Paule Bernier, FDt.P., M.Sc., ASC 

A highly respected clinical nutritionist, Paule devoted more than four decades to the care of  complex patients, particularly in critical care at the Jewish General Hospital. There, she co-founded and coordinated an interdisciplinary nutrition support team, helping to develop innovative protocols for safe, patient-centered nutrition therapy in severely ill and critically ill patients. Over the course of her clinical career, she contributed to specialized nutrition care for more than 50,000 patients while playing key roles on numerous quality improvement, risk management, and accreditation committees. Her leadership also supported major initiatives such as ventilatorassociated pneumonia prevention and optimization of care pathways in intensive care. 

Beyond bedside practice, Paule emerged as a national leader in addressing hospital malnutrition. As a founding member of the Canadian Malnutrition Task Force from 2010 to 2025, she contributed to a landmark national study and to the development of screening and management tools now widely implemented across healthcare institutions. Through train-the-trainer programs, 
scientific publications, and invited lectures, she advanced the adoption of evidence-based nutrition practices nationwide. 

Her expertise in patient safety has been recognized at the national level. As a safety and improvement advisor and expert consultant to the Canadian Patient Safety Institute, she guided multidisciplinary teams in strengthening clinical practices well beyond the field of nutrition. Certified as a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, she facilitated numerous clinical and operational projects aimed at improving efficiency while reducing risk.

Paule also demonstrated exceptional leadership within her profession. A Certified Corporate Director, she served for nine years as President of the Ordre des diététistes-nutritionnistes du Québec, where she led a major governance reform to enhance the organization’s public protection mandate and strategic effectiveness. Her contributions helped shape regulatory evolution, including the definition of professional scope of practice, reserved activities, authorized activities and the reservation of the title of Nutritionist in Quebec.

A dedicated educator and mentor, Paule supervised and trained hundreds of students and healthcare professionals from the Université de Montréal and McGill University, as well as medical residents from Canada and abroad. This commitment to developing the next generation has multiplied her impact far beyond her own clinical practice. A Fellow of her professional order and recipient of numerous honors, Paule Bernier exemplifies excellence in clinical nutrition, governance, and healthcare improvement. Her career demonstrates how sustained, patient-centered leadership can transform clinical practice, strengthen health systems, and ultimately improve outcomes for thousands of patients.