Kai-Lin intends to use her degree to become a skilled clinical dietitian and dedicated public health advocate capable of addressing intricate health issues and fostering healthcare improvements locally and globally.

Kai-Lin Jen is a clinical dietitian, researcher, and public health advocate dedicated to promoting health equity. After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in nutrition and health sciences from Taipei Medical University in Taiwan, Kai-Lin worked as a registered dietitian at Taiwan Adventist Hospital for several years. There, she focused on clinical nutrition care, participated in research projects, delivered health education programs in communities, and implemented training internship programs for students until she transitioned to the community health field and took a position with the Health Promotion Administration in Taipei.

Kai-Lin is passionate about reducing health disparities as well as nutrition, and beyond her full-time work, she has volunteered with numerous organizations including Food Gatherers, an organization that aims to alleviate hunger and reduce food insecurity; Feng-Hsing Sociomedical and Medical Knowledge Promotion Service Group, with whom she provided medical care for rural residents; and the mountain service club at Taipei Medical University, which provides a variety of highly-needed medical and health promotion services.

Kai-Lin’s clinical and volunteer experiences have underscored how social determinants can significantly impact health outcomes. Driven to address health disparities and learn from diverse cultures, Kai-Lin is now pursuing a master’s degree in public health at UM-Ann Arbor, where she is known for her “intelligence, discipline, engagement,” and impressive “enthusiasm to learn.” Kai-Lin intends to use her degree to become a skilled clinical dietitian and dedicated public health advocate capable of addressing intricate health issues and fostering healthcare improvements locally and globally.

CEW+ commends Kai-Lin’s vision for her career in nutrition and public health and names her the Christine Kahan Black Scholar.