Each month we catch up to one of our Winterberry team members. This month, we spoke with Samantha who is one of our Registered Dieticians and an important part of many of our patient’s lives. We hope you enjoy getting to know Samantha and understanding her important role!
Samantha, how long have you been with Winterberry?
I have been with Winterberry since October of 2021.
Tell us about your work at Winterberry. What’s your role?
In my role as a Registered dietician at Winterberry, I have the privilege of collaborating with patients to set realistic, attainable goals that support their overall health.
I believe that nutrition is about more than just the foods we eat—it’s also about enjoyment, celebration, and nourishment. My approach involves helping patients make thoughtful changes to their current eating habits to support a wide range of health goals, including lowering cholesterol, managing blood sugar levels, supporting liver function, addressing gastrointestinal issues, and promoting healthy weight loss.
A core part of my practice is helping patients build a positive and balanced relationship with food. I truly love what I do, because I see how many people feel pressured to achieve a “perfect diet,” often driven by unrealistic expectations. I aim to dismantle those myths and help patients understand that all foods can have a place in a healthy lifestyle—and that nourishing our bodies can, and should, be enjoyable.
What made you want to be a Registered dietician (RD)?
I studied Biochemistry at Brock University, and in my third year, I began to struggle with the idea of working in a lab long term. I was hoping for a career that would allow me to build meaningful relationships and help others directly. When plagued with brain fog whilst studying for an Organic Chemistry exam, it became clear that I was not nourishing my body well (either that, or I’d spent so long studying molecules that I started to lose my own structure!). This turned into a passion for nutrition that I couldn’t ignore, and I decided to pursue a career as a Registered dietician.
What is your educational and work background as an RD?
I transferred to Ryerson University, where I enrolled in the Food and Nutrition Program, and later completed the Professional Masters Diploma in Dietetics at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto. During this time, I not only learned to nourish myself, but I also discovered an immense joy in helping others do the same.
My Gastrointestinal Disorders Rotation provided valuable experience that I’ve applied to help Winterberry patients manage an array of digestive disorders. Additionally, through my Pediatric Rotation, I developed skills that I’ve applied to assist the youngest Winterberry patients with picky eating and the introduction of solid foods. I also have experience nourishing the most vulnerable of newborns, having worked at McMaster Children’s Hospital in the Neonatal ICU. There, I collaborated with a multidisciplinary team to calculate nutritional needs and prepare feeds for premature neonates.
I understand you are now a Certified Bariatric Educator, what kind of work do you do in that role?
Yes! Early April 2025 I obtained my Certified Bariatric Educator Certification and am very grateful for the knowledge and perspective that I gained. Obesity is a chronic disease rooted in brain neurochemistry and requires a multifactorial approach to care.
As a Registered dietician and CBE, I strive to provide client-centered care, helping patients set realistic dietary and activity goals aimed at fostering sustainable lifestyle changes.
My approach focuses on health rather than weight alone, encouraging patients to pay attention to improvements in their energy levels, how they feel, and key metabolic markers such as blood sugar and cholesterol levels. Recognizing the genetic, environmental, social, and psychological factors that impact weight, I ensure that my care is individualized to meet the unique needs of each patient.
What made you want to pursue the Certificate in Bariatric Education?
In my experience as a Registered dietician at Winterberry, I often see patients feeling discouraged and struggling with weight management. “I’m eating lots of fibre and protein and walking daily. Why isn’t the weight coming off!?” Despite making dietary changes and incorporating regular activity, many find it difficult to reach their goals, leading to frustration. I felt it was essential to deepen my understanding of the metabolic, environmental, genetic, and psychological factors that influence weight so I could better support my patients. Through this journey, I’ve gained a greater appreciation for the role of psychological interventions, pharmacological therapies, and surgical options in helping patients manage obesity as a chronic disease.
What makes Winterberry a unique place to work?
The Winterberry team has been welcoming, supportive, and accommodating from day one. I feel that I have the autonomy to create individualized Nutrition Care Plans for my patients, with the support of an exceptional healthcare team to provide multidisciplinary support as needed. I value my remote work that supports work-life balance, increased productivity, and reduced commuting stress.
Is there an average day at Winterberry?
An average day at Winterberry begins with logging into work, checking my emails, and reviewing and screening the patients scheduled for the day. Today, for example, I had a new intake with a patient on Ozempic who is working toward weight loss goals. They shared that physical limitations impact their ability to stay active, which often leads to reliance on take-out foods. Together, we explored simple strategies to optimize their protein intake and discussed bulk meal preparation to help make the healthy choice the easy choice.
Later, I met with a patient for a follow-up who has a history of bariatric surgery who I helped manage significant gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms, including stomach pain and bloating. Although they had been doing well from a nutritional standpoint with managed GI symptoms, seeing a number on the scale that didn’t align with their expectations left them feeling discouraged and ready to “throw in the towel.” Our session focused on challenging the “all or nothing” mindset and reinforcing the understanding that health encompasses much more than just a number on the scale.
Throughout the day, I ensure that all nutrition encounters are accurately documented in our EMR system and communicate with other members of the care team as needed. I also make time to stay current with the latest evidence by reading scholarly nutrition articles and consulting Practice-based Evidence in Nutrition (PEN), ensuring that my interventions remain relevant, practical, and evidence-informed. Additionally, I enjoy creating nutrition resources—something I find both rewarding and impactful in supporting patient education and engagement.
What is your favourite part of your job?
My favorite part of this job is being able to make a meaningful difference in my patients’ lives. Today, I received one of the most rewarding compliments—a patient shared that my nutrition support has truly improved their quality of life, and they expressed gratitude for the thorough and genuine care I’ve provided. Moments like that are why I do what I do, and honestly, that’s all I could ever ask for.
When you’re not helping Winterberry patients, what will we find you doing?
When I’m not supporting patients at Winterberry, you’ll find me cooking for my family, taking my daughter to the park, going for walks with friends (latte in hand!), attending church, or planning dinner parties for loved ones. I also enjoy hiking, staying active with at-home Pilates—no excuses!—and unwinding by playing the piano. These moments bring balance and joy to my life and help fuel the energy I bring to my work.
