Ndang Azang-Njaah
When Ndang Azang-Njaah, senior Biochemistry and Nutritional Sciences major, first came to the University of Maryland, he knew he wanted to go into the health field, but wasn’t sure exactly what career he wanted. With advice from family and friends, he chose to declare a major in Biochemistry, thinking it would give him a solid foundation for any career in the health field.
After his sophomore year, he decided that he wanted to go to medical school, and also added another major: Nutritional Science.
“I chose to add Nutritional Science to my Biochemistry major because it bridges the gap between a hard natural science and something that has has social impacts and social issues, like nutrition. You’re learning sort of the same material, but in nutrition it’s more about how it applies to the real world.”
Azang-Njaah’s favorite Nutritional Science class was NSFC440, Advanced Human Nutrition. The course covers physiology as it relates to nutrition, which is something that Azang-Njaah was interested in before he even declared his major.
“I just think it’s interesting how things work in the body,” he said. “I got a lot out of that class.”
Azang-Njaah also participated in two summer research projects: one at the National Institute on Aging, and one at the University of Pittsburgh’s Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Biology.
This fall, he’s headed to the University of Chicago’s Pritzker School of Medicine. He’s interested in preventative medicine and public health initiatives, which his Nutritional Science classes have helped prepare him for. Eventually, he also wants to pursue a Master’s in Public Health.
“I feel more emphasis is needed on nutrition in the medical field,” he said. “If physicians are able to educate their patients about nutrition, it may help prevent chronic diseases later on.”
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Last updated: 02/15/2011