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Spotlight on Dietetic Practicum Program Alumni

Sarah Wyder

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Born and raised in Thunder Bay, Ont., Sarah Wyder graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Food and Nutrition, with an honours specialization in nutrition and dietetics, from Western University in 2020. She was grateful to return home in 2021 to complete the Northern Ontario Dietetic Internship Program—now the Dietetic Practicum Program (DPP).

Sarah began her career working part time with the Mental Health Rehabilitation Program at St. Joseph’s Hospital while also covering a maternity leave at the Maternity Centre at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre. Since 2023, she has been working full time at the NorWest Community Health Centre, where she has the privilege of supporting clients across a wide range of demographics, and health conditions.

Reflecting on her time in the program, Sarah shares:

“My favourite part of the program was the opportunity to build strong connections with preceptors, and fellow learners, while gaining diverse experiences across clinical, community, and population health settings. I especially valued being able to train in Northern Ontario, as it allowed me to strengthen my skills in providing accessible, client-centred care, while staying rooted in the community where I grew up.”

Francophone Features, In the Spotlight

Honouring Maureen Lacroix on the Journée des Franco-Ontariens

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Established in 2007 by the Groupe consultatif francophone, the Maureen Lacroix Francophone Community Bursary is awarded to aid Francophone medical students at NOSM University

A testament to the kinship, resilience, and the importance of Northern Ontario’s Francophone community, the Maureen Lacroix Francophone Community Bursary at NOSM University is made possible by generous donors.

Established in 2007, this Bursary aims to alleviate the financial challenges that many Francophone students face. An investment in the future of Francophone health professionals, the bursary embodies Maureen Lacroix’s devotion to the Francophone community through her life and work.

Strengthening access to care in regions where Francophone culture and language play a crucial role is of great importance; the bursary sets out to accomplish just that.

Maureen was a force in the health-care sector and a fierce advocate for the Francophone and Northern Ontario community. A registered nurse by profession, she was instrumental in the establishment of Sudbury’s Cancer Treatment Centre during her time as a member of the Sudbury-Manitoulin District Health Council. She was the first female board member on Health Sciences North’s (formerly Laurentian Hospital) board, as well as the first woman to chair the Laurentian University Board of Governors.

« J’ai toujours été passionnée et déterminée à faire progresser les soins de santé dans le Nord, a dit Mme Lacroix. Mes racines sont dans le Nord de l’Ontario et j’ai réalisé très tôt dans mon expérience dans les soins de santé que la disponibilité des soins de santé dans le Nord pour les gens du Nord était essentielle pour avancer le bien-être de la communauté dans son ensemble et pour assurer un meilleur accès et une meilleure réponse aux soins. Cette Bourse sert à cette fin en attirant et en retenant les étudiants francophones en médecine dans le Nord. »
 
“I have always been passionate and determined to advance healthcare in the North,” said Lacroix. My roots are in Northern Ontario, and I realized early on in my healthcare experience that the availability of healthcare in the North for Northerners was essential to advancing the well-being of the community as a whole and ensuring better access and response to care. This Bursary serves this purpose by attracting and retaining Francophone medical students in the North.”

A strong voice for women’s health and social wellbeing, Maureen helped establish the first social housing projects for women in Sudbury, including the Northern Regional Recovery Home for Women and Genevra House. Outside of her work in health care and community activism, she helped bolster her community’s arts and culture scene through her work with the Sudbury Theatre Centre.

In 2010, Maureen was recognized for her commitment to the community, receiving a Woman of Distinction Award from the YWCA. Then in 2017, she received an honorary Doctorate of Sacred Letters from the University of Sudbury. Maureen’s bursary, held at NOSM University, is yet another recognition of her incredible legacy as a passionate health-care provider, advocate, and community leader.

“We are so grateful to the Francophone community who share Maureen Lacroix’s vision through their generous contributions to this community-funded bursary,” says Danielle Barbeau-Rodrigue, Director, Francophone Affairs at NOSM University. “Providing support for the next generation of Francophone health-care professionals in the North is much needed to create a safe, sustainable, and healthy future for Franco-Ontarians.”

Donations to the Maureen Lacroix Francophone Community Bursary can be made online through NOSM University’s Website or by contacting NOSM University’s Advancement Office at advancementcoordinator@nosm.ca. Every donation helps in creating opportunities for Francophone NOSM University medical students.

Full-time Francophone medical students at NOSM University are encouraged to apply for the Maureen Lacroix Francophone Community Bursary. The recipient must be a Francophone resident of a Northern, rural, or remote Ontario community for a minimum of 10 years and demonstrate financial need.

Northern Routes

20 Years of NOSM University

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Celebrating Our Legacy, Welcoming Our Future

Hello, Aanin, Boozhoo, Tanshi, Kwe Kwe, Bonjour,

Today, we celebrate a significant milestone; the 20th anniversary of NOSM University opening its doors for the very first time. From its beginnings in 2005 as the Northern Ontario School of Medicine, NOSM University has flourished into Canada’s first independent medical university. This year, we also marked another extraordinary achievement. We celebrated the graduation of our 1,000th MD.

None of this has happened alone. NOSM University today is the result of years of hard work and determination by those who believed in what it could become—a driving force for health equity and stronger communities in Northern Ontario.

As we honour 20 years of progress and partnership, we are reminded that NOSM University’s greatest strength lies in its people: the 56 medical students who, in 2005, believed in a newly created model of distributed, community-engaged learning; the countless faculty, preceptors, staff, and community partners who continue to carry its mission forward; and those who are now joining our community of learners.  I recently had a chance to catch up with Dr. Roger Strasser, Founding Dean Emeritus, to share an update about these milestone achievements and to thank him for his vision and dedication to creating this unique and special institution.

This fall, that legacy continues. Since becoming President, I’ve had the honour of welcoming new residents this past July, the newest group of medical students last week, and, next Monday, the incoming class of the Dietetic Practicum Program.  To all of you, I extend my warmest welcome. Thank you for making NOSM University part of your story, and for choosing to study in Northern Ontario. It is my sincere hope that you feel supported and empowered as you begin this exciting new chapter.

Your time here will challenge and inspire you. You will learn from incredibly skilled faculty, work alongside dedicated preceptors and physicians, many of whom are NOSM University alumni. You will be embraced by communities across the North, who will remind you that the most meaningful lessons often happen outside the classroom.

As you begin your journey to becoming health-care professionals, remember to care for yourselves with the same compassion and patience that you show others. Careers in health care can be demanding, but by being curious, seizing every opportunity and supporting one another, you will make a lasting impact.

Welcome to NOSM University! You are the future of health care in the North, and we are excited to see the ways in which you will contribute to health equity, innovative practices, and quality care across Northern Ontario.

This anniversary is more than a milestone. It’s a testament to the strength that comes from being deeply connected to the people and places of the North, and to what we can achieve together. To everyone who has been part of this journey, I say miigwetch, merci and thank you.

Warm regards,
Dr. Michael Green
President, Vice-Chancellor, Dean, and CEO
NOSM University

If you have any feedback or comments, please reach out at president@nosm.caand follow me on X (formerly Twitter) @DrMichaelGreen1.

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20 Years in the North: An Open House Celebration

Mark your calendars for NOSM University’s 20th Anniversary Open House. In November, all Northern Ontarians are welcome to join us in celebrating community, reflecting on the milestones of the past two decades, and learning more about Canada’s first independent medical university.

📅     November 21, 2025

📍     NOSM University in Thunder Bay
Medical University Building, Lobby
955 Oliver Road | Thunder Bay, ON | P7B 5E1

NOSM University in Sudbury
Medical University Building, Lobby
935 Ramsey Lake Road | Sudbury, ON | P3E 2C6

🕐    2:00 – 5:00 p.m.