Keji Mori
Current city: Edmonton, Alberta
Year arrived in Canada: Born and raised.
School: University of Alberta
Academic program(s): BSc. Nutrition and Food Sciences - Nutrition Major. MPH - Health Promotion, School of Public Health.
Profession: Registered Dietitian, RD.
1. What inspired you to pursue your studies in Nutrition of all the academic programs that were available to you?
From high school, I knew bio and chem were ‘my thing’ because they were classes I actually looked forward to going to! In terms of nutrition, I feel like this was a manifestation of my enjoyment of being in the kitchen as a young girl – translated into my desire to learn more about the ‘science of food’ and role in our bodies. So, it was a natural fusion of both my loves to pursue nutrition as a career.
2. What are your main success factors in your academic and professional journey? Inherent intellectual aptitude goes without saying.
Having strong role models. Personally, Oprah Winfrey and Dr. Maya Angelou are my life guides; I remember always coming home from school to watch the Oprah Winfrey Show before it was time for homework. Both their words have and continue to resonate with me. One quote in particular though that I have found powerful over the years is Oprah’s advice to “know your worth.” In that, there is no need to prove to others your abilities, only yourself. When you embrace what you love, it will show. Do what speaks to you.
3. Can you tell me a bit about your career path and what led you to your current role (if working)?
I am a proud alumni of Archbishop Macdonald High school (a rather small, academic IB school in Edmonton) – which I definitely feel was instrumental in “laying strong foundational roots” for my success in university. Preparation cannot be understated. As I came from an academic high school, my high school had ‘early registration’ for university in Grade 11. During this time, we had to pick 2 of our top choices, which meant that in Grade 11 our school required us to already think about/research careers we saw ourselves in – at the time mine were 1. BSc in Nutrition, and 2. BSc in Nursing.
As mentioned, I had strong pre-inclinations to pursue nutrition going in – and this ended up being the path I pursued throughout my undergraduate studies. My nutrition degree was 5 years total. This included 4 years of study followed by a 1-year practicum, which is a requirement to be a Registered Dietitian. Following my practicum, I had to write a board exam through the College of Dietitians of Alberta, to be certified to practice.
As for work, a lot of positions for health professionals are sought via connections – so I’d highly recommend you take time to form them! I graduated with my undergrad degree in Nov 2019, and was blessed to get a position in Jan 2020. Throughout this time, COVID swept the world, which ended up providing me with many more work opportunities in both clinical and public health settings. During this time, my passion for public health work was reinforced, and this ended up motivating me to apply to do my Masters of Public Health at the University of Alberta.
4. What are the challenges you faced trying to get to where you are today, if any?
At the time I was completing my nutrition degree, the process to become a dietitian was slightly different than what it is now. (Currently, in Alberta, to become a RD, you now need to apply to the “Dietetics Specialization” program). That said, while I was in the program, if you had intentions of being a RD, you needed to apply to the ‘integrated dietetic internship.’ The defining entrance criteria (in addition to grades, resumé, letter of intent, and references), is a pass of a ‘multiple-mini-interview aka MMI,’ similar to the interview used for those applying to medical school. In short, this interview is extremely stressful, as it tests soft skills in speaking and critical thinking, on current events that you really have no way of preparing for.
I didn’t pass the first round of interviews – and I clearly remember feeling absolutely devastated, and questioning whether I was cut out for this field. However, this also made me that much more driven to learn how I could sharpen my skills to be more competitive during the next year’s interview cycle. I spent many nights at school with close girlfriends formulating and orally sharing my responses to random questions, and also made it my goal to craft my public speaking skills – as confidence in making evidence-based decisions is an essential skill for health professionals. Through my work, and patience in retrieving my (2nd) results, I got in! This news was so gratifying and really solidified my professional aspirations – so I’d advise all to stay persistent. 😊
5. What does your average workday look like?
Currently, I only work casually as an RD because I am a full-time master’s student. However, when I was working full-time, my days were variable – which is also why I love my job! To your question though, as a public health RD my work comprises 3 main areas: provincial initiatives, local initiatives, and ‘direct service’ activities. Examples of some of the work under each include: developing & revising Nutrition Guidelines (provincial), partnering with early learning childcare providers to support them in implementing a nutrition program e.g., translating Canada’s Food Guide recommendations into their daycare menu (local), and teaching nutrition classes e.g., ‘Infant Nutrition’ or completing pediatric nutrition referrals from public health nurses (‘direct services’).
Public health is all about team work, and continual reiterations of ‘planning, assessing, action, and evaluating.’ We have many projects we are a part of, and timelines for these projects can take many years. So, a big chunk of time is spent collaborating with public health RDs working in other areas of the province, via many meetings.
6. What’s something about your line of work that would surprise the average street Joe?
A lot of my work doesn’t revolve around ‘food’ per se – which is a common misconception.
When many people think about nutrition, they think of weight loss – or the simple not so simple ‘equation’ if you will, of energy balance. Nutrition is far more complex than this!
Traditional thought perceives healthy eating as an individual choice, however its important to acknowledge that the environments we interact with on the daily have a much more profound influence on our health. Further, many do not realize that our health (and nutrition) is shaped by many indirect factors outside our control. Public health has a central interest in addressing these factors, what we term the ‘social determinants of health’ (e.g., early childhood opportunities, income, education, etc.) through advocacy and built partnerships with many people who are outside the health sphere, as they are tied to one’s eating environment, nutrition, and in turn, health outcomes and risk of disease.
7. What’s your favorite thing about your job or industry? In other words, what fuels your enthusiasm and helps you get out of bed on a winter Monday morning?
The people I get to work with – and the shared enthusiasm and commitment among my many colleagues doing what we do, for the joy that comes from improving public health. The more I work the more this importance has settled in… It is never the work that matters, but the people you do it with.
8. Do you have a mentor? If so, how have they helped you in your academic or professional career?
Life mentors – Oprah and Dr. Maya Angelou! Whenever I need a boost, they’re my go-to’s. I feel a lot of what connects me to them is seeing myself in their shoes, and my ongoing goals in their journeys. On a personal level, my mum. As an immigrant to Canada and one without any formal post-secondary degree herself, I see how hard my mum has worked to provide my siblings and I the opportunity to pursue higher education at our heart’s calling.
9. Is your racial profile helping or hindering your professional growth? That is, if race is a factor at all.
While racism remains a pervasive systemic issue that continues to be seen in many systems, including healthcare, I feel like the tide is slowly starting to turn. Equity, diversity, and inclusion is being questioned in many fields, including nutrition – though inarguably there is still far more that needs to be done. Nutrition continues to be a white-dominated primarily female-led field, and this effect is seen with a lack of cultural competence in understanding and providing culturally appropriate nutrition care to diverse people. So that said, I believe my racial profile has benefitted my profession – by increasing the black RD representation and contributing to the changed narrative of what being a RD looks like.
10. What do you know now that you wished you had known before you enrolled in first year of university?
Honestly, coming from an academic high school I thought I was ‘set up’ for success for my first year. I was wholeheartedly wrong! My first semester (of first year) of university was the most stressful year of my life – full disclosure – as I had no idea how to study for university exams! I wish I knew that it would be a steep learning curve, however as with anything new in life, supportive networks will be your saving grace, and friends definitely saved me! Always remember there are many people willing to help you.
