CONCURRENT SESSION 4: Allied Health

Virtual Support Groups

Danielle Aldous, RD, CBE, CDE
Lead Dietitian
LEAF Weight Management Clinic

Danielle is a Registered Dietitian who is passionate about supporting & empowering individuals to adopt and adapt workable nutrition habits to reach their health and wellness goals. She holds both a Bachelor of Science in Biology (Dalhousie University) and Nutrition (Acadia University). She is a graduate of the Dietetic Internship Program of Capital Health, Halifax and has practiced in a wide variety of settings and care focuses including cardiac pre & rehabilitation, diabetes, and bariatrics.  

Danielle lives in Ottawa, ON and had the pleasure of working in the Bariatric Center of Excellence at The Ottawa Hospital before opening a private practice and consulting with LEAF Weight Management Clinic, a community-based bariatric medicine practice.  Danielle is both a Certified Bariatric and Diabetes Educator who values collaboration with her colleagues and clients alike.  She believes in being authentic & compassionate as she engages with her clients on their journey of health and wellness.

Presentation Overview:

Support is a key component of long-term success in chronic disease management and bariatric care is no exception.  The Covid-19 pandemic was particularly challenging for those living with obesity and posed significant challenge to fostering a sense of ‘you are not alone’ when isolation mandates were among the key strategies for cubing community spread of the virus.

This presentation will focus on our experience at LEAF WMC in pivoting our in-person support group known as PODS, to an online virtual offering and the lessons learned along the way.  Included will be 

  • what we did to move the group to virtual sessions
  • successes and challenges we have experienced with a new delivery mode
  • strategies we have used to keep the sessions engaging and of value to our attendees
  • perspectives of some of our regular attendees regarding the virtual support sessions and 
  • plans for the future of the group as we begin to enter the post Covid era of care