IHN MS Program Welcomes New Faculty Members: Drs. Cynthia Akagbosu, Debbie Malden, and Michael Owen-Michaane
The Institute of Human Nutrition (IHN) at Columbia University Irving Medical Center is delighted to welcome three new faculty members to our academic community: Dr. Cynthia Akagbosu, Dr. Debbie Malden, and Dr. Michael Owen-Michaane. Each brings a wealth of expertise and a shared commitment to advancing nutrition science, clinical education, and the health of diverse populations.
Cynthia Akagbosu, MD, MA, DABOM
Dr. Cynthia Akagbosu is a pediatric gastroenterologist and Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, joining the Institute of Human Nutrition with deep clinical expertise in digestive health and obesity medicine. She received her medical degree from Tufts University and is board-certified in pediatrics, pediatric gastroenterology, and obesity medicine.
Dr. Akagbosu’s work focuses on improving care for children with complex gastrointestinal and nutritional disorders, with a strong emphasis on the intersection of gut health, growth, and metabolism. At IHN, she will teach the course Obesity: Etiology, Prevention, and Treatment, bringing her clinical insight to the classroom and helping students connect scientific concepts to real-world approaches in obesity care and prevention.
Learn more about Dr. Akagbosu’s clinical work.
Debbie Malden, PhD
Dr. Debbie Malden joins the Institute of Human Nutrition as an epidemiologist with extensive experience in large-scale population studies and global public health response. She earned her MSc in Global Health Science and DPhil in Population Health from the University of Oxford, and later served in the Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Dr. Malden has worked with organizations such as the World Health Organization and Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders), contributing to outbreak and humanitarian response missions in Papua New Guinea and Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh. Her current research at Columbia examines the trends and impact of orphanhood in Rakai, Uganda, and focuses on building epidemiologic capacity and developing data tools to inform public health interventions.
At IHN, Dr. Malden will also teach Introduction to Epidemiology for Nutritionists, helping students apply epidemiologic methods to nutrition and population health.
View Dr. Malden’s research publications.
Michael Owen-Michaane, MD, MA, CNSN
Dr. Michael Owen-Michaane is an Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Division of Preventive Medicine and Nutrition and Assistant Director of Medical Nutrition at Columbia University Irving Medical Center. He earned his MD from the University of Kentucky, completed his Internal Medicine residency at NYU Langone Medical Center, and holds an MA in Biomedical Informatics from Columbia University. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and a Physician Nutrition Specialist.
Dr. Owen-Michaane’s clinical work focuses on nutrition support for patients with complex gastrointestinal or metabolic conditions, including management of parenteral nutrition and micronutrient deficiencies. His research explores the use of biomarkers and data science tools to improve the diagnosis and treatment of malnutrition and optimize patient outcomes.
At IHN, Dr. Owen-Michaane will teach the course Tutorial in Clinical Practice, integrating clinical experience with nutrition science to prepare students for translational and patient-centered careers in health and medicine.
Learn more about Dr. Owen-Michaane’s work.
A Strengthened Commitment to Excellence
Together, Drs. Malden, Akagbosu, and Owen-Michaane represent IHN’s continued investment in innovative teaching, collaborative research, and leadership in the field of human nutrition. Their diverse perspectives and professional experience will enrich the learning environment for IHN students and contribute to the institute’s mission of improving health worldwide through nutrition science, education, and outreach.
Please join us in extending a warm welcome to our new faculty members as they begin their work at IHN.