Culinary Medicine Night brings hands-on health education to Georgian

June 11, 2026

What happens when primary care providers step out of the clinic and into the kitchen?

At Georgian College’s Barrie Campus, it made for an evening that was engaging, collaborative and refreshingly different from traditional professional development.

Culinary Medicine Night recently brought more than 30 local medical professionals together to explore how nutrition can play a larger role in patient care, particularly when it comes to managing and preventing Type 2 diabetes and improving cardiometabolic health.

The event also reflects an ongoing research collaboration between Jennifer Ethier, Georgian College, and Dr. Matthew Orava, Royal Victoria Hospital, focused on culinary medicine, nutrition education and clinician engagement in chronic disease prevention. Together, they are exploring how hands-on, experiential learning may strengthen provider confidence in nutrition counselling and help bridge the gap between evidence and everyday patient care.

“This event was about making nutrition science practical and accessible. We wanted participants to leave with strategies they can realistically apply, while keeping in mind the challenges many patients face.

Jennifer Ethier

“We know that poor diet is one of the biggest risk factors for chronic disease that people can improve or change, but many doctors don’t feel they’ve had enough training to confidently talk with patients about nutrition,” said Dr. Matthew Orava, family doctor at RVH’s Family Medicine Teaching Unit. “Partnerships like this give learners hands-on experience that connects medical care with healthy everyday habits, like nutrition and cooking. It helps future doctors build the skills and confidence to support patients in practical, meaningful ways while continuing to learn and grow.”

Hosted through a partnership between Georgian College, Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre and the Barrie Family Medicine Teaching Unit, the evening focused on transforming evidence-based nutritional research into practical tools health-care providers can use every day. Rather than simply discussing the science, participants had the chance to experience it firsthand.

Following opening discussions around Mediterranean-style dietary patterns and current nutritional research, attendees moved into Georgian’s kitchens, where they cooked alongside Georgian chefs and dietitians from the Barrie Family Health Team, including Jennifer Northcott, Le Anne Sergeant and Maayan Oren.

That’s where the evening truly came alive, transforming evidence-based nutrition from theory into a hands-on, shared experience.

Lecture shifted into action as participants rolled up their sleeves, prepared nutritious meals and worked collaboratively through practical strategies they can bring back into patient care conversations.

The hands-on format created an atmosphere that was energetic, approachable and deeply engaging.

Led by Jennifer Ethier and Dr. Matthew Orava from RVH, with support from culinary faculty and health professionals, the event was intentionally built to make learning feel practical, memorable and immediately relevant.

That approach reflects something Georgian students experience every day.

Across Georgian’s campuses, experiential learning is central to how students build confidence, develop practical skills and prepare for their careers. Whether in health care, culinary arts, technology or skilled trades, hands-on learning remains one of the college’s defining strengths.

Culinary Medicine Night demonstrated that the same philosophy can be just as valuable for experienced health-care professionals, creating space for practical learning, collaboration and meaningful discussions.

Jennifer Ethier also emphasized the broader realities shaping patient care, including food insecurity throughout Simcoe County.

That perspective was an important part of the evening.

By focusing on practical, accessible nutrition strategies, Culinary Medicine Night wasn’t simply about ideal dietary recommendations. It was about helping health-care providers understand how to support patients within real-world circumstances, where affordability and food access can significantly influence outcomes.

“This event was about making nutrition science practical and accessible,” said Jennifer Ethier. “We wanted participants to leave with strategies they can realistically apply, while keeping in mind the challenges many patients face.”

The event also highlighted the strength of Georgian’s partnership with Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre and regional health-care leaders.

By combining Georgian’s expertise in experiential education with RVH’s commitment to innovative patient care, Culinary Medicine Night became more than a one-night event. It showcased how collaborative, community-focused partnerships can create meaningful change.

For participants, it offered practical new knowledge. For Georgian, it reinforced the value of hands-on learning. And for the broader community, it represented something even more important: a shared investment in improving health outcomes through education, innovation and collaboration.