Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/acaciapuddester/
Email: apuddester@ryerson.ca

Having moved to Toronto to pursue a Master of Health Science in Nutrition Communications, Acacia has brought back an expertise in knowledge translation and nutrition media to her work in Nova Scotia. She has 'dipped her toes' in various work and volunteer experiences since graduating in 2018, including community nutrition, cooking classes, media coverage, adult education, program planning, research assisting, advocacy, and communications and graphic design. She loves the diversity of opportunities in the dietetic field and is eager to learn and explore. 

Currently, Acacia is working with the Global Organization of EPA and DHA Omega-3 (GOED) to help create a database that will house all of the research worldwide on omega-3 in a database. This first-of-its-kind database will help healthcare professionals make more informed decisions on omega-3s and to stay up to date on this ever-changing research area. 

Acacia has also returned to Acadia University since graduating to teach. She is now preparing to teach her fourth course there and has been absolutely loving developing relationships with students, working alongside the faculty as a colleague, and building a strong skillset in adult education.

Amanda.MacDonald2@iwk.nshealth.ca

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Amanda graduated from the MSVU Integrated Internship Program in 1997 and starting working in Women's Health at the IWK before specializing in pediatric nutrition. She has worked as a clinical dietitian in nephrology and oncology at Children's Hospital of Western Ontario for five years before moving back to NS. She currently is in the positions of Professional Practice Leader and Coordinator for Clinical Nutrition and Dietitian with the Department of Allergy at the IWK Health Centre.

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Specialities: ​

• Child Nutrition

• Food Allergies and Intolerances

andrea.penney@iwk.nshealth.ca

Andrea is a registered dietitian and passionate foodie currently working at IWK Health. Andrea has been employed with the IWK for over 15 years and enjoys being in the kitchen and hosting family and friends in her spare time. She recently completed her Masters of Applied Human Nutrition at Mount Saint Vincent University focusing on Indigenous food sovereignty and the local food movement in health care.

Specialties:

• Food Service Management

• Healthy Eating

antonia.hrv@gmail.com

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Antonia is a Clinical Dietitian at the Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre. She works in a variety of inpatient and outpatient care areas, but her specific areas of interest include general surgery and gastrointestinal disorders, critical care nutrition, and nutrition support.

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She is also completing her Master of Science in Applied Human Nutrition at Mount Saint Vincent University. As a graduate student, her work focuses on the development of effective nutrition education programs for individuals living with a chronic disease who require a therapeutic diet. 

 

Specialties: 

• Gastrointestinal disorders

• Acute care nutrition

• Adult Nutrition

• Recipe development

ashleya.south@nshealth.ca

www.communityhealthteams.ca

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Ashley is a Registered Dietitian with the Chebucto Community Health Team, covering the areas of Spryfield, Fairview, Clayton Park, Prospect, Tantallon and Hubbards. Originally from Dartmouth, Ashley decided to attend Mount Saint Vincent University, where she completed her Bachelor of Science in Nutrition, as well as her post grad internship within Capital Health and the IWK. 

Experienced in group facilitation, behaviour change and motivational interviewing, she strives to meet community members were they are at and set realistic goals that will set them up for success. Ashley facilitates many nutrition and weight management programs like: Craving Change, Weight Management, Food for One or Two, Prediabetes and more. If you are interested to know more, please get in touch!

 

Specialties:

• Adult Nutrition

• Community Nutrition

• Nutrition Workshops

• Program Planning and Evaluation

Bonnie.conrad@iwk.nshealth.ca

902-470-8821

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Bonnie is a Professional Development Consultant with the Learning Team at the IWK Health Centre in Halifax, Nova Scotia. She is a registered professional dietitian with a Master of Arts in Human Ecology, specializing in community education and program evaluation. Bonnie is also former part-time faculty at Mount Saint Vincent University and former lecturer with Dalhousie Family Medicine.

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As a member of the Learning Team at the IWK, Bonnie develops and supports inter-professional capacity among health care providers and staff. This occurs through consultation and facilitation of organizational learning needs, educational and professional development programming including design, implementation and evaluation; educational policy development, and by supporting change initiatives at the individual, team and organizational levels.

Bonnie has worked in healthcare for more than 25 years in the areas of organizational health, program planning & evaluation, health promotion, learning & organizational development, public health, clinical nutrition and research. She has lead and co-lead a number of initiatives over the years, such as a Healthy Eating Strategy for staff, Mental Health & Addictions Strategy for staff, Growing Up with Food educational resource, Respectful Workplace and N.S. Nutrition Month. Bonnie is also a trained facilitator with “The Working Mind” program, the “LEADS in a Caring Environment” framework and is a Myers Briggs® certified practitioner.  

Bonnie is passionate about working with health care teams and individuals in realizing and pursuing their own capacities to learn and grow. She enjoys outdoor adventures with her family and friends, reading, cooking and discovering new challenges.

 

Specialties: 

• Workplace/Community Health

• Policy/Strategy Development

• Program Planning and Evaluation

• Facilitation

cathychenhall@bellaliant.net
902-463-7831

Cathy has been a licensed dietitian in NS for over 20 years, practicing predominantly in public health and public health policy for the first decade of her career. For the past 12 years, Cathy has worked as a public health nutrition research consultant, completing projects on topics including public health nutrition competencies, food policy, food literacy, healthy eating policy in public settings, and undergraduate dietetic education, among others. She is passionate about food policy, food security and all things system! Cathy is a skilled communicator and has embraced participatory leadership, integrating principles in all of her volunteer and employment opportunities. She is past chair and current member of Dietitians of Canada Regulatory Affairs Advisory Group and is currently a member of the Communications Committee of the Nova Scotia Dietetic Association. Cathy is a graduate of Mount Saint Vincent University (Bachelor of Science, Human Ecology), Victoria General Hospital Dietetic Internship Program and the University of Toronto (Masters of Health Science, Community Nutrition).

Specialties:

• Community Nutrition

• Food Security

• Healthy Eating

Cindy.Hartlen@nshealth.ca

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I have practiced dietetics for over 14 years and I have worked in various roles and places.

I worked with Loblaw's as a Grocery Store Dietitian for 5 years. I worked with the IWK Health Center on the Rehab and Brain Injury Response Teams. I have experience with Ketogenic diets and pediatric clinical nutrition. I am an experienced Business Systems Analyst, skilled in project coordination, application support, in healthcare management. In 2009, I left clinical nutrition, and entered into Health Informatics.  I supported Nutrition and Food Services in NS hospitals, rolling out a Software Solution, Vision Software.  I’ve gained valuable work experience and completed courses to become a Certified Professional in Health Information Management Systems (CPHIMS-CA). 

 

Specialties:

• Food Preparation

• Food Service Management

• Menu Development

Elaine.HorneDuarte@dfc-plc.ca 

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After completing a B.Sc from Mount Allison University Elaine decided perusing a career as a Registered Dietitian was what she wanted and enrolled in Mount Saint Vincent University’s Applied Human Nutrition program and started practicing as a Registered Dietitian in 2007.

 

Elaine is the Provincial Project Manager of Nutrition, Health Education with Dairy Farmers of Canada.  She facilitates program across the province that support health education and healthy lifestyles.  

 

Elaine also active in projects that help support health promoting initatives in Nova Scotia's communities like the Farm to School project in the Annapolis Valley Regional School Board and various projects with Nourish Nova Scotia.  

 

Specialties: 

• Nutrition Workshops

• Project Management

• School Nutrition

• Healthy Eating & Wellness

erin.carmody@iwk.nshealth.ca 

Erin attended UPEI where she completed a BSc in Biology. During this degree, she enrolled in nutrition courses that sparked her interest in the field. This led her to complete a BSc in Nutrition from the U of A, followed by a MSc in Applied Human Nutrition from MSVU. Erin’s thesis work involved understanding the feeding practices of infants born to mothers with diabetes in pregnancy and the impact of policy on such practices. She also completed her dietetic internship through MSVU with placements at the NSHA, Sobeys and the IWK. Erin has experience working in a variety of research settings. She currently works as a research assistant in pediatric GI research with the MIRApeds research team, where she talks with patients and families about opportunities to participate in research. Erin also works as a clinical dietitian in pediatric diabetes and endocrinology. Erin’s passion is to support patients living with chronic disease, and their families, to live a healthy and fulfilling life.

jgarus@nsdassoc.ca

 

Jennifer is the executive manager of the Nova Scotia Dietetic Association (NSDA), the provincial dietetic regulatory body. She has been in this role since 2007 and her role involves: competency development, legislative change, board governance, organizational management, project management, and the core functions associated with professional regulation. Prior to this, she practiced as a clinical and community dietitian in several provinces in a variety of practice settings, which included an outpatient department and small hospital, long-term care facilities, industry, home care, private practice, public health, and telehealth. Her past dietetic experience has been especially relevant to the development of practice standards, competencies, and most recently, NSDA’s jurisprudence e-learning module. Jennifer is currently completing her Masters of Science in Applied Human Nutrition program at MSVU. Her thesis relates to professional ethics and she draws on her experiences in the writing of an autoethnography.

whitej@hrsb.ca

902.464.2000 ext 2180

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Jill White is the School Nutritionist at the Halifax Regional School Board, providing nutrition support to schools for the planning and implementation of programs, projects and activities that support the Food and Nutrition Policy for Nova Scotia Public Schools and is actively involved in the revision of this policy. She has helped to ‘grow’ the number of schools with a food garden. Jill is passionate about creating a healthy future for our children and youth and is a strong supporter of school breakfast programs knowing that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Jill is also a founding board member of Nourish Nova Scotia.  Throughout her career, Jill has actively worked in the community sharing her nutrition knowledge and passion for healthy eating and cooking. She has worked in a variety of settings, including cardiac/pulmonary rehab, private practice and the grocery retail sector, teaching nutrition classes, developing and evaluating healthy eating programs and most importantly having fun while doing it. 

 

Specialties: 

• Childhood Nutrition

• Community Nutrition

• Teen Nutrition

• School Nutrition

www.dietitians.ca/media

Kate.Comeau@dietitians.ca

Twitter: @KateComeauRD

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Kate is passionately working to increase the presence of dietitians in all forms of media as the Manager of PR and Media for Dietitians of Canada. She works with journalists to find expert dietitians to interview, and works with dietitians to translate policy and research into media-friendly messages. Kate participates in many interviews as well as a dietitian and spokesperson for Dietitians of Canada. She also has the opportunity to build capacity and train dietitians who are interested in working with the media. In her previous role as Director of VIVAÏ: Experts in Nutrition, Kate managed a team of dietitians, offering services to individuals, sports teams and businesses including workplace wellness programs in Montréal. Kate holds a Bachelor of Science with honours from Acadia University and Master of Science from McGill University.

 

Kate is a member of the Canadian Public Relations Society and the Nova Scotia Dietitians Association.

 

Specialties:

• Media (Writing, Radio, TV, Blog)

kate.macphee@iwk.nshealth.ca

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After graduating from Mount Saint Vincent University in 2013, Kate has worked in a variety of settings at the IWK Health Centre. She has worked in areas of food service, gastroenterology and currently works with the eating disorders clinic at the IWK.

 

Specialties:

• Child Nutrition

• Eating Disorders

• Nutrition Deficiencies

• Nutrition Support 

E: laura.elisabeth.thorne@gmail.com

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Laura is a professional registered dietitian. She has experience in clinical, community and foodservice settings. At present, Laura is engaged in the Mount Saint Vincent Masters of Applied Human Nutrition program. 

Currently Laura is seeking further research and work opportunities.

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Specialties:

• Food Service Management

• Community Nutrition

• Acute Care Nutrition

• Vegetarian Eating

laurawoodworth01@gmail.com

902-830-8055

Instagram: @bitesofbliss_rd

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Laura is from Fall River, NS and graduated from St. FX with a BSc in Human Nutrition in 2016, followed by integrated internship with honours through St. FX in 2017. Laura completed internship placements with the Dartmouth North Community Food Centre, Farmers Markets of Nova Scotia, and the IWK Health Centre. Since completing internship Laura has been employed with Sobeys as a Wellbeing Counsellor. She is a huge foodie who loves trying out new recipes and posting pics on her food Instagram @bitesofbliss_rd. Laura loves getting outside and exploring our beautiful province, and is a big fan of anything local!

 

Specialties: ​

• Nutritional Supplements

• Community Nutrition

• Healthy Eating

• Nutrition Workshops

medicine.dal.ca/departments/department-sites/medicine/our-people/leah-cahill.html

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Education:

• Postdoc: Harvard University, 2015

• PhD: University of Toronto, Nutritional Sciences, 2010

• RD/PDt: Manitoba Partnership Program, Dietetic Internship, 2006

• BSc: University of Manitoba, Human Nutritional Sciences, 2005

Research Interests:

• Dietary and genetic origins of cardiometabolic disease (cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and obesity)

• Nutritional sciences and dietetics (in-patient, out-patient, and public health)

• Epidemiology and biostatistics

• Novel biomarkers

• Eating habits including the timing and frequency of eating

• Patient-centered research, patient-oriented research

 

Specialties: 

• Adult nutrition

• Heart health

• Professor of nutrition

• Research

www.nshealth.ca/primary-health-care

Lindsay graduated from Mount Saint Vincent University's Applied Human Nutrition (Dietetics - Integrated Internship) program in 2010 and has since worked in clinical nutrition in Northern BC, chronic disease management in Pictou County, diabetes management and community nutrition in First Nation communities throughout Nova Scotia, and community health with the Community Health Teams in Halifax. 

Lindsay's passion for community health and the many factors that contribute to the health of our population lead her to pursue a Master of Public Health (Health Promotion) degree through the University of Alberta. She is now using her broader health system strategy and planning skills to support a strengthened primary health care system provincially with Nova Scotia Health. 

Outside of work, Lindsay loves to spend time in her ever-growing vegetable garden, hike with her dog, and play soccer.

 

Specialties:

• Community Nutrition

• Food Security

• Healthy Eating

• Program Planning and Evaluation

lindsay.landry@nshealth.ca

902-860-3036

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Lindsay has been working at the Integrated Chronic Care Service for over 10 years. In her role she provides patients with nutrition counseling to help them improve their diets in the context of complex chronic conditions. This may include diet strategies to limit symptoms, IBS management, food intolerance identification and management, optimizing intake with alternative foods and problem solving around meal planning and prep with barriers such as pain, fatigue, limited finances etc. Lindsay loves her work and is extremely lucky to be part of a multidisciplinary team that works together to help patients improve their function and quality of life. She also has the opportunity to perform tasks outside of her Dietitian role such as co-facilitate a mindfulness meditation program, host a support group in the community, facilitate group care coordination visits and provide new patient education.

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Specialties:

• Adult Nutrition

• Digestive Disorders

• Food Allergies & Intolerances

• Weight Management

*Accepting New DIETITIAN Clients!*

TheSlauenwhiteGroup@outlook.com
902-818-6568

Lisa has worked as a Registered Dietitian in British Columbia, Alberta and Nova Scotia. With over 30 years of experience in Seniors Care she has a special interest in the areas of dysphagia, wound healing and Hospice Care.

She graduated from Mount Saint Vincent University with a Bachelor of Science in Home Economics (Dietetics). She also holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Dalhousie University in Biology. She has experience working in a variety of different settings, including long term care, hospitals, the food service industry and in the community.

Lisa is an active member of the Dietitians of Canada Dysphagia Assessment and Treatment Network serving on the Executive Committee for many years. She also volunteers on the NSDA Registration Committee holding the Chair position from 2015 until 2021.

Recently Lisa began a new venture providing virtual assistant services to private practice Dietitians. She enjoys implementing systems to reduce overwhelm, increase clarity and control letting them focus on their vital functions.

Specialties:

• Food Safety

• Food Service Management

• Senior's Nutrition

Madison.Walsh@forces.gc.ca

902-722-4180

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Madison is a dietitian currently working for the Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare Services as a Health Promotion Specialist. In this role, she helps to enhance the health and wellness of the military community.

Madison acquired her Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics at Acadia University, and then went on to pursue her Master of Public Health and dietetic internship at the University of Toronto. She is passionate about health and nutrition, and has a wide variety of experience in community nutrition, health promotion, group education, and one-on-one counselling.

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Specialties:

• Community Nutrition

• Nutrition Workshops

• Program Planning and Evaluation

margo.riebe-butt@nourishns.ca

www.nourishns.ca

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Margo has practiced dietetics and nutrition for over 15 years, focusing on the development, growth and leadership of school-based nutrition programs in Nova Scotia school communities since 2005. As a former consultant at the Department of Health and Wellness, Margo facilitated and led the transition of the provincial school breakfast program into a non-profit registered charitable organization, Nourish Nova Scotia. As the organization’s Executive Director, she collaborates with dedicated stakeholders and partners to co-create meaningful change to support sustainability for both program delivery & diversity. Margo is active with the Food and Nutrition Policy for Nova Scotia Public Schools Advisory Group because creating supportive, healthy environments for children and youth to grow, learn and thrive are incredibly important—not only to the future health and education outcomes of students, but for the social and economic prosperity of Nova Scotia as a whole. Margo lives in Bedford with her wonderful husband. In the summer you can find her endeavoring to upkeep an old 1876 one-room school house on the Bay of Fundy, attempting to grow heirloom vegetables, and challenging herself in the kitchen with new recipes and cooking techniques.

mariebrown22@hotmail.com

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I have been working in community nutrition, as well as chronic disease management & prevention for over 13 years.

 

I have a passion for keeping food & nutrition tasty, fun and easy to understand. I enjoy facilitating workshop & presentations, as well as empowering people with the skills they need to achieve meaningful healthy lifestyle goals.

 

Specialties:

• Adult Nutrition

• Community Nutrition

• Healthy Eating

• Program Planning & Evaluation

Maureen has a degree in Dietetics from MSVU and works in an outpatient cardiac rehab clinic as well as  at the Dalhousie Family Medicine Clinic providing counselling on a wide variety of pediatric and adult nutrition concerns. She has two published heart healthy cookbook and writes articles regularly for Saltscapes and Good Taste magazines.

Specialties:

• Adult Nutrition

• Diabetes

• Digestive Disorders

• Heart Health

Shannan.Grant2@msvu.ca

902-457-5400

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As a Clinician Scientist, and Registered Dietitian (PDt), my focus is the use of clinical trials to assess community-based questions. I am interested in assessment of nutrition education from both the perspective of the patient/ client and the health care professional. Using knowledge translation (KT) strategies, classical behaviour change theories and core education principals, my colleagues and I develop, implement and assess dietary interventions. I am particularly interested in working with health care professionals and patients to assess approaches to chronic disease prevention and treatment. 

In my work, training and mentorship activities, I try to highlight the capacity clinicians, specifically Dietitians, have to play a key role in KT. As a strong believer that education activities inform research and vice versa, I am passionate about educating my students about the research process and enjoy guiding them as they develop knowledge and skills to become engaged in the knowledge-to-action process.

 

Specialties:

• Curriculum Development 

• Diabetes

• Program Planning and Evaluation

• Research

sharon.costey@nshealth.ca

902-237-1890

Sharon is currently working with NSHA's Policy and Planning across the province with Palliative Care Integration. She works across NS to ensure all policy and planning concerns are moved forward. Sharon works with programs, services, policy, and evaluation across all content including nutrition within Provincial Palliative Care Integration.

Sharon also has a small active practice in Middle Sackville, and has taught extensively in the nutrition department at MSVU and hopes to get back to that this year now that she is home from Ottawa.

 

Specialties: 

• Community Nutrition

• Program Planning & Evaluation

wanda.firth@nshealth.ca

I am a clinical dietitian with vast experience in cardiovascular nutrition, and over the years have worked with clinic patients in Endocrinology and Cardiology, and served on many committees in the field of nutrition, risk factor management, and behaviour change. I am also the Program Lead and Research Manager for the Community Cardiovascular Hearts & Health in Motion programs for the Nova Scotia Health Authority. I was an advisory member of Cardiovascular Health Nova Scotia,was on the Secondary Review Panel for the 2012 CCS Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Dyslipidemia and am a member of CACPR (Canadian Association of Cardiac Prevention & Rehabilitation) -Dietitians Working Group. My research work has focused on nutrition and behaviour change in the Hearts in Motion program and also on a workplace wellness study called ACCELERATION. I have presented podium and poster presentations at national and international conferences on the research outcomes from Hearts in Motion, a 2014 Leading Practice recipient from Accreditation Canada

 

Specialties:

• Adult Nutrition

• Heart Health

• Program Planning and Evaluation

• Research