New Hires Program

New Hires Program

A program for regulated healthcare professionals new to working in diabetes.

If you answer yes to any of the questions below then the New Hires Program may be just what you are looking for.

  • Are you a regulated healthcare professional who is:
    • New to working in diabetes?
    • Planning to write the Certified Diabetes Educator Exam for the first time?
    • Returning from an extended leave and in need of a refresher?

This program is planned and offered in partnership by SUNDEC (Sunnybrook Academic Family Health Team) and Toronto Diabetes Care Connect (South Riverdale Community Health Centre).

Program delivery:

The 2024 program will be delivered virtually over seven, 3 hour sessions.

  • Program will start Oct 8th, 2024 and run until Nov 26th, 2024 (sessions are once per week on Tuesdays from 9:00 am – 12:00 pm) 
    • Exceptions include: Nov 19th, 2024  
      • There will no session the week of the Diabetes Canada Conference
  • Full participation during the interactive sessions is required (e.g. turning cameras on, joining discussion, participating in small group and large group activities, etc.)
  • Approximately 1 hour of work may be required between sessions

Program registration

  • Online registration for the 2024 program will open July 2024
  • Registration information for upcoming programs is shared via the Toronto Diabetes Care Connect email distribution list. If you wish to be added to this email distribution list or have any questions, please email Sandra Fitzpatrick at [email protected].

Program purpose & objectives

The purpose of the New Hires program is to increase the competency level of regulated health care professionals, who are new to providing care to individuals with type 2 diabetes, so that they are better able to support these individuals in the self-management of their condition.

Following completion of this program, participants will increase their competency in their ability to:

  1. Assess patients with diabetes for education and treatment needs.
  2. Teach a basic curriculum of diabetes to individuals with type 2 diabetes focusing on:
    1. Knowledge
    2. Skill
    3. Self-efficacy
  3. Counsel patients regarding behaviour change
  4. Access community resources to support chronic disease management.
  5. Understand the role of the diabetes educator in the interprofessional team in the workplace setting.

Program topics

  1. Perspectives & Understanding of Living with DM
  2. Changing Health Behaviour
  3. Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, & Complication Screening
  4. Teaching for Effect
  5. Medications
  6. Foot Care
  7. Physical Activity & Diabetes
  8. Nutrition & Diabetes
  9. Program Planning
  10. Team Approach to Diabetes Management

Note: The program content is developed based on the Diabetes Canada Clinical Practice Guidelines and includes elements from The Choices & Change Workshop through partnership with the Choose Health Self-Management Program, South Riverdale Community Health Centre).

Competencies addressed

This program aims to support the development of many of the competencies required to become a certified diabetes educator.

  • For a full list of the CDEBC competencies addressed please click here.

This program is NOT intended to address advanced-level competencies required to support clients with more complex diabetes management needs including those who are:

  • Using insulin regimens
  • Living with medically complex type 2 diabetes
  • Living with type 1 diabetes or gestational diabetes
  • Pregnant or planning pregnancy

Program facilitators

Program Administrator and Coordinator:

  • Sandra Fitzpatrick, RD (CDE)/Regional Facilitator, Toronto Diabetes Care Connect, South Riverdale Community Health Centre

Program Facilitators:

  • Gail MacNeill, MEd, CNS (CDE)/Education Consultant
  • Leigh Caplan, MA, RN (CDE)/Team Lead, Sunnybrook Academic Family Health Team, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre

Partners supporting program delivery:

The program has historically been offered in-person supported by the following partnerships:

  • Service Integration Partnership (integrating the Choices & Changes Workshop and Practice Session):
    • Choose Health Self-Management Program, a program South Riverdale Community Health Centre
  • Service Delivery Partnerships (currently or previously providing expert session facilitators):
    • Anishnawabe Health Toronto
    • Black Creek Community Health Centre
    • Comprehensive Care Program, a program of St. Micheal’s Hospital
    • DECNET, a program of South Riverdale Community Health Centre
    • Michael Garron Hospital
    • Leadership Sinai Centre for Diabetes, a program of Mount Sinai Hospital, Sinai Health Systems
    • SUNDEC, a program of Sunnybrook Academic Family Health Team
    • Sunnybrook Health Sceinces Centre
    • Wounds Canada

Program completion

The program requires a commitment to attend & participate in both the sessions and the in in-between session activities  in order to meet the learning needs of the program.

A program completion certificate will be issued on the last day of the program. In order to receive the certificate, attendance at all 6 sessions is required.

Program Fees

$130 – Payment instructions will be sent once registration is confirmed

Program Cancellation & Refund Policy

Program Withdrawals:

New Hires course registration fees are refundable up to 1 month prior to the course start date, less a 25% administration fee (to cover the administrative costs associated with the refund process).  In the 1 month leading up to a workshop, fees are non-refundable.

Program Cancellation:

The New Hires program is subject to sufficient registration. Toronto Diabetes Care Connect – South Riverdale CHC, reserves the right to cancel or postpone the program if minimum registration is not achieved.  A full refund will be issued in the event of a cancellation.