 |
|
||
|
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs - Dietetic Internship
|
||
Program Director's Message I am happy to be able to share with you information about the Dietetic Internship Program at the Louis Stokes Cleveland Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center (Louis Stokes CVAMC). This Dietetic Internship is part of the 16-month Coordinated Dietetic Internship/Master's Degree Program (CDI/MDP) established in 1965 at Case Western Reserve University (CWRU). The program has a long history of preparing outstanding dietitians who go on to pursue many different avenues of professional practice. I am proud to say that we are one of the few programs that offer supervised practice experiences in nutrition therapy, foodservice systems management and community practice. A stipend of $12,984.00 is paid over the first 11 months of the program while students are completing the accredited dietetic internship. The remainder of the time (5 months) is spent as a full-time graduate student at CWRU. It is our opinion that a master's degree is vital for anyone who wants to advance quickly in any practice area. Students have told me recently that they have been discouraged from applying to programs that offer stipends because "They are too competitive." While it is true that we are seeking excellent students, I am happy to review your application if you meet the academic criteria (3.0 GPA). You should also be aware that we do not limit the number of students we will accept from a single school. There is no application fee so you have nothing lose. You will be eligible to take the Registration Examination for Dietitians after completing the dietetic internship portion of the program. To have both the master's degree and registered dietitian credential upon completion of the 16-month program will enhance your marketability as you seek your first professional position. In planning for the future, keep in mind that we will assist you to find employment in the government or private sector. Opportunities for career mobility abound! The starting salary at VA Medical Centers is at least $45,040 and may be higher in certain geographic areas. In Cleveland, the starting salary is $46,604 and increases to $56,386 after one year. Finally, I am happy to let you know that the VA has implemented a program that will pay student loans for recently hired clinical professionals in hard to recruit/hard to retain clinical professions for each full year they continue to work for the VA. You may be eligible to receive funding over five years to pay qualifying student loans. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me (216-791-3800 ext 4375). Anne Raguso, Ph.D., R.D. |
