A Nourishing Career

Dr. Miyoung Suh and her team.


July 19, 2022 

Dr. Miyoung Suh is studying the role of maternal nutrition in reducing the impact of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD), a preventable developmental disability resulting from fetal exposure to alcohol during pregnancy. 

And now Dr. Suh, a Principal Investigator in the Division of Neurodegenerative Disorders (DND) and the Canadian Centre for Agri-Food Research in Health and Medicine (CCARM) has some extra support for her investigations. 

The St. Boniface Hospital researcher is the recipient of the 2022 Ronald J. Duhamel Innovation Award. The annual award includes a cash honorarium, which for this year was $12,156.38. 

Dr. Suh accepts Duhamel Award honorarium from Karen Fowler, St. Boniface Hospital Foundation President & CEO.

“I’ve been with St. Boniface Hospital since 2009 and seen this award recognize some truly high-impact research,” she said.  

“I was so flattered to be nominated. When I learned I was receiving the award, I said ‘Really? I got it?’” 

DND Director Dr. Paul Fernyhough, in nominating Dr. Suh for the award, referred to her as “a world leader in the field of nutrition and dietetics.” He also cited the relevance of her research for public health.  

“FASD is seen as a major issue among Indigenous peoples of Canada, deemed as such in the Truth and Reconciliation calls to action #33 and #34. By answering these reconciliatory calls, Dr. Suh and her group will amplify the role St. Boniface Hospital plays in the journey of reconciliation in the medical arena.” 

FASD affects 300,000 Canadians and 3,000 infants annually (Government of Canda/ Public Health Agency of Canada). Once diagnosed, only support systems are available for these individuals, but there are no treatment options to reverse FASD. 

Early nutrition intervention  

Dr. Suh’s research focuses on identifying early nutrition intervention strategies during pregnancy and lactation, which may be key in preventing or mitigating the severity of FASD. 

Partnering with First Nations Communities in Manitoba, her research team found more than 85% of pregnant women with alcohol consumption were not meeting recommended omega-3 docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) requirements, a vital structural component of the brain required for optimal fetal brain development and function. 

A study is underway to test the efficacy of DHA to ward off alcohol-induced effects during this vital growth stage. 

Dr. Suh’s work with First Nation communities has also led to the development of an innovative Smart Vertical Farm for Health project. This computer-assisted vertical indoor farm can grow a variety of vegetables, herbs, and fruits, providing the community with fresh and affordable vegetables year-round. Pilot tests have showed that the Smart Vertical Farm produce were richer in key nutrients by comparison to produce obtained from Northern grocery stores. 

“In Opaskwayak Cree Nations, for example, nearly 47 per cent of the adult population is diabetic,” she said. “Let’s change that.”  

“We’ll see the health benefits and the economic benefits when Northern communities are able to produce and consume more of their own nutritious food.” 

As a Duhamel Award recipient, Dr. Suh joins a distinguished list including top researchers, clinicians, and care providers within the St. Boniface Hospital community. 

Leader, team player, and role model 

She’s quick to thank her 11-member research team (“my kids”) consisting of Food and Human Nutritional Sciences students in the University of Manitoba’s Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences.  

On news of the Duhamel Award, she planned a celebratory lunch with the team. She’s also donated in support of an Agricultural and Food Sciences award and plans to donate to St. Boniface Hospital Foundation.  

Born in South Korea, Suh came to Canada to further her education. Having obtained her PhD from the University of Alberta in 1998 and built a career in science, she hopes to inspire women from her birthland. 

“South Korea is a male-dominated culture. For me, the opportunities were in Canada, and they kept coming. I want to show Korean women they can achieve professional success.” 


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