Rana Halabi Najjar, Ph.D., R.N., C.P.N.P.

My clinical background is in various pediatric settings where I cared for vulnerable populations from different ethnic backgrounds.  This work inspires me to examine childhood obesity from the psychological and socio-cultural familial factors that influence health behaviors in adolescents.  Evidence has linked weight-based stigma to psychological distress, as well as eating disorders such as binge eating.  Therefore, interventions need to be developed in order to help individuals adopt better coping strategies dealing with weight-based stigma.  I am committed to elucidating the factors causing and exacerbating obesity in our youth as well as developing innovative, multidisciplinary strategies to help arrest the rising rates of obesity.   

EDUCATION

Ph.D., University of California
M.S.N., University of Texas
B.S.N., American University of Beirut

Teaching

N210A/B: Foundations of Nursing: Health Promotion
N211: Foundations of Nursing in Chronic Illness I
N410: Population- Based Care

Research/Inquiry

2011-Present: Nursing students’ experiences in high fidelity simulation
2010-Present: Workplace violence in Lebanese Nurses
2009-2011: Weight-based stigma, psychological distress, and binge eating behavior in low-income adolescents
2009-2011: Obesity and patterns of drug use

Service

OCNE Curriculum Committe
Member, Beta Psi, Sigma Theta Tau
Member, Transcultural Nursing Society
Member, National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners
Member, Western Institute of Nursing