Interview with Mairead Rodgers, P.H.Ec., RD

Mairead Rodgers, P.H.Ec., RD

I completed my Bachelor's of Applied Science in Applied Human Nutrition at the University of Guelph in 2015. After that, I worked a handful of different jobs before ending up working in the Product Development department at McCormick Canada as a Culinary Technologist. I also started working as a nutrition coach at Degree CrossFit Seaforth during that time. I then completed my dietetic internship through London Health Sciences Centre in August 2018. 
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Tell us something interesting about yourself!
I'm currently training for my first marathon! Having non-career-related goals throughout internship has been a huge factor for keeping myself sane. 

How long have you been an OHEA member and why did you decide to join?
I've been an OHEA member for about 3 years, starting my self-study course in the summer of 2015. I joined after graduating, and at that point was looking to further my education in any way possible with the goal of eventually getting a dietetic internship. 

How do you feel that being an OHEA member and a PHEc has benefited you thus far?
First of all, putting any kind of letters after your name in your email signature helps a bit when you're the youngest one in your department by a long shot. In all seriousness, being a member of OHEA and a PHEc has really opened up my eyes to opportunities in food and nutrition outside of the traditional clinical dietetics roles. Being able to come to the OHEA conferences has given me the opportunity to network, both with other new grads and PHEc's who've been in the profession for longer. I might not have found my job opportunity at McCormick Canada if the PHEc who was facilitating the self-study course had not encouraged me to apply, and put me in contact with the PHEc already working there. 

How does being a PHEc tie into your everyday life?
I think that my experience in the self-study course and then working as a PHEc prior to my dietetic internship gave me a different perspective. In my nutrition coaching role, the idea of different ways to prepare foods, healthy eating with less expensive foods, food safety, feeding a whole family without making different meals all come up on a regular basis, and I think that as a PHEc I'm well equipped to help with all of these situations. 

What's next for you now that you have finished your dietetic internship?
Now that I've completed my internship, I'm hoping to expand our nutrition services out of Degree CrossFit Seaforth so I can help more people live happy healthy lives, without stressing about food. I'll also be working as a home care and long term care dietitian, and I'm excited to be working in the community that I live in. 

Where do you see the profession going in the next 5-10 years?
 I truly don't know where the PHEc profession is going, but I think PHEc's are starting to become more visible in the media and social media, and our role is going to be recognized more. 
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What advice do you have for new, or aspiring PHEcs?
My advice is to just take whatever opportunities are out there and see where they go. The best piece of advice I ever received was to just tell people what you're interested in. Because of that, and asking other people what they're interested in, I've been able to find the awesome opportunities I have now.