Association des Diététistes de soins Primaires
Blending the science of nutrition with the art of food.
Professionnels enfusion de la science de la nutrition et de l’art de l’alimentation.
PRIMARY CARE DIETITIANS' ASSOCIATION
2026 ANNUAL CONFERENCE
Nutrition at the Front Line: Managing Complexity, Emerging Therapies, and Whole-Person Care in Primary Care
Two-Day Virtual Event | June 18 -19 2026
Amy MacDonald did her undergrad at Brescia and masters a Western University. She has been a dietitian for 17 years, most of that time as a public health dietitian. Amy is a mom (2 kids, 2 dogs), partner, minor sports coach, and loves spending time outside with her family and friends.
Arti Parpia is a registered dietitian and certified diabetes educator with 15 years of experience in hemodialysis and diabetes. She has her masters in nutritional sciences and has a passion for doing research that is meaningful to patients and the kidney diet. When working with patients, she believes that all foods can fit and strives to make the renal diet enjoyable, safe and easy to follow.
Craig Pacheco (He/Him) is a prominent Registered Dietitian, educator, and public speaker based in Toronto, Canada. He serves as a Lecturer at Toronto Metropolitan University, where he instructs on critical topics in nutrition and dietetics. He specializes in integrating gender and sexuality considerations into dietetic practice, promoting inclusive and trauma-informed approaches to care.
As the founder and co-owner of Queerly Nutrition, Craig leads a specialized virtual practice dedicated to evidence-based, affirming care for the 2SLGBTQ+ community. His clinical expertise centers on chronic disease management and mental health, utilizing a narrative, intersectional, and weight-inclusive framework.
Gordon Ly (he/him/his) is a registered dietitian, healthcare consultant, and educator based in Vancouver, Canada. He has practiced in a clinical setting for over a decade serving adults and pediatrics in hospitals, clinics, and community settings. Having developed an interest in developing curriculum and supporting students, he worked as an Educator at the University of British Columbia, where he also completed his master’s degree in health leadership and clinical education.
As a co-owner of Queerly Nutrition, Gordon provides weight-inclusive and anti-oppressive nutrition care to members of the 2SLGBTQ+ communities focusing on a relational and expansive approach. His clinical experience in chronic disease prevention and management allows him to support a variety of clients wherever they are on their health journey.
Jackie Silver is a Registered Dietitian and founder of Jackie Silver Nutrition, a virtual private practice specializing in supporting neurodivergent kids, teens, and adults, including those who are autistic, have ADHD, or intellectual/developmental disabilities (IDD). Her team provides neurodiversity-affirming, nonjudgmental, and weight-inclusive care.
Jackie earned her Master of Health Science in Nutrition Communication from Toronto Metropolitan University and has specialized training in mindful eating and sensory-based feeding therapy. She works with clients across Ontario and beyond, supporting areas such as selective eating, ARFID, meal planning, digestive health, and chronic disease management.
In her free time, Jackie enjoys rock climbing, swimming, traveling, visiting museums, and spending time with family and friends.
Krystal Merrells is a registered dietitian who grew up and studied in Winnipeg, and is currently living and working in Ottawa. Krystal shifted from biochemistry to nutrition, and started her career in nutrition lab research, diabetes education, and working as part of a clinical trial. Her professional development has led her to learn and practice more in eating disorders, trauma-informed care and digestive health. After unfortunately experiencing more than one concussion, and still living with persistent post-concussion symptoms, Krystal moved to private practice where she supports people in outpatient brain injury rehabilitation, which she has been doing since 2019. Krystal is an advocate for compassionate, person-centred care, with a focus on practical approaches to accommodate varying needs.
Luke Chao founded The Morpheus Clinic for Hypnosis in 2006. He holds a Honours Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Toronto and Consulting Hypnotist and Certified Instructor certifications with the National Guild of Hypnotists. His approach is client- and solution-focused, brief and humanistic.
