Vafa is interested in health technology research from a human-centered designer’s perspective, for both physical and behavioral healthcare. The focus of her research is on mental health workers, patients with obesity and female health. Before coming to Dartmouth, Vafa completed her undergrad in Computer Science from Lahore University of Management Sciences in Pakistan. 

Fun facts: Vafa loves to read, have meaningful conversations, go for long walks and scour the neighborhood for cats and dogs 🐈🐕

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Weight & Wellness

<b>Dartmouth</b>: Diane Gilbert-Diamond(Associate Professor, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth), Auden McClure (Interim Section Chief DH Weight &amp; Wellness Center), Sarah Finn (Obesity Medicine Director of the DH Weight Wellness Center Manchester/Nashua)

Obesity is a common, yet serious disease that results from genetic and environmental driven factors that lead to inappropriately elevated levels of body fat mass. Patients often receive a diagnosis of obesity based on body mass index (BMI) in their medical chart, without adequate explanations of how their BMI relates to their health and discussions of obesity as a complex disease with a biological basis. These gaps in communication between the physicians and patients can lead to internalization of weight bias that has a detrimental effect on both physical and mental health and can make patients less likely to seek health care and comply with recommendations. This project, therefore, aims to develop communication tools that guide constructive discussion on obesity between physician and patient, in turn leading to effective clinical care for patients with obesity.&nbsp;

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Vafa Batool

Projects

Weight & Wellness