Northern Ontario Dietetic Internship Program Granted Full Accreditation Status by Dietitians of Canada

The Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM) is pleased to announce that the Northern Ontario Dietetic Internship Program (NODIP) has been granted full accreditation status by the Dietitians of Canada Accreditation Committee. The program is a joint initiative between NOSM and the NODIP Professional Advisory Committee, and involves multiple facilitators, sites and partners throughout Northern Ontario.

In October 2007, NODIP began training dietetic interns with Sudbury, Sault Ste. Marie, Timmins, and Thunder Bay as the principal community sites, supported by over 30 partners throughout Northern Ontario. The program accepts ten graduates per year from university dietetic programs and provides them with opportunities in Northern Ontario to gain practical experience needed to obtain their dietitian registration.

In its recruitment efforts, NOSM continues to follow its mandate of social accountability, and aims to have NODIP class profiles which reflect the cultural diversity of Northern Ontario. Demographic profiles of the 2008 incoming class show that:

■ 90% are from Northern Ontario
■ 30% are bilingual

NOSM Founding Dean Dr. Roger Strasser noted that the School is fortunate to work collaboratively with experts in an effort to support health initiatives in the North. “The Northern Ontario Dietetic Internship Program complements the pan-Northern nature of the School and demonstrates the support from the Northern communities towards the School’s inter-professional programs,” said Dr. Strasser. “Confirmation of accreditation marks a significant milestone for the Northern Ontario School of Medicine as we continue to successfully develop programs that are responsive to health-care needs of the people of Northern Ontario.”

Ten dietetic interns from the inaugural NODIP class will graduate from the program on August 22, 2008.