2025-2026 Preceptor Award Winners

Academic Excellence Award

Winner – Alice Haasdyk, RD, Health Sciences North

Alice is highly deserving of the Academic Excellence Award for her sustained commitment to teaching, mentorship, and professional growth. She consistently takes on learners for placements, providing thoughtful supervision and support, and has advised on several practice-based projects over the years that strengthen learning through real-world applications. Alice has also co-facilitated pediatric workshops with current dietetic learners, enhancing their clinical skills and confidence. Beyond formal teaching roles, she continues to mentor and teach colleagues, including myself, fostering a culture of learning within the team. Her ongoing dedication to professional development ensures she remains current with evolving guidelines, which directly enriches her teaching and leadership in practice.

Commitment to Clinical Education

Winner – Adriana Bresson, RD, Sault Area Hospital

Adriana demonstrates a strong commitment to clinical education through her dedication to regularly precepting learners and a consistently supportive and learner-focused approach. During placements, Adriana is attentive, approachable, and readily available to provide guidance, prioritizing teaching opportunities within clinical practice.

Adriana delivers thorough education on a range of nutrition-related disease states, answers questions clearly, and provides additional resources to support ongoing learning.

She also fosters a welcoming and encouraging learning environment, contributing positively to the overall educational experience and reflecting a clear dedication to supporting dietetic learners.

Innovative Preceptor Award

Winner – Erika Ouellette, RD, Health Sciences North

Erika demonstrates exceptional commitment to innovative, high-quality clinical education by fostering structured, supportive, and enriching learning experiences. She promotes critical thinking, independence, and problem-solving while supporting the development of competence in complex medical nutrition therapies. Her approach has a meaningful and lasting impact that learners credit as inspiring them to pursue clinical dietetics.

Interprofessional Collaborator Award

Winner – Jennifer Santerre-Smith, RD, Pioneer Manor

Jennifer demonstrates strong interprofessional collaboration through a thoughtful, learner-centered approach and effective team engagement. Jennifer takes the time to understand each learner’s needs and adapts support accordingly, fostering an inclusive and productive learning environment.

In a busy long-term care setting, Jennifer manages the department and interdisciplinary interactions with professionalism and skill, addressing conflict constructively and maintaining a calm, composed presence during high-pressure situations. This consistency ensures that both team dynamics and the learner experience remain positive.

Northern Ambassador Award

Winner – Janet Drennan, RD, Giishkaandago’Ikwe Health Services

For nearly 20 years, Janet has been an exceptional ambassador for her Fort Frances community, consistently welcoming learners into her practice. Her unwavering commitment to dietetic education reflects her belief in the importance of investing in the next generation of Registered Dietitians.

Working at an Aboriginal Health Access Centre, she provides learners with invaluable cultural learning opportunities, fostering understanding and respect for Indigenous traditions and health practices. Each placement is thoughtfully organized, with a comprehensive schedule of learning experiences designed to optimize the learner’s time and growth.

Through her dedication, she demonstrates the profound impact of building community and practicing in smaller northern settings. Janet exemplifies the qualities of a Northern Ambassador; advocating for her community, promoting cultural awareness, and inspiring future professionals to embrace the unique opportunities of northern practice.