Farzaneh Daghigh received her PhD in biochemistry from Temple University, School of Medicine. Later, she conducted postdoctoral research at the DuPont-Merck Pharmaceuticals. She then joined the faculty at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine as an Assistant Professor in 1998. Currently, she is a Professor of Biochemistry in the Department of Bio-Medical Sciences at PCOM.
Dr. Daghigh is the biochemistry content expert in the pre-clinical curriculum. She teaches biochemistry and nutrition to medical students and graduate students. She serves as the course director for the longitudinal CRIBS course for first-year medical students and co-director of the Culinary Medicine elective course. Dr. Daghigh’s passion is helping students understand, appreciate and integrate the basic sciences to remain as inquisitive physicians during their lifelong medical practice.
Dr. Daghigh believes in engaging students in their own learning and developed many collaborative active learning sessions. Her medical education research is geared towards the goal of inclusion of nutrition in the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) curriculum and the use of nutrition education and behavior change in individuals with overweight, obesity and metabolic syndrome. She also studies the effects of omega-3 fatty acids on arginine metabolism in airway remodeling in asthmatic patients.
Postdoctoral fellow - DuPont-Merck Pharmaceutical
1996-1998
Temple University School of Medicine
PhD in Biochemistry, 1995
The College of New Jersey
BS in Chemistry, 1988, summa cum laude
Principal Investigator, AACOM Food as Medicine Grant (2025–2026): From Classroom to Clinic—Hands-On Food Demonstrations and Nutrition Competence in Osteopathic Medical Education.
Principal Investigator, Community-Based Nutrition Education Grant (2024): Addressing Nutritional Disparities in Diverse and Low-Income Communities among Individuals with Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) — evaluates the impact of nutrition education and access to nutritious meals on health outcomes and recovery in underserved populations.
Principal Investigator, Community-Based Nutrition Education Grant (2023): Educating Older Adults with Low Income About the Mediterranean Diet — culturally tailored Mediterranean Diet education delivered in partnership with Beacon Residential Communities to improve food literacy and reduce chronic disease risk.
Principal Investigator, Community-Based Health Equity Grant (2023): Incidence of Gout in Underrepresented Patients with Type 2 Diabetes — multi-site study with Beacon Residential Communities assessing hyperuricemia and gout prevalence to inform targeted prevention and personalized nutrition strategies.
Principal Investigator, Center for Chronic Disease of Aging (2008–2009): Physiological and Pathophysiological Roles of Arginase Isoforms in Nitric Oxide Production by Human Gingival Fibroblasts.
Co-Principal Investigator, American Osteopathic Association Grant #07-10-557 ($22,712, 2007–2008): Mechanics and Mechanisms of Pedal Pump Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment.
Co-Principal Investigator, Korman Foundation ($400,000, 2006–2007): Gait, Balance, Nitric Oxide, Fluid Distribution, and Quality of Life in Parkinson’s Disease Patients Treated with Whole Body Periodic Acceleration or OMT.
Co-Principal Investigator, Karen and Herbert Lotman Foundation ($25,000, 2003): Protocol Development for Measuring Nitric Oxide Changes Following Accelerated Therapeutic 101 Treatment.
Food as Medicine: Effects of a Culinary Medicine Demonstration on Medical Students’ Nutrition Knowledge, Confidence, and Satisfaction. (In preparation, 2026)
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