VA San Diego Healthcare System Dietetic Internship Program
STIPEND AND BENEFITS
- The stipend for the Department of Veterans Affairs health care training programs is subject to change each year. The current stipend is $10,727 for the 40 week program.
- Interns earn annual and sick leave at the rate of one hour each for every twenty hours worked. One week of annual leave is scheduled mid-way through the program. Interns are not eligible for paid holidays.
- Library privileges at VASDHS Medical Library and University of California, San Diego Biomedical Library are provided. This service includes free use of all online library resources such as Clinical Pharmacology, MICROMEDEX, MD Consult, OVID, Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database, Skolar MD and Up to Date.
- Access to facility computers and printers including internet access and numerous online reference materials and courses.
- VASDHS Diet Manual and Dietetic Intern Information Handbook.
- Access to the on-line ADA Nutrition Care Manual.
ESTIMATED EXPENSES
Cost of living depends upon your choice of living arrangements. The Department of Veterans Affairs does not provide meals or housing. Interns may choose to share an apartment. Meals can be purchased in the Canteen Service cafeteria, or lunch can be carried from home.
- Fees, hand held calculator, books and paper supplies-approximately $300
- Automobile insurance and expenses - $270 - $300 per month (gas $3.60- $3.90 per gallon)
- Public transportation - roughly $5 for daily pass or $64 - $154 for monthly pass.
Interns may qualify for public transportation voucher program with a maximum value of $110 per month.
- Housing - $600 - $800 per month (based on a two-bedroom apartment shared with one person)
- Utilities (gas/electric/water/phone) - $100 - $150 per month
- Food and personal supplies - $150 - $200 per month. Food purchased in the Canteen Service cafeteria approximately $5.00 per meal.
- Clothing/Laundry - $30 - $60 per month. The VA San Diego Healthcare System will provide lab jackets. The rest of your attire must be suitable for a business environment.
- Student membership in The American Dietetic Association ($43.00) and a local San Diego District of the California Dietetic Association ($8)
- Health insurance ($100 - $150 per month), medical and dental expenses (varies). Interns are responsible for obtaining their own health insurance. The VA does not offer health insurance to dietetic interns.
- Professional liability insurance - $25
- Conferences/Workshops - $200
- RD Exam Review Course (optional) - approximately $300
- RD Exam Application Fee - $200
SCHOLARSHIPS - The California Dietetic Association (CDA) Foundation has a scholarship program for students who attended a California academic program. For more information, contact: California Dietetic Association, 7740 Manchester Avenue, Suite 102, Playa del Rey, CA 90293-8499 or http://www.dietitian.org/cdaf_home.htm*.
STUDENT LOANS - We do not offer student loans; some loans may be deferred during the internship period.
PARKING AND TRANSPORTATION -
- Parking is free at VASDHS locations.
- All transportation must be provided by the intern. Access to a dependable automobile is required for those days on which the intern may be scheduled to work hours when public transportation is not available, and for transportation to affiliations, field experiences, classes in the field, conferences and dietetics meetings.
- Access to the main hospital is readily accessible by public transportation and interns may apply for transit voucher funding to subsidize their travel expenses.
VACATION - Interns are given one week of vacation between the Christmas and New Year Holidays. Interns are also scheduled off most holidays, however, they are not eligible for paid holidays. Government holidays during the internship include: Labor Day, Veteran's Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, Martin Luther King, President's Day and Memorial Day.
* Links above will take you outside of the Department of Veterans Affairs Website. VA does not endorse and is not responsible for the content of the linked websites.
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