© 2025 Canadian Malnutrition Task Force
Grand Rounds Schedule
See our list of past Grand Rounds below. If you are interested in scheduling Grand Rounds for your institution, CONTACT US
Past Rounds - Recognizing & Tackling Malnutrition
Title: “Malnutrition in Hospitalized Patients: Boosting Screening and Ensuring Patient Outcomes”
June 21, 2023, 9:00 - 10:00am ET - Department of Medicine Rounds, St. Joseph’s Health Centre, Toronto ON
Speaker: Dr. Christopher Wang, MD, FRCPC, Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, St. Joseph’s Health Centre, Toronto, ON
Total number of attendees: 49 (open to St. Joseph’s Health centre Staff only)
Questions and comments included:
- St. Joseph’s Health Centre has used the nutrition screening tool as part of the nursing assessment for more than 10 years.
- nutrition screening is now being done in all patients at St. Joseph’s by a dedicated diet technician
- hospital food acceptability is an issue due to limited food choices on menu, short times for delivery and no snacks (due to staffing restraints)
- need for culturally acceptable foods to be offered in hospitals
- there is heavy reliance on family members to bring in suitable foods for patients and restrictions on this can impact malnutrition
June 9, 2023, 12:00 - 1:00pm PT - Fraser Health BC, Internal Medicine Rounds
Speaker: Dr. Barbara Bielawska MD MSc FRCPC, Assistant Professor, University of Ottawa
Total number of attendees: 80 attendees
Questions and comments included:
- Fraser Health referral processes for dietitians re: patients with chylothorax
- How to expedite Fraser Health referrals for SLP swallowing assessments for high risk respiratory patients
- Concern re: fish oils supplements having lower EPA/DHA and more oxidants than label claims (New Zealand Study https://www.nature.com/articles/srep07928)
- Should nutrition screening in the community be done and if so what tools?
- Treatment goals in the sarcopenic obese patient
November 16 2022, 7:00 - 8:00 am EST-Health Sciences North Grand Rounds, Sudbury
Speaker: Dr. Barbara Bielawska, MD MSc FRCPC, Assistant Professor University of Ottawa
Total number of attendees: 37
Questions and comments included:
- Multivitamins or Vitamin D could be prescribed for those at risk for poor food intake or malabsorption but still need better nutrition intake
- Encouraging families to bring in patient’s preferred foods is encouraged. Easy access to snacks at the bedside is also recommended
- Costs for prescribed Oral Nutrition Supplements (ONS) can be covered IF sole source of nutrition
- Food insecurity is a huge challenge that needs a multifaceted approach; lobbying for ONS costs coverage could be one small part of the solution
- CMTFs SGA Video Collection is a great educational tool
September 13, 2022, 8:00am - 9:00am ADT - Department of Medicine, Nova Scotia Health Authority
Speaker: Dr. Leah Gramlich, MD, FRCP, Professor Medicine, University of Alberta
Total number of attendees: 130
Pediatric Grand Rounds Malnutrition in Hospitalized children: screening, treatment & prevention
September 8, 2022, 12:00pm - 1:00pm NDT - Discipline of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University of Newfoundland
Speaker: Dr. Valerie Marchand, MD, FRCPC, Department of Paediatrics, Ste-Justine UHC, University of Montreal , Quebec
Total number of attendees: 54
Questions and comments included:
- Lack of malnutrition screening in Newfoundland, challenges, and opportunities for improvement
- What supports are available to train Dietitians/Clinicians to conduct Pediatric Subjective Global Assessment?
- Challenges of tracking longitudinal growth charts in an electronic format
- Data on increased workload to the Dietitian that is required because of implementing the malnutrition screen
- Financial implications associated with malnutrition screening and hiring additional staff
June 17, 2022, 12:00pm - 1:00pm - Department of Medicine, Halton Health Care, Ontario
Speaker: Dr. Barb Bielawska, MD, MSc, FRCPC
Total number of attendees: 26
Questions and comments included:
- increased awareness of malnutrition in Canadian hospitals
- quality of hospital food is a barrier to better nutrition
- poor food choices and food expenses may contribute to risk of malnutrition
- highlighted role of registered dietitians and need for referrals
- CRP, albumin, and prealbumin are markers of inflammation vs. markers of nutritional status
Recording available at: https://vimeo.com/728835286/01740eade0
April 27, 2022 - Division of Family Practice Hospitalists, Pasqua Hospital, Saskatchewan Health Authority (by invite only)
Speaker: Dr. Don Duerksen
Total number of attendees: 25
Questions and comments included:
- use of Subjective Global Assessment & bloodwork to support diagnosis
- use of enteral nutrition when po intake is poor
- lack of access to services in the community
- interest in resources and patient tools & high protein, high energy diet
January 20, 2022, 8:30am - 10:00am MST - Family Medicine Rounds, University of Alberta, Edmonton
Speaker: Dr. Leah Gramlich
Total number of attendees: 110
Generated interest for:
- Family MDs being aware of malnutrition and identifying patients
- including nutrition status in hospital discharge summary plan
- CMTF Primary Care Malnutrition Toolkit
Questions included:
- Quantity of ONS consumed by patients with poor oral intake
- access to resources and programs within AHS for those with malnutrition
- recommended blood work to support malnutrition diagnosis
January 13, 2022, 8:00am - 9:00am ET - Medicine Grand Rounds, Hamilton Health Sciences, Ontario
Speaker: Dr. Leah Gramlich
Total number of attendees: 74
Questions and comments included:
- Protein requirements and quality of protein
- Appropriateness of initiating enteral nutrition in those in whom goals of care are not defined
- Hamilton Health Sciences RDs efforts at implementing best evidences related to malnutrition (Med Pass and INPAC adoption)
Recording available at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvF2UX6pA0Yr8IEgA1O5AKQ
November 2, 2021, 12:00pm - 1:00pm ET - Department of Medicine Grand Rounds, Ottawa
Speaker: Dr. Leah Gramlich, MD, FRCPC
Total number of attendees: 103
Generated interest for:
- de-escalating use of medications that suppress appetite.
- continued work on improving nutrition screening and assessment practices
- training in nutrition care-request from a hospital in Trinidad and Tobago
Recording available at: https://vimeo.com/641955585/08c33f8635
For Health Professionals in Newfoundland and Labrador ONLY
October 22, 2021, 12:00pm - 1:00pm NLT - Medical Grand Rounds, Memorial University, Newfoundland
Speaker: Dr. Donald Duerksen, MD, FRCPC
Total number of attendees: 102
Generated interest for:
-impact of disease related malnutrition
-the double burden of obesity & malnutrition
-food first approaches to address malnutrition in a hospital setting
September 23, 2021, 12:00pm - 1:00pm ET - CHUM (Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal)
Speaker: Dr. Johane P. Allard, FRCPC, AGAF/CACF
Total number of attendees: 102
Recording available at: https://vimeo.com/646646061
March 2, 2021, 7:00pm - 8:00pm MST - Primary Care Rounds, Office of Lifelong Learning, University of Alberta, Edmonton
Speaker: Dr. Leah Gramlich, MD, FRCPC
Total number of attendees: 176
Poll responses in session:
- 83% thought malnutrition was a significant concern in their primary care setting
- 60% to 70% needed information on how to identify patients or what to do if a patient is at risk
- 60% have limited or no access to a registered dietitian or did not have enough time
April 29, 2021, 8:00am - 9:00am MST - Medicine Grand Rounds, Royal Alexandra Hospital, Edmonton
Speaker: Dr. Leah Gramlich, MD, FRCPC
Total number of attendees: 104
Recording available at: https://drive.google.com/file/d/19tWG1NFG09ipl15ZpSM_NxBly1wNT0Zd/view