Alumni Board Members

Zarrar Nashman
- Director (IHN MS'22)
Zarrar is an MD candidate at Drexel University College of Medicine. He founded a company that develops novel treatments for neurologic disorders using stem cells and gene editing, reflecting his deep interest in regenerative medicine—an interest inspired by his time at the IHN. He aims to advance this passion by pursuing a neurosurgery residency to contribute to the treatment of patients with intractable diseases.
Lorena Muhaj
- Co-Director (IHN MS'24)
Originally from Albania, Lorena has lived in the United States for nearly 25 years. After earning her BS in Biology and Chemistry from CUNY-Brooklyn College, she worked as a paralegal at a NYC law firm. Driven by a passion for health and nutrition, she pursued her MS at the IHN. Currently, she works as a Research Associate at Private Health Management, where she is dedicated to making a tangible impact on individuals' health. In her free time, she enjoys running—having completed the NYC Marathon—traveling and cooking.
Noemie Hallford
- Publications Chair (IHN MS'23)
Noemie's international background has allowed her to gain global experiences before moving to New York City to pursue her master's at the IHN. Having established a passion for nutrition science whilst undertaking her undergraduate studies in Nutrition at McGill University, she remains dedicated to intertwining her knowledge in this area of science with a future career in medicine. As Publications Chair, she looks forward to providing the IHN alumni community with fun and engaging written content!
Perri Nelson
- Alumni Relations Chair (IHN MS'22)
Perri is originally from Chesapeake, VA. She graduated from the College of William & Mary in 2019, where she studied public health and art history. After graduating from the IHN with her MS in 2022, she continued working as an education assistant whilst applying to medical school. She is now a first-year medical student at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, VA. She remains grateful to have found a wonderful community during her time at the IHN, and is excited to serve on the board of the IHNAA this term!
Eric Wang
- Marketing Chair (IHN MS‘22)
Eric is originally from Westchester County, NY. He graduated and received his BA in Biochemistry from New York University in 2021, after which he completed his MS in Human Nutrition from the IHN in 2022. He is currently a first-year medical student at the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College, where he will be training for the next four years to become a practicing physician. Outside of academics, his hobbies include dance, food/cooking, skincare, and fashion!
Sarah Bergren
- IHN Liaison (IHN MS‘18)
Sarah Bergren, a Michigan native, studied molecular biology at the University of Michigan and spent 15 years working in basic science research before completing the IHN MS program part-time while working at Columbia. She now serves as Senior Manager of Education Initiatives at IHN, where she focuses on strengthening and expanding the Institute’s academic programs.
Kim Hekimian, PhD
- Faculty Advisor
Kim Hekimian, PhD is Associate Professor of Nutrition in Pediatrics (Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition) and the Institute of Human Nutrition (IHN) at Columbia University Medical Center. She is the Director of the IHN’s Master of Science in Nutrition program. She is also the Associate Director of Education for the Vagelos College of Physicians & Surgeons (VP&S) Program in Education in Global and Population Health. Dr. Hekimian teaches courses in global health, public health nutrition and research methods at VP&S and the IHN. She is a member of the Virginia Apgar Society of Medical Educators and a recipient of the Columbia University Provost Award for Hybrid Learning Course Redesign for Research Methods in Global Health.