Morgan Medal Awards Program
CFDR created the Morgan Medal award in memory of Susan Morgan, CFDR's manager from 1999 to 2005. Susan was an ardent supporter of the dietetic profession and of practice-based research. The annual award is presented to an outstanding dietetic intern or student to foster and mentor these young researchers, a value in which Susan believed strongly.
Who is eligible for the Morgan Awards?
These awards are presented as recognition of individual personal achievement of a dietetic intern or practicum student for their research project. Anyone who was a dietetic intern or a practicum student in the year preceding the date of application is eligible. This includes students who were in their final year of an integrated undergraduate degree with internship, a post-degree internship, and those who are currently undergoing a combined master's degree and internship. Interns who have obtained their dietetic internship research competencies from prior credit learning (i.e. senior thesis, summer student research awards) are also eligible. To be eligible, the applicant must be a student (Qualifying) member of Dietitians of Canada at the time of application.
Do I have to apply for this award? If so, what is the application procedure?
The award requires an application, which is due January 15, 2010 4pm EST to:
The Canadian Foundation for Dietetic Research
E-mail: dsheh@dietitians.ca
Applications may be submitted in either official language, and must be an electronic copy with the applicant's description of the project and letter as attachments in the email. The research supervisor must email the reference form directly to CFDR (see details below in No. 3). The application consists of 3 parts:
- A description of the project that was used to obtain internship research competencies (300 words maximum; a copy of the abstract you have already written for your internship is appropriate, including the results of your project.) The internship project must be complete at the time of application. If your research work was a small section of a larger group project, be sure to explain your role in the big picture of the project. Any member of a group is eligible to submit an individual application, explaining their role in the research project. Important concepts to incorporate into this piece of writing are: clarity, conciseness and indicating that you understand the link between practice and research by stating how your research is relevant to current and future dietetic practice.
- A letter describing a key learning or significant milestone you had in conducting research. For example this could be a moment when: your research project 'clicked' in your head and you became committed to it, the ethical considerations in your research registered with you, you figured out how to overcome a challenge in your research project, you made a connection with a research subject or another member of your research team, or when you found beauty, intrigue or inspiration while conducting research. Important concepts to incorporate into this piece of writing are: that you learn from experience, that you understand why research is important in dietetic practice, and that you have potential as a contributor to dietetic research (as demonstrated by your enthusiasm for and commitment to research and also by your openness to and potential for inquiry).(This letter should be addressed to the Canadian Foundation for Dietetic Research and should be a maximum length of 2 pages double-spaced, size 12 Times New Roman font).
- A completed Reference Form (Word doc) from your research supervisor.
What are the criteria against which applications will be evaluated?
The application will be evaluated on three main components:
- Description of Research Project (25%)
- Key Learning/Significant Milestone Letter (60%)
- Reference Letter (15%)
Download Morgan Medal Criteria (pdf) for your copy of the criteria and indicators.
More Questions?
Download a copy of Frequently Asked Questions (pdf) for information about how to apply for the Morgan Awards and Medal.
Past Morgan Medal Recipients
- 2009 announcement (pdf)
- 2008 announcement (pdf)
- 2008 newsletter article, p.6 (pdf)
- 2007 announcement (pdf)
How Can I Contribute?
Learn more about Morgan Medal.