Canada, West Africa and some Arab countries. Haleama earned her first degree in Public Health Nutrition from the Faculty of Medicine/ Jordan University of Science and Technology (JUST) in 1990. She worked as a nutritionist in a number of hospitals in Amman, Jordan and then at Amman University. In 1995, she worked at the Red Crescent Society Maternity Hospital in Ramallah. In 1997, she was awarded a scholarship for postgraduate masters-level study in Public Health at the Community Health Institute, Birzeit University, Palestine. During her study at Birzeit University, she focused on Primary Health care. From 1998-2000, Haleama received another scholarship to study for a Master of Philosophy degree in International Community Health and Nutrition in the Faculty of Medicine at Oslo University, Norway. Her Master s thesis title was Diabetes Self Management in Rural Palestinian Community.
Research Area
Holding graduate degrees in medical sciences, public health, primary health care, international community health and nutrition, I conducted extended research in public health, diabetes self-management, nutrition-related behaviors, overweight and obesity, body weight dissatisfaction, weight control behaviors, breastfeeding and complementary feeding. Moreover, I was the main supervisor for 5 master’s theses in Public Health and 3 graduate theses for medical students. My research interests have grown to include investigations in the field of Public Health and Nutrition with special focus on weight-related behaviours.