Fulbright Fellowship Brings Clinical Dietitian Program to Southern Africa

Despite great need, few nutritional training opportunities exist in Africa. As a Fulbright Fellow in Malawi, Peggy Papathakis is helping to bring this important program to the country.

A nutrition professor and Center for Health Research co-investigator, Papathakis is helping to develop the curriculum for a clinical training program for nutrition professionals at the University of Malawi, where she is also overseeing students.

Papathakis, who has been in Malawi since January, was introduced to the country through work with the World Health Organization. During her time at Cal Poly, she has partnered with colleagues at Washington University to provide students with the opportunity to live in Malawi for three months and gain hands-on global health experience.

The Fulbright U.S. Scholar program provided 800 American citizens with the opportunity to teach, conduct research or provide expertise abroad during the 2018-19 academic year.

Papathakis most recently conducted a GoFundMe campaign that has raised $2,000 to date for the hospital where she’s working. The hospital’s kitchen serves more than 1,000 patients but does not have a dishwasher, blender, stove or refrigerator.