Abstracts from Dietetic Research Event – June 14, 2013

From the west coast of Canada it is with great pleasure that I welcome you to beautiful Victoria, host city of the 2013 Dietitians of Canada Annual Conference Research Event. This year the Canadian Foundation for Dietetic Research received many high quality abstracts that clearly illustrate diverse interests and issues faced by members in everyday dietetic practice. Through the continued support of Dietitians of Canada and Canadian Foundation for Dietetic Research, the 2013 Research Event has shaped up to be an inspiring forum for strengthening the practice of Canadian dietitians from coast to coast to coast.

The topics showcased in this year’s abstracts span a broad scope of practice areas that include Public Health Nutrition, Undergraduate Education and Dietetic Internship, Patient Services, and using Technology in Health Education, to name a few. Moreover, the findings help us to better understand the effects of ethnicity, socioeconomic, gender, and age on health and illness.

New to this year’s event, each presenter will provide a 10-minute oral presentation followed by a short question period. This lively format replaces the electronic posters and 20-minute presentations used in the past and is sure to ignite plenty of enthusiastic discussion! As you listen to and reflect on the issues that your colleagues passionately share, I urge you to consider how you can become more involved in the research and experience-sharing process. Discuss an idea with a presenter you would like to meet or with colleagues you already know. By engaging our curious minds in critical dialogue, together we will continue to strengthen dietetic knowledge and practice in Canada.

A successful Research Event requires dedicated work and commitment from many people. On behalf of Dietitians of Canada and Canadian Foundation for Dietetic Research, I would like to extend a special thank you to the members of the 2013 Abstracts Review Committee who represented community nutrition, private practice, clinical nutrition, food service, and academic areas of expertise and practice and worked collaboratively to ensure an outstanding line-up of research: Colleen McGuire (atthetablenutrition.com), Dani Shahvarani-Renouf (4elementshealth. wordpress.com), Dr. Evelyn Cornelissen (Research, Southern Medical Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia), Gerry Kasten (Community Nutritionist, Squamish Community Health Centre, Vancouver Coastal Health), Mahsa Jessri (PhD Candidate, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto), and Mohsen Saberi (Food Services Manager, University of British Columbia Hospital). I would also like to express my gratitude to Dr. Daphne Lordly (Associate Professor, Mount St. Vincent University), Dr. Karen Davison (Instructor, Langara College), and Theresa Cividin (Practice Leader, Clinical Nutrition, Vancouver Coastal Health) for graciously moderating research sessions. And finally, a special thank you to Diana Sheh at Dietitians of Canada and Isla Horvath at Canadian Foundation for Dietetic Research for guiding the Committee through the inaugural use of an online abstract review system and in scheduling the research presentations.

I look forward to seeing you at the Research Event on June 14th to celebrate an impressive selection of dietetic research that is happening in Canada from resplendent coast to coast to coast.