Hello everyone,

It’s been a month since I joined Obesity Canada as the Executive Director, and what an incredible learning experience it has been. I have been involved with Obesity Canada for over seven years and my appreciation for our small but mighty team continues to grow as I witness their dedication to education, research, and advocacy.

Here’s a glimpse of what we’ve achieved recently:

Advancing Obesity Education for Health Care Providers

Our passionate Education team recently launched the Impact of Weight Bias and Stigma courses and just added two new intermediate-level courses, with more options in the pipeline. These self-directed courses are free and available immediately. Our education programs are essential to health care providers and clinicians giving them the knowledge and tools to help Canadians living with obesity manage their health effectively.

We’re also thrilled to announce that our third cohort of Calibre participants for 2024 is completing their training this month. To date, we have trained 350 health care professionals, reaching over 358,000 patients. The direct impact of our education programs on the lives of Canadians is both exciting and inspiring.

Supporting Future Researchers

We are proud to have awarded Fellowship funding to two post-doctoral students. Congratulations to Dr. Kerri Delaney from the Gilles Arcand Centre for Health Equity at the Northern Ontario School of Medicine University in Sudbury and Kurt Tulsieram from Western University in London, Ontario. Supporting the passion and research of new investigators is a deeply rewarding experience. We look forward to sharing their work in the months to come.

Bridging Obesity and Chronic Conditions

Our Advocacy and Engagement team has been instrumental in discussing the intersection of obesity and other chronic conditions. We have patient advocates working closely with Diabetes Action Canada to better understand and support patients living with obesity and diabetes. The power of lived experience is vital to meaningful change, and we are proud to collaborate with this national research organization.

Looking Forward

We received an overwhelming response to our call for nominations for the Board of Directors. While the Selection Committee interviews applicants over the coming weeks, the Board looks forward to adding new faces and skill sets to our organization.

2025 is going to be a big year for us. We have 20 years of stories and successes to celebrate, but we also have the opportunity to develop our next strategic plan. We will be working with our partners to ensure we have a plan that supports our mission and truly makes a difference for Canadians living with obesity.

It is an exciting time to be in this space and there is nowhere else I would rather be ─ amplifying and enabling the work of the Obesity Canada team and the outstanding researchers, clinicians, and patients within our growing network.

We have such an amazing community.  Here’s how you can be a part of it:

  • Share this newsletter: Help us spread the word about the important work we’re doing together.
  • Sign up for our courses: Equip yourself with knowledge and be part of the change.
  • Make a donation: Your support will help us advocate for Canadians living with obesity.

 

Lisa Schaffer

Executive Director