Marie-Ève Besner, PDt
Montreal Children's Hospital
Degree: BSc 2001 (Université Laval – Quebec City)
Marie-Eve Besner is a registered dietitian. She has been working in clinical nutrition for the past 17 years. Since graduating, she has been working at the Montreal Children’s Hospital of the McGill University Health Center. She specialized in pediatric nutrition and has extensive experience in parenteral and enteral nutrition, nutrition support in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, as well as in food allergies. She is the professional coordinator of the clinical nutrition department since 2013. She leads a team of 35 professionals and technicians.
She has been certified twice over a period of 10 years with the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition, as a Certified Nutrition Support Dietician and Clinician. She has collaborated with McGill University School of Human Nutrition throughout her career, supervising several undergraduate and graduate students. She lectures medical students on infant nutrition during their rotation at the Montreal Children’s Hospital. She has collaborated on different projects with the Ministère de la Santé et des services sociaux and the Ordre Professionnel des diététistes du Québec.
marie-eve.besner2 [at] mcgill.ca
Annyck Besso, PDt
Founder, Sööma
Degree: BSc 2012 (St Francis Xavier), MSc 2014 (McGill University)
Annyck Besso is a registered dietitian and the founder of Sööma, a private practice that serves the Montreal population and offers services virtually in the United States. After completing her bachelors in nutrition at St Francis Xavier University in Nova Scotia, Annyck completed a Masters in dietetics at McGill University.
After graduating in 2015, Annyck began working on a pediatric unit specialized in the treatment of eating disorders at the Douglas Mental Health University Institute in Montreal. Annyck then moved to Washington, DC, where she lived for three years, treating individuals diagnosed with eating disorders and developing and directing a day program.
Annyck founded Sööma in 2020 after returning to Montreal. She currently sees clients in both Montreal and the United States and manages and supervises a team of dietitians at Sööma. Additionally, she provides private clinical supervision to dietitians throughout Montreal and the United States and offers training for health professionals, coaches and student educators on fostering a safe, inclusive and food neutral space. Annyck is trained in various therapeutic modalities which are used heavily throughout her work.
Annyck strongly believes in offering a training space for future dietitians. She is enthusiastic about supervising and teaching dietetic students through stages at Sööma and guest lecturing in Clinical Nutrition 3.
abesso [at] sooma.ca
Sarah Blunden, PDt, CDE
LMC Diabetes and Endocrinology
Degree: BSc 2003 (McGill University – Montreal)
Sarah Blunden is a registered dietitian and a certified diabetes educator (CDE since 2006). She is a McGill graduate from Dietetics and Human Nutrition 2003 and currently working as the Regional Manager for the Diabetes Education Program at LMC Diabetes and Endocrinology. She has a strong expertise in diabetes management, in particular with insulin pump therapy. In addition to supervising students in stage, she offers annual guest lecture in Clinical nutrition since 2008. Her lectures have always been very appreciated from students.
sarah.blunden [at] mcgill.ca
Jessica Coll, PDt
Founder, Healthly Institute
Degree: BSc 2007 (McGill University)
During her final year at McGill University's School of Human Nutrition, Jessica had the opportunity to complete her last stage at a Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Clinic in Austin, Texas. It was there that she recognized the immense stress and pressure surrounding mealtimes, particularly with babies transitioning to solid foods and picky eating. Motivated to create positive change, Jessica dedicated herself to addressing these challenges. After gaining hands-on experience working directly with WIC families, Jessica joined the Texas Department of State Health Services. In this role, she taught nutrition and breastfeeding courses to WIC health professionals throughout the state of Texas. When she moved back to her hometown of Montreal in 2012, Jessica founded Healthly Institute teaching Baby-Led Weaning (BLW) workshops for parents, as one of the two only dietitians in the province. She now runs a membership program designed for health professionals which became a global community. This program equips them with all the necessary resources to effectively teach their own workshops along with continuing education courses. Jessica brings together leading experts in the field of pediatrics, educating and empowering health professionals by sharing cutting-edge approaches in pediatric care. Her ultimate objective is to foster a lifelong positive relationship with food for babies and children, free from pressure and stress. In addition to her professional endeavors, Jessica finds great joy in collaborating with students at the McGill University School of Human Nutrition. Through mentoring, she loves to inspire the next generation in the fields of pediatrics and entrepreneurship.
jessica [at] healthlyinstitute.com
Catherine Delorme, PDt
Ste-Anne's Hospital
Degree: BSc 2014 (Université de Montréal)
Catherine Delorme is a 2014 Université de Montréal graduate from the program of Nutrition. She is currently working as a clinical dietitian at Ste Anne Hospital and specializes in geriatric nutrition and dysphagia. She actively participates in the education of dietetics students through multiple yearly stage supervisions and as a guest lecturer. Catherine Delorme gives an annual dysphagia workshop alongside her colleagues to third year undergraduate students and provides the students with essential notions and practical exercises for the management and treatment of dysphagia.
catherine.delorme [at] mcgill.ca
Théa Demmers, PDt, MSc
Degree: MSc 2004 (McGill University), BSc 2002 (Messiah University)
Théa is a PhD student at Université de Montréal’s École de Santé Publique. She completed her MSc at McGill University in 2005 and worked with community organizations on food security projects and providing nutrition counseling and workshops as a registered dietitian. She served as Supervisor of a nutrition platform to support students and research at Concordia University. Her current research, that she developed with supervisors Rosanne Blanchet and Lara Gautier, focuses on the diet, food security and health of temporary migrant workers working in agriculture and food manufacturing in Quebec’s agrifood system. She is particularly interested in how upstream factors influence working and living conditions for these essential workers, and the subsequent impact of these factors on temporary migrant workers’ dietary patterns, food security and health.
thea.demmers [at] umontreal.ca
Linda Falcon, PDt
Douglas Mental Health University Institute
Degree: B.Sc. 1982 (Université de Montréal – Montréal)
Linda Falcon is a team member nutritionist of the Eating Disorder Program at the Douglas Mental Health University Institute since the opening of the clinic in 1986. She provides nutrition education and nutrition counselling to adults suffering of anorexia nervosa and bulimia. She is also responsible of the food management for the program’s day hospital and in-patient unit. Since many years, Linda Falcon is involved in sharing her expertise in eating disorders with dietetics students as a guest lecturer and as a stage supervisor. In 2017, she received the ‘Prix d’Excellence en carrière’ from the Ordre Professionnel des Diététistes du Québec in recognition of her exceptional work.
linda.falcon2 [at] mcgill.ca
Louidgina Khoury, PDt
Clinique Michel Gagner MD/ Louidgina Khoury Private Practice
Degree: B.Sc. 2014 (State University of New York at Plattsburgh), M.Sc. 2017 (McGill University)
Louidgina Khoury, a member of l'Ordre des diététistes-nutritionnistes du Québec (ODNQ), is the Director of Nutrition and Clinical Nutritionist at Clinique Michel Gagner MD. She received her undergraduate degree in Nutrition from the State University of New York in Plattsburgh (2014) (SUNY) and her Masters in Nutrition from McGill University (2017). Louidgina specializes in weight loss surgeries and regularly attends conferences and seminars as part of her continuing education. Outside the office she enjoys preparing delicious recipes, and staying active with outdoor activities such as kayaking, hiking, and cycling.
louidgina.khoury [at] mail.mcgill.ca
Isabelle Lam, PDt
Remix Snacks/ Launch Rehab
Degree: B.Sc. 2019 (McGill University)
Isabelle Lam graduated from McGill University's dietetics program in 2019, and is a member of the College of Dietitians British Columbia. Taking on a more unconventional dietetics career path, Isabelle is a co-founder of a snack start-up, Remix Snacks, where they create nutritious, bean-based snacks with upcycled ingredients to reduce food waste. She is passionate about sharing the integration of entrepreneurship and the diverse opportunities dietetics has to offer with her stagiaire students.
At the same time, Isabelle practices in a clinical setting at a private clinic in Vancouver, working with clients in intuitive eating, sports nutrition, and making sustainable lifestyle changes.
isabelle.lam [at] mcgill.ca
Suzanne Lepage, PDt
Montreal Diet Dispensary
Degree: Certificat en santé en nutrition publique 2015, B.Sc. 2007 (McGill University)
Perinatal social nutrition, gestational diabetes, food insecurity, clientele in situations of vulnerability, clientele from varied ethnocultural backgrounds.
slepage [at] dispensaire.ca
Alexander McLean, PDt
Lakeshore General Hospital
Degree: B.Sc. 2010 (McGill University – Montréal)
Alexander is a graduate of Dietetics and human nutrition at McGill (2010) and a registered dietitian (ODNQ). Following graduation, he joined the nephrology team at the Lakeshore General Hospital in 2011. Relevant areas of clinical practice include Hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis and general nephrology including advanced practice in chronic kidney disease related bone mineral disorders.
Secondary areas of clinical practice include: geriatrics, intensive care, Pre-op ERAS protocols (Enhanced Recovery After Surgery), and Autism Spectrum Disorders.
He is an experienced speaker having given a variety of lectures related to Autism, ERAS protocols and Bariatric surgery in chronic kidney disease at the Canadian obesity weekend for Canadian Association of Bariatric physicians and Surgeons.
He is a Member of the RNNQ (Regroupement des Nutritionnistes en Néphrologie du Quebec).
alexander.mclean [at] mcgill.ca
Laura Li Ching Ng, RD, MSc., CNSC
The Hospital for Sick Children (Sickkids)
Degree B.Sc. 2016 and M.Sc. 2022 (McGill University – Montreal)
Laura is a registered dietitian since 2016, member of the College of Dietitians of Ontario and an ASPEN certified Nutrition Support Clinician since 2019. She has worked in various areas of prenatal, pediatric and adult care clinical nutrition at the Montreal Diet Dispensary and McGill University Health Centre before exclusively practicing at the Montreal Children's Hospital (MCH) since 2018. Laura worked primarily in the areas of neonatal and pediatric intensive care at the MCH and concurrently pursued a M.Sc (thesis) in Human Nutrition in 2020. Her thesis work focused on body composition and the risk of bronchopulmonary dysplasia in extremely preterm infants. In 2023, Laura joined the Hospital for Sick Children, practising in the area of inborn errors of metabolism.
Laura continues to support teaching as a guest lecturer at the School of Human Nutrition in the area of pediatrics and metabolic nutrition. Her ongoing research work is in neonatal nutrition in collaboration with Dr Marc Beltempo at the MCH.
laura.lichingng [at] mcgill.ca
Piraveena Piremathasan, PDt, CDE, CBE
DEXCOM Canada
Degree B.Sc. 2014 (McGill University – Montreal)
Piraveena (Veena) Piremathasan is a Registered Dietitian, Certified Diabetes Educator, Certified Bariatric Educator and Certified Insulin Pump Trainer. She is a 2014 graduate of McGill University and an active member of the Ordre des diététistes-nutritionnistes du Québec and the College of Dietitians of Ontario. In the past, she has worked with the Cree Health Board, LMC Diabetes & Endocrinology, and CIUSSS West-Central Montreal. Currently, she is a Senior Patient Care Specialist at Dexcom Canada.
Piraveena is passionate about improving access to nutrition and health education for people of all backgrounds. In her role as an Affiliate Member of the School of Human Nutrition, she lectures McGill Dietetic students on Cultural Competence and Cultural Safety, and also Diabetes in Diverse Populations. Throughout Canada, she delivers trilingual presentations on nutrition and diabetes to health professionals and the general public.
piraveena.piremathasan [at] mail.mcgill.ca
Marilyn Rabin, PDt
Private Practice
Degree: B.Sc. 1975 (McGill University); Graduate Internship 1976 (Montreal Diet Dispensary); Adult Education Certificate 1981 (Concordia University); MINT 2017 (Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers-Malahide, Ireland)
Marilyn Rabin is a registered dietitian and a member of OPDQ since 1976. She recently retired from the Douglas Institute where she worked as the Community Dietitian for 40 years until August 16, 2020. She currently volunteers her expertise providing workshops to COMPEER Montreal, a non-profit community-based centre that offers support for people living with severe mental illness, to mental health professionals, as well as to the School and to dietitians with an interest in the motivational interviewing approach to achieve favourable nutritional and health outcomes. She maintains her competency by regularly participating in MI and relevant webinars in addition to researching current clinical practices on nutrition and mental health. She is extremely grateful to her past and present mentors who embody the spirit of partnership, acceptance, compassion and evocation.
dietitian [at] videotron.ca
Saedisomeolia Ahmad, PhD, MSPH, BSc
Associate Professor, Higher Education College of Health Sciences, Education Centre of Australia
Degrees: PhD, M.Sc., B.Sc. (University of Newcastle, Australia)
Dr Ahmad Saedisomeolia has been appointed to be a Research Scientist Affiliate with the School of Human Nutrition, McGill University, since 2024. Associate Professor Ahmad Saedisomeolia currently holds a position at the Higher Education College of Health Sciences, Education Centre of Australia, Sydney, Australia. Additionally, he serves on the Academic Promotion Committee, ECA Academic Board, and CHS Course Advisory Committee.
Previously, Ahmad worked as a Researcher/Lecturer at the School of Human Nutrition, McGill University, Montreal, Canada, from 2021 to 2023. He earned his PhD in Nutrition from the University of Newcastle, Australia, in 2008, with master’s and bachelor’s degrees in “Nutrition in Public Health” and “Nutrition Sciences and Dietetics”, respectively.
Between 2008 and 2020, Dr. Saedisomeolia held various faculty positions at Tehran University of Medical Sciences, including Full-Professor and head of Department of Cellular and Molecular Nutrition, and Vice-Dean for Education. During this time, he also worked as a Research Fellow at the School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, and as a Research Affiliate with the University of Sydney from 2014 to 2015.
Dr. Ahmad Saedisomeolia has an impressive professional portfolio with 98 publications primarily featured in leading journals, maintaining an H-index of 29 (more than 3K citations) and accumulating over 3500 hours of lecturing experience. He has also collaborated with industry organizations, serving as a Nutrition Expert for the European Union and Scientific Chair for International Conferences on “Functional Foods and Healthy Supplements,” hosted by Merck Company in Dubai in 2017 and 2018.
LinkedIn Google Scholar ResearchGate
Ahmad.Saedisomeolia [at] chs.edu.au
Donna Schafer, PDt, MSc
CIUSSS Centre-Ouest de l’Ile de Montréal
Degrees: M.Sc. 1993 (McGill University – Montreal); B.Sc. 1990 (McGill University – Montreal)
Donna Schafer is a registered dietitian (ODNQ) and a member of the Practice Based Evidence in Nutrition and of Dietitians of Canada. She has more than 15 years of experience as a clinical nutrition manager. She is currently the Chief of Clinical Nutrition at the CIUSSS Centre-Ouest de l’Ile de Montréal. She has developed policies and procedures to ensure nutrition care met standards and best practice. She has work closely with the School to offer meaningful projects to stagiaires. She has won numerous awards during her career, including a multidisciplinary award in collaboration with nursing and cardiac dietitians for controlling risk factors associated with nutrition in cardiac patient (CII Nursing Innovation Award, 2014).
donna.schafer [at] mcgill.ca
Patricia Urrico, PDt
Jewish General Hospital
Degree: B.Sc. 1990 (McGill University – Montreal)
Patricia Urrico is a registered dietitian (ODNQ) and a member of Diabetes Canada and Diabète Québec. She has been working as a clinical dietitian at the Montreal Jewish General Hospital since 1990. Since 2017 she is also the professional coordinator in clinical nutrition. During her career, she has sat on multiple committees (president of the JGH multidisciplinary council, co-chair for the Diabetes Canada Montreal Chapter). She supervises annually students during their clinical stage rotations. She has also been a guest speaker in clinical nutrition.
patricia.urrico2 [at] mcgill.ca
Previous Affiliate Members
Kathryn Arcudi, PDt, CDE
Diabetes Clinic/ Lakeshore General Hospital
Degree: BSc 1998 (McGill University)
Kathryn Arcudi graduated with distinction from McGill University in December 1988 with a Bachelor’s degree in Nutritional Sciences (Dietetics). She has been working as a clinical dietitian in the hospital/outpatient setting for the past 31 years with a special interest in diabetes. Kathryn first obtained her Certified Diabetes Educator designation in the year 2000. She has been an active volunteer with Diabetes Canada for over 20 years and is passionate about diabetes education, whether it is educating fellow colleagues, students or her clients. Kathryn has been involved in both the writing of the Nutrition Clinical Practice Guidelines for Diabetes in Canada 2013 (CPG’S) as well as in their dissemination across Canada.
karcudi.odi [at] ssss.gouv.qc.ca
Popi Kasvis, PDt
Montreal University Health Centre
Degree: PhD Health and Exercise Science, Concordia University (2023); MSc Human Nutrition, McGill University (2015), BSc Dietetics, McGill University (2012)
Popi Kasvis began working as a dietitian at the McGill University Health Centre in 2014. The majority of her career has been spent working in the interdisciplinary Cancer Rehabilitation Program. She has developed an expertise in oncology and supportive cancer care, assessing and counselling patients throughout the cancer continuum, from diagnosis to either survival or end-of-life care. These clinical experiences and her passion for research led to the completion of a PhD in Health and Exercise Science at Concordia University, examining the effect of nutrition and exercise interventions on health-related quality of life outcomes in patients with pancreatic cancer awaiting surgery. Her research interests include the development dietary interventions that improve quality of life outcomes in patients with advanced cancer. Over her career, Kasvis has enjoyed supervising McGill dietetics stagiaires, and looks forward to opportunities to work with graduate students interested in cancer care.
popi.kasvis [at] muhc.mcgill.ca
