Ruba Abdelhadi is a Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine (UMKC SOM) and is an Adjunct Faculty at the University of Kansas School of Medicine. She is the Associate Medical Director of the Office of Faculty Development (OFD) at Children’s Mercy Hospital and the Associate Director for Education and Staff Development, and the Director of Nutrition Support at Children’s Mercy Hospital and serves as Board Director of the American Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (ASPEN) and is Secretary Treasurer, Board Director, and nominated Vice President of the National Board of Physician Nutrition Specialists (NBPNS). Among the NBPNS Board of Directors, she evaluates, revises, and edits the NBPNS examination question pool annually. Dr Abdelhadi Co-Chairs the Clinical Advisory Board of the Global Enteral Device Suppliers Association (GEDSA) as one of the innovative pioneers in GEDSA’s mission for to improve patient safety through the conversion and adoption of ENFit®. Her publications are mainly on pediatric malnutrition and parenteral and enteral nutrition support in peer-reviewed journals and book chapters. Her clinical practice focuses on nutrition rehabilitation, malnutrition, parenteral and enteral nutrition support, nutritional rehabilitation in short gut and intestinal failure and malabsorption.
Dr Abdelhadi is a proud NASPGHAN member since 2001, is recipient of the NASPGHAN 2014 Teri Li Education award, in recognition of her extensive and outstanding educational efforts with significant impact on the field of pediatric gastroenterology and members of our society. She is recipient of the 2016 ASPEN Pediatric Section Practitioner Award, for the innovative contribution to the science and practice of nutrition support, and recipient of the Children’s Mercy 2019 Golden Apple Mercy Mentorship award, for providing significant contributions to fellows’ growth and development. She is also 2020 Fellow of NASPGHAN (NASPGHAN-F), which is the highest honor among NASPGHAN membership categories and recognizes superior professional achievement in clinical or academic practice, and in basic or clinical research. Among her annual scholarly work, she contributes to the planning of the annual ASPEN conference, she leads the annual ASPEN Pediatric Skills Lab, the Pediatric Section Community Forum, and plans the annual ASPEN Malnutrition Awareness Week (MAW).
Name: Ruba Abdelhadi, MD, CNSC, NASPGHAN-F.
Current position and institution: Professor of Pediatrics, University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine (UMKC SOM).
Hometown: Amman, Jordan.
Favorite GI disease: Intestinal Failure.
Hobbies: I have a black belt in Martial Arts (taekwondo, first degree).
Favorite Vacation Spot: Corfu.
Favorite Activist: Harriet Tubman and Tolstoy.
Book You Recommend: Multipliers and Atomic Habits.
Best Career Advice You’ve Received: from the most amazing Athos Bousvaros: don’t say “no” to new opportunities!! Say “yes”!! Meet new people!! Learn new skills!! Share your knowledge!! Expand your experiences!! This advice has never failed me, and I have never regretted taking on a new challenge.
