Rani Wangsawidjaya

Job Title
Public Health Dietitian.

Department/Location
Community & Family Health, 8100 Granville Ave.

How long have you worked at VCH?
Since 2009.

Tell us what you do at VCH in one or two sentences:
I help plan, organize, and coordinate healthy eating programs and services for the Richmond community with a population health lens. I provide nutrition consultation and educational services to health professionals, school personnel, community agencies, and families/individuals in group settings.

What’s your favourite thing about your work?
I get to meet lots of different people who appreciate healthy eating and healthy living as a priority for the community. I love having meaningful discussions and getting people around the table to have a collective impact for the population we are serving.

How does your work contribute to the VCH True North goals?
All of my work is done to improve health outcomes and reduce health inequities in the populations we serve. I have been using LEAN tools to help determine the root cause of problems, find the right solutions, and as a way to communicate to my community partners. I aim to create a workplace where my colleagues do their best every day by making work look more like play.

One thing we might be surprised to learn about you:
I love to dance, sing, and act. I want to be in a musical!

Who is somebody that you consider a major role model in your life?
I have lots of role models. I learn from so many of my family, friends, and acquaintances. At work, I am in awe of all of my dietitian colleagues. They are so passionate about what they do, awesome advocates for the population they serve, and laugh a lot! At home, my dad. I get my need to network and meet people from him. You never know when you can help others and when they can help you.

What makes you happy?
My dance teacher. She has gone through a lot of tumultuous times; as a refugee twice in her lifetime, losing her husband and children, and from losing everything to re-establishing her community and sense of belonging. She still has so much love and care for every person she meets.

Most healthy habit:
Polynesian dancing. It’s not just about getting your body moving, but what the hula represents. Your body becomes a representative of nature. Your hips look like waves of the ocean, your arms can show shape of flowers, birds, wind, or rain, and your facial expressions can show the way you feel when you are transformed into nature.

If an actor or actress played you in a movie, who would it be?
I don’t know… but if I became a cartoon, I want to look like Dora the Explorer. She gets to wear shorts and a t-shirt and runners all the time and she gets to explore everywhere!