A Message from the Chair

It is a great pleasure to welcome you to the Department of Nutritional Sciences as we reflect on a dynamic 2024-2025 academic year marked by renewed energy and focus. With this momentum, we are thrilled to welcome Dr. Amanda Raffoul, who joins us as an Early Career Researcher. Dr. Raffoul’s research aims to promote evidence-based policies for preventing eating disorders and fostering healthy dietary patterns. We look forward to her contributions in research, teaching, and mentoring.

Our graduate students continue to excel, securing competitive Tri-Agency awards, and their success is a point of pride for the department. With the end of COVID-19 restrictions, we’ve transitioned smoothly back to in-person instruction. This year, we’re offering 15 undergraduate and 6 graduate courses, fostering richer collaboration and engagement on campus. We are also working to expand our graduate course offerings based on recommendations from the 2021-2022 external review. Under Dr. Anthony Hanley’s leadership, we are engaging students and faculty in discussions to enhance our curriculum and further enrich the learning experience. The department is also currently developing a specialist program in Applied Human Nutrition that will provide a path for undergraduate students seeking a career in dietetics.

We were thrilled to host our Department’s Research Day and the Edna Park Lecture on November 7, 2024, both of which were a resounding success. The event highlighted exceptional research from our trainees and featured invited speakers Dr. Daniel Drucker from the Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute and Dr. Eileen Kennedy from Tufts University, USA. It was a fantastic opportunity for our community to come together, strengthening the collaborative spirit that defines our department.

I would also like to thank the Undergraduate Nutritional Sciences Student Association (NSSA) for revitalizing our department’s merchandise (stylish hoodies and t-shirts!) and the Nutritional Sciences Graduate Students' Association (NSGSA) for organizing multiple events, including a holiday party, to support faculty and student engagement.

Our department continues to make strides, guided by our 2021-2026 Strategic Plan. I’d like to express my gratitude to everyone who contributed to this plan, including the members of the Strategic Plan Steering Committee, the working groups, and all those who provided valuable feedback. This plan emphasizes our commitment to improving nutritional health across the lifespan and striving for equity, locally and globally, through impactful research, policy contributions, and teaching. The implementation of this plan and its priorities is already underway, with a focus on collaboration and leadership within our department.

The Nutrition Intervention Centre continues to grow, with bi-monthly meetings, multiple labs utilizing the space, and the recent addition of advanced equipment like the InBody 970 and Roche Cobas analyzers. We’re also expanding our infrastructure with the construction of a walk-in refrigerator and freezer to support our research initiatives.

We are also incredibly proud to celebrate the accomplishments of our faculty. Dr. David Jenkins received the Lifetime Achievement Award from Diabetes Canada and the President’s Impact Award from the University of Toronto. Dr. Valerie Tarasuk was awarded  the Order of Ontario, the province’s highest civilian honour, given for excellence and lasting impact in any field. Other recognitions include Dr. Jacqueline Beaudry (David L. Williams Lecture and Scholarship Award), Dr. Adam Metherel (ASN E.L.R. Stokstad Award), Dr. Laura Chiavaroli (ASN Mead Johnson Award), and Dr. Vasanti Malik (CNS CIHR-INMD-CNS Early Career Researcher Award), all honored for their exceptional contributions to nutrition science.

The Department of Nutritional Sciences' remarkable presence and accomplishments at the Canadian Nutrition Society Conference reaffirmed its position as a leader in nutritional research and education, not only within Canada but also on the global stage.

Looking ahead, we are excited about the continued growth and success of our department and the work we will do together in the months and years to come.