Bahiga El-Haggar, PhD, of Hawthorne, California, has dedicated her life to enhancing health care accessibility and quality. As the chief executive officer and president of the National Health Register Foundation since 2005, she has tirelessly worked to bridge gaps in health care services and ensure access to millions Her efforts have sparked widespread positive recognition within relevant fields and interest from major media.
Dr. El-Haggar’s professional trajectory began serving as a diplomat at Egyptian consulates from 1985 to 1991. She later transitioned into academia, teaching as an adjunct instructor at Eastern Wyoming College in 2010 and Santa Ana College from 2011 to 2012. Throughout her career, she has remained committed to education and public health. As a certified Medicare provider, Dr. El-Haggar’s civic engagements are extensive. She has served on the Governor’s Health Council, the Nutrition Council for Ethnic Groups, and the Governor’s Commission of Public Health. She is also involved with USC Family Medicine and supports numerous civil and social groups, including those focused on children and youth education, ethnic communities speaking Arabic and French, and women’s groups. Moreover, Dr. El-Haggar is a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians and the International CHRIE.
Dr. El-Haggar’s achievements are rooted in her early work writing diet system protocols for doctors. Her initial resistance to pursuing medicine shifted when a doctor recognized her potential and encouraged her to delve into public health. Her Mediterranean background, with its healthy, culturally prevalent diet, further fueled her interest in nutrition. She dedicated years to researching and teaching nutrition protocols, eventually finding her true passion in this field. Dr. El-Haggar’s expertise and insights have been featured on Good Morning America, PBS, NBC, People Magazine, and various international press outlets. One of her notable achievements has been her innovative approach to dieting and health screening. She identified that many people struggle with dieting due to a lack of access to screening services.
By repurposing existing technology, Dr. El-Haggar developed a system that allows individuals to screen themselves at a low cost. This system provides personalized codes, enabling users to access digital platforms and track their progress, significantly reducing the risks associated with dieting. Her work in health care technology focuses on metabolism, and she played a pivotal role in creating a personalized algorithm and code that integrates advanced wellness with technology. This approach aims to identify the root of metabolism issues through comprehensive screening, leveraging individual strengths and capabilities. The system is accessible online, allowing people to utilize it before starting a diet.
Dr. El-Haggar is a strong advocate for expanding international health concepts to provide accessible and affordable health care solutions, particularly in poorer countries. She believes this approach can alleviate the burden on developing nations by making health care more available and affordable. Dr. El-Haggar’s achievements are a testament to her unwavering dedication to her profession and her tenacity in pursuing her goals. Her work ethic and passion for her field have driven her success. She aims to ensure that everyone has access to health care services without limitations. Further, Dr. El-Haggar has received significant recognition for her contributions to health care and public health and was a Fulbright Scholar during her higher education. As an accomplished author, she eventually returned to her creative works and published “Mr. Go and Clicky Hooves Willie: The Story of Magic Beans” in 2008.
Academically, in addition to her Doctor of Philosophy, Dr. El-Haggar holds a Master of Business Administration from Cornell University, a Master of Arts from Cardiff University, and a Bachelor of Arts in social science from Cairo University in Egypt—all of which laid a strong foundation and prepared her well for her diverse career. In addition to her professional and civic endeavors, Dr. El-Haggar enjoys music, reading, lots of fresh air, cooking, and traveling.