JoAnne Arcand

     I am an Associate Professor and Research Excellence Chair in Food, Nutrition & Health in the Faculty of Health Sciences at Ontario Tech University. Additionally, I am a Scientist at the World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Nutrition Policy for Chronic Disease Prevention and hold a Status appointment in the Department of Nutritional Sciences at the University of Toronto. My training included a Bachelor of Science in Human Ecology (Food & Nutrition) from Western University and a dietetic internship at Mount Sinai Hospital, which qualified me to become a Registered Dietitian. I later completed a Master of Science and PhD in the Department of Nutritional Sciences at the University of Toronto. 

     My research takes an interdisciplinary, systems-focused approach to understanding and addressing the cognitive, behavioral and environmental factors that impact healthy eating and the onset and management of chronic disease. This includes clinical and population-based interventions that ensure people have access to healthy foods, and that support behaviour change across diverse demographics —from children to older adults and patients living with chronic conditions—while also equipping practitioners who support these groups within health, education, and policy frameworks. A key aspect of my work is integrating the principles of implementation science. Many of my studies investigate strategies to empower the public, practitioners, and policymakers to incorporate healthy eating practices, guidelines, and policies into everyday life.