Yusuf Azeez is on a mission. Among the 8% of males in this female-dominated field, he has chosen to lend his voice and expertise to help transform the maternal health landscape, especially considering that the State of New Jersey has one of the widest racial disparities for both maternal and infant mortality in the nation. “A personal experience motivated me to raise awareness about complications that can occur during pregnancy. Becoming a dietitian allows me to share this important message with as many people as possible,” said the OB Clinic dietitian nutritionist at Clara Maass Medical Center in Belleville, NJ.
Clearly a social advocate, Yusuf is also counting on his peers to put their hands to the plow and engage politically so that the Medical Nutrition Therapy Act will become law. “I hope that more dietitians will actively support advocacy efforts, particularly in helping to pass the bill. Additionally, I encourage dietitians to pursue management roles within their organizations. By stepping into leadership positions, we can drive the changes we want to see in healthcare overall.”
The freshly minted RDN who earned his credentials just over a year ago knows that this crusade may take him into uncharted waters. However, his determination to surmount obstacles is bolstered by a line from the movie, Fringe – “only those who dare to go too far know how far they can go.” Never one to shy away from a challenge, a year ago, just two weeks after the completion of his dietetic internship, which he acknowledges was “the biggest challenge I have faced in my career so far,” Yusuf sat and passed the unarguably grueling CDR RDN certification exam at first attempt. The icing on the cake to reward an arduous journey.
Here’s how that journey began. “During my undergraduate studies, I became fascinated with the nutritional aspects of biochemistry – the significant role nutrition plays in human health is immense, and I wanted to explore it further.” However, his trek into the field of dietetics was not a linear one. “I initially worked as a Client Service Manager at a medical diagnostic company. This experience, coupled with a deep passion for nutrition and a commitment to improving health outcomes, led me into this field.” A Nigerian by birth, Yusuf added that “I earned my undergraduate degree in Biochemistry from Olabisi Onabanjo University in Ogun State, Nigeria. I completed my Master’s degree, DPD, and Dietetic Internship at Montclair State University.”
A resident of New Jersey since 2017, the married father of four, shares that his functions in the clinical setting includes providing support to pregnant individuals and managing conditions such as gestational diabetes and hypertension. “I conduct comprehensive nutritional assessments, develop and implement tailored medical nutrition therapy interventions, and collaborate with interdisciplinary teams to ensure optimal patient outcomes. At the Women's Health Clinic, I provide care and education to pregnant patients, helping them navigate their nutritional needs during pregnancy.” Yusuf understands the reward of beneficence and volunteers at a local food bank, “primarily assisting with heavy lifting and sorting – nothing too technical, but important nonetheless.” He understands the rewards of paying it forward, especially being the recipient of the generosity of his “professors, dietetic internship instructors, and preceptors [who] have inspired me in various ways, and I am deeply grateful for their guidance.
One professor in particular, Dr. Yeon Bai, taught me that there is so much to achieve in this career and that I can chart my own path. My preceptor, Alexa Dashko, MS, RD, CSO, was also incredibly supportive during my internship.” To the young dietitians entering the field Yusuf advises: “Make sure you know which aspect of dietetics you’re passionate about before pursuing it. The work can become monotonous without a strong desire to solve a specific problem.” A huge soccer fan, Yusuf enjoys watching the English Premier League matches on the weekends to decompress.
