is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Comprehensive Care at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine and holds a secondary appointment in the Division of Nutrition Interventions, Communication, and Behavior Change at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy. Dr. Tassabehji earned her undergraduate degree in Nutrition and Food Sciences from the American University of Beirut, followed by a master’s degree in clinical nutrition and a PhD in Nutritional Neuroscience from Florida State University. She completed her dietetic internship at both Florida State University and Tufts University. Her academic and professional expertise lies in the intersection of nutrition and oral health. At Tufts, she teaches a comprehensive nutrition curriculum to both predoctoral and postgraduate dental students and contributes to teaching in the Master of Biomedical Sciences (MBS) and Physician Assistant (PA) programs. She also serves as co-course director for the integrated Craniofacial Biology course for first-year dental students. Dr. Tassabehji is a preceptor for dietetic interns from the Frances Stern Nutrition Center at Tufts Medical Center, mentoring eight interns annually as they complete rotations at the dental school in preparation for the Registered Dietitian credentialing exam. She was honored with the Dean’s Award for Excellence in Basic Science Teaching in 2022 and received the TUSDM Development Opportunities for Innovative Teaching (Do It!) Grant in 2023. Dr. Tassabehji’s research centers on the integration of nutrition into dental education, with an emphasis on prevention and the impact of dietary factors on oral health outcomes. Her work aims to equip dental professionals with the knowledge to provide holistic, patient-centered care that addresses both oral and systemic health. She has contributed to national presentations, publications on dental curriculum design, and has served on multiple professional organizations
