Award of Merit

The Award of Merit is given to an Allied Health Professional who has demonstrated exceptional expertise in the management of people living with obesity in Canada, and who has excelled in research, service development, and education, particularly among other healthcare professionals.

2026 Award Recipient

Ms. Jennifer Brown
MSc., RD, CBE

Registered Dietitian | Dietetiste Professionnelle  
Co-Chair, Obesity Guideline Committee

Jennifer Brown is a registered dietitian, certified bariatric educator, and consultant with over 18 years of experience in medical nutrition therapy for obesity care, metabolic bariatric surgery, and weight bias and stigma.
 
Jennifer has held leadership roles in clinical care, quality improvement, and guideline development, including as Chair of the Quality Improvement Committee at The Ottawa Hospital Bariatric Centre of Excellence and Co-Chair of the Obesity Guideline Committee at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute. She serves on the Scientific Advisory Committee of Obesity Canada and the steering committee of the James Lind Alliance Obesity Care in Canada Partnership.
 
She is the founder of Health Not Weight, a professional development program for healthcare providers. A lead author of the 2020 Canadian Adult Obesity Clinical Practice Guidelines, Jennifer also advises on national and international obesity policies. She is a frequent speaker and advocate for transforming healthcare’s approach to weight, health, and nutrition.