Registered Dietitian: 12 years
Employment: Community Health Dietitian at Cowichan Tribes and Huli’tun Health Society. Owner of ‘Island Nutrition Consulting’
Preceptor: 8 years at the University of Alberta, 3 years at UBC
UBC Population & Public Health Preceptor: 3 years
Carrie Rae wakes up every morning grateful for the kind of work she does with Indigenous populations on and around Vancouver Island.
She says, “I love my work so much, I sometimes feel guilty that I get paid for it.”
Carrie completed her Dietetics degree at the University of Alberta as a mature student after years working as a pharmacy technician. She returned home to the Cowichan Valley in 2015 to pursue her dream of working with Cowichan Tribes and to be closer to family.
What is a Population & Public Health Preceptor?
Each day of the week is unique for the community health dietitian. Carrie counsels individual clients, plans community health programs, and trains other healthcare team members about nutrition as part of the ‘Train the Trainers’ program. Carrie also supports new mothers through the ‘Healthiest Babies Possible’ program and travels weekly to work with the community on Penelakut Island, a First Nation reserve off the coast of Chemainus.
For years Carrie has jumped into precepting, both in Alberta and in BC.
“It’s always been a priority for me to be a preceptor. I want to give students the opportunity to shine,” she says.
Carrie believes the practice education year is a time for skill development and exploration. She encourages students to set goals, then focuses on providing opportunities to accomplish them. Her dedication to developing the profession is obvious.
She says “We were all students at one point. We need to give back and provide the best possible experience because the students are our future colleagues.”
Her advice for incoming practice education students:
“Reach out to other preceptors or other dietitians if you need someone to talk to, or if you need advice. Our field is extremely collaborative.”
By: Hannah Mazure