2023-2024 Preceptor Award Winners

Academic Excellence

Winner – Bridget King – Public Health Sudbury & Districts

Bridget is a valued Registered Dietitian with our dietetic program because of her strong and consistent scholarly activity advancing dietetic education and practice in the North. Bridget’s most recent work includes the development of a Sustainable Food Systems workshop that addresses dietetic competencies and highly relevant trends in practice through experimental and collaborative pedagogical approaches. Bridget patiently curated the idea over several years, pausing during the pandemic, and eventually bringing to fruition an opportunity to connect dietetic learners with Northern Ontario’s food culture and community. The workshop includes diverse and inclusive perspectives involving local industrial and small scape agriculture, urban and youth farming, as well as Indigenous foodways. Thank you for your dedication Bridget.

Commitment to Clinical Education

Winner – Rachel Palahnuk – Home and Community Care Support Services, Northeast

Rachel is a valued preceptor, regularly taking learners on placement in a homecare setting and exposing them to a variety of learning opportunities. Rachel encourages evidence based clinical practice while providing supportive guidance and hands-on activities to build confidence and competence in a home care environment. She has inspired learners to see the value in developing relationships with patients and take up this rewarding area of practice. Thank you for your commitment Rachel.

Interprofessional Collaborator

Winner – Lela Hopper – St. Joseph’s Continuing Care Centre

Lela has been an impactful preceptor to multiple dietetic learners at NOSM U. Lela went above and beyond to provide learners with opportunities to explore and develop interprofessional collaboration skills. By shadowing and preparing interprofessional cooking classes, then fostering reflective practice, learners gained an appreciation for the different health disciplines and the importance of team work in delivering innovative and quality nutrition care. Thank you Lela.

Innovative Preceptor

Winner – Chantal Belanger – Public Health Sudbury & Districts

Chantal demonstrates a strong commitment to precepting dietetic learners while finding innovative ways to address their learning needs despite significant limitations. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Chantal worked hard to address priority nutrition focused programming and volunteering at vaccine clinics all while precepting 4 dietetic learners. She was able to create an engaging virtual placement for her learners. She effectively addressed their competency needs through a variety of knowledge translation and advocacy opportunities while demonstrating the incredible value of public health nutrition practice. Thank you Chantal.

Northern Ambassador Preceptor

Winner – Kelsey McGinn – Blanche River Health – Kirkland Lake

Kelsey is receiving the Northern Ambassador award because of her commitment to dietetic training and practice in a rural area. Kelsey’s learners describe her as a pillar of the community. She is the only Registered Dietitian (RD) for the Blanche River Health, Kirkland Lake hospital site and is adept at collaboration and building relationships with the hospital team and RDs from organizations both within and outside the region. Kelsey has earned the respect of her colleagues and dietetic learners by building a community that supports quality, nutrition care and the training of our future RDs. Thank you for your dedication Kelsey.