PRIMARY CARE DIETITIANS' ASSOCIATION

VISION:

Blending the science of nutrition and the art of food.

​

MISSION STATEMENT:

To advocate for access, capacity and integration of primary care dietitians. Encourage primary care dietitians to become highly skilled at providing medical nutrition therapy, disease prevention and health promotion with comprehensive primary care.  

​

VALUES:

• Advocate for access to primary care dietitians

• Evidence based practice

• Inter-professional healthcare

• Collaboration and sharing of resources among primary care dietitians

• Continuous learning and improvement

• Operate in a transparent fashion

• Equity, inclusion and diversity

​

​

30+

Years of Experience

Professional Members

Student Members

7

Provinces Represented

BOARD of DIRECTORS

PRESIDENT - KIM SANDILAND

Kim has been a Registered Dietitian since 2013 and has been working in Primary Care since she graduated from the Master of Food and Nutrition program at Brescia University College.  She is a founding member of the PCDA, and the its Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Task Force. She supported the transition of the Dietitians’ of Canada FHT-Ontario Network to our National organization in 2020 with the leadership of Marg Alfieri. 

VICE PRESIDENT - SONIA FILICE

Sonia has been working as a Registered Dietitian in Primary Care since 2016 when she completed the Coordinated Program in Dietetics as well as her Master’s Degree in Nutrition and Food Science at Wayne State University.  She is a new Board Member for the newly established PCDA, a former recipient of the Barb Manilla Award, and an award-winning recipe creator.

DIRECTOR - DONNA LOWES

Donna is a Registered Dietitian with a passion for connecting people through food. Donna completed her undergraduate and graduate studies at the University of Guelph. As a member of the Board of Directors for the PCDA, Donna looks forward to cultivating new connections and forward movement in the dietetic industry. With a strong background in agriculture, she loves helping people to understand where their food comes from, and how it can nourish their body. In her spare time, Donna can be found gardening, horseback riding or cooking.

DIRECTOR - RAWAN ALJBOUR

Rawan is a Registered Dietitian who has been providing nutrition services for over 13 years and has helped thousands of people to manage their chronic diseases including Diabetes, Obesity and Cholesterol, dramatically improving quality of life. Rawan is an internationally educated professional dietitian who graduated from the University of Jordan in 2007. She worked in the Middle East for 7 years in an outpatient setting, then moved to Canada in 2015 as an immigrant who had a dream to become an RD. She completed the International Educated Professional in Nutrition (EPN) Program with an integrated internship in 2019 at Ryerson University, allowing her to practice in Canada, and has been working as a Primary Care dietitian ever since. 

DIRECTOR - TAMEIKA SHAW

Tameika Shaw is the Manager of Primary Care Services with TAIBU Community Health Centre in Scarborough, Ontario. Over the last 12 years, Tameika has practiced as a community dietitian providing counselling on a wide range of diet-related conditions, planning and delivering programs, and working with various community agencies to address food insecurity. Leveraging the skills and knowledge gained in this role, she has made a seamless transition to health leadership with continued focus on improving health outcomes of the individual and community and is often described as approachable and humble while being effective in leadership and project management. In her current role, Tameika has co-led clinic initiatives that aim to improve patient access to care, build capacity and foster external partnerships. In addition to her primary job functions, she is the clinical lead in the Centre’s pandemic and COVID-19 response; including testing and vaccine initiatives. Tameika obtained her Bachelor of Applied Science in Nutrition and Food at Ryerson University and holds a graduate degree in Health Sciences from the University of Toronto. In addition to the PCDA, she is a member of the College of Dietitians of Ontario and the Community Health Centre Dietitian Action Group.

DIRECTOR - YIJING (CATHERINE) CAI

Yijing (Catherine) Cai has been a Registered Dietitian since 2018.  She has experience working in Primary Care and Long-Term Care settings. She enjoys the diversity in Primary Care and is currently an RD at the Crosstown Family Health Team.  She grew up in China and is a self-proclaimed, adventurous foodie. She enjoys exploring new areas, learning new cultures, and trying different cuisines in her spare time with her friends and family.

STAFF

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR - KRISTEN GARLAND

Kristen has held various managerial positions throughout her 20-year corporate career with experience in leadership, strategy, public relations, marketing and communications. She has dedicated the last fifteen years to advocacy work, partnering with global organizations like the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) and Diabetes Canada, represented The Charles H. Best Diabetes Centre as the Chair of their Parent Advisory Council and Outreach & Engagement Committee. After her daughter’s diagnosis of Type 1 Diabetes in 2013, Kristen returned to school to achieve her Masters of Applied Nutrition from the University of Guelph. She has since been working in primary care and private practice as a Registered Dietitian and Diabetes Educator. 

PCDA ADVISORS