Featured PMDip Alumna: Reem Kazamel, RD
What prompted you to pursue the TMU PMDip Dietetics program?
The PMDip program presents an incredible opportunity for students interested in hands-on clinical learning. When learning about the program during my second and third years of undergraduate studies, I was particularly interested in the various hospital placements that the PMDip program offers its applicants. Unlike any other practicum based program, the PMDip at TMU allows students to match with a hospital where they can spend a year immersed in clinical care and training, preparing them to become well-versed and experienced professionals.
Why did you select the SickKids Hospital PMDip over other programs?
Working at SickKids has always been a dream of mine. I was fascinated by the modern technology used in the hospital, the evidence-based clinical care and practice, and the cutting edge research done by only the best healthcare professionals and scientists. When I started my undergraduate studies in Nutrition, I knew I wanted to work in clinical care specifically in the pediatric population. SickKids seemed like the perfect fit for my career goals, and applying to the PMDIp SickKids program was an opportunity I just could not miss.
What experience and education did you have before entering the program?
I graduated with a Bachelor’s of Science, Honors Specialization in Foods and Nutrition at Western University. My education focused primarily on adult nutrition with limited training in Pediatric nutrition. This motivated me to seek volunteer opportunities at a pediatric hospital during my summers back home, in Vancouver.
Did you find the program challenging?
I recall the first few weeks of the PMDip program initially being challenging and requiring lots of hours of studying and preparing. The program offers various clinical rotations in different clinical specialties, which was challenging as I learnt to adapt to the different teams, patient populations (neurodegenerative disorders, gastrointestinal disorders, etc.) and the unique nutrition interventions.
What did you enjoy the most? What was most valuable for you?
There are so many things that I enjoyed during my time in the SickKids PMDip program. For instance, I enjoyed the direct patient and caregiver interactions all of which helped me build my knowledge and skills while developing professional bedside manners. I also enjoyed receiving both positive and constructive feedback from the different medical teams and my preceptors. Lastly, I truly enjoyed the interactions I had with my patients and their families which were a constant reminder of why I chose to join this program in the first place.
Describe how your preceptors supported your training throughout the program.
My preceptors were incredible role models and exceptional personal support systems. They provided me with all the resources that I needed to excel in each rotation, and made sure to spend hours each day walking me through every patient and answering all of my questions. My favorite and most memorable moments with my preceptors is when they first met me and asked “what’s your learning style?” This question meant that they were keen on getting to know me, and would tailor my training to how I prefer to learn, and receive feedback.
Describe your current workplace setting and how the PMDip program prepared you for this role.
I currently work in General Pediatric Medicine at SickKids, where I provide clinical care as a Registered Dietitian to children of all ages. My patients are typically admitted for various diagnoses and require various levels of nutrition intervention. Their clinical complexity allows me to critically think and work collaboratively with the rest of the team to determine the most appropriate intervention to help our patients. Although I did not have an opportunity to do a rotation in this area of medicine; my time in the SickKids PMDip program provided me with transferable skills and experiences in other areas and specialties that allowed me to smoothly transition into my current role with confidence.
What advice would you offer a student who was considering applying to the PMDip program?
Stay persistent and reach for your goals, even when others tell you that you can’t. Something I am very proud of is not listening to those who told me to consider other programs due to the competitiveness of the SicKids PMDip program. Not letting their opinions discourage me, allowed me to live my childhood dream of working at SickKids one day.
Another piece of advice I would give to students is to trust the learning process and to always feel like they belong. A year of non-stop learning and working can seem daunting and may make you feel like you are underqualified or not good enough for this role. However, you will quickly realize that you do belong, and that you know more than you think. So, trust the process and keep working hard.
