dieticians

A milestone for a program at NOSM University that is helping to train registered dietitians.

The University’s Dietetic Practicum Program was developed 20 years ago to address a need in northern Ontario.

Program Manager Denise Raftis has been there from the start.

She says the 46-week program was designed specifically for students from northern Ontario who have attained their undergraduate degree or have a desire to work in the region.

“Dietitians minimally have four years of undergraduate study, a bachelor’s training in food and nutrition, and a practicum, so hands-on training for usually a year. Our program offers that,” says Raftis.

Raftis says students receive training in institutions like area hospitals, clinics, family health teams, diabetes education programs, and public health units.

Upon completion, they can apply to the College of Dietitians of Ontario to become a registered dietician and resume their careers in the north.

Raftis says more than half of all graduates have found employment in northern Ontario.

She says some of the success can be attributed to the region’s existing dietitians who help the students with their placements.

“They are treating them as future colleagues, welcoming them to their community and providing them not only the knowledge and skills and the judgment that they need and assessing them on that, but introducing them to what life would be like in their community,” says Raftis.

“Hopefully they can demonstrate that the healthcare team they work with is welcoming and that the community needs them.”

NOSM states that the need for registered dietitians in the north worsened with the pandemic, with nearly 45 positions still unfilled.

Six graduated from the program in the spring.