Dietetic Internship Program
James J. Peters Bronx Veterans Affairs Medical Center
Dear Applicant,
Welcome to the James J. Peters VA Medical Center (JJPVAMC) Dietetic Internship (DI) Program website. We hope this resource provides comprehensive answers to your questions regarding our program.
The JJPVAMC DI was established in 1946 and is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND). Our program offers a 16-month Master of Science/Dietetic Internship (MS/DI) option as well as an 11-month stand-alone DI option. Both options include an 11-month (47-week) supervised practice component with a focus on Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT). The MS/DI option collaborates with New York University (NYU) to confer a Master of Science in Clinical Nutrition degree. All applicants must submit their applications via the Dietetic Internship Centralized Application System (DICAS). Further details about the application process are available on the JJPVAMC DI "Application Information" page.
The JJPVAMC DI is pleased to offer a paid stipend to Dietetic Interns during their supervised practice, funded by the Office of Academic Affiliations (OAA). Interns who successfully complete all program requirements will receive their ACEND Verification Statement (VS), qualifying them to sit for the Commission on Dietetics Registration (CDR) examination to become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN). Interns with an existing master’s degree will receive their VS upon completing the supervised practice component, while MS/DI candidates will obtain their VS after completing the internship and conferral of their MS degree from NYU.
As a tertiary care medical center, JJPVAMC provides a wide range of inpatient and outpatient health services. The Center supports medical student education, residency programs, and allied health training, offering cutting-edge medical expertise for our Veteran patients. The Nutrition and Food Service (NFS) department delivers comprehensive nutritional care through knowledgeable clinical staff, extensive outpatient counseling, educational programs, and high-quality inpatient services. Additionally, JJPVAMC offers a Room Service-style dining experience for Veterans, providing maximum meal choice and opportunities for dietitians and interns to educate on food selections tailored to individual preferences and nutritional goals.
Our hospital-based DI dedicates approximately 75% of supervised practice time to clinical rotations, including inpatient and outpatient care. The remaining training is in food service management, community programs, entrepreneurship in pediatrics, and private practice. The primary patient demographic consists of adults, predominantly male, so applicants should be interested in working with this population. While women’s health and maternal health services are expanding at our facility, including a new women’s health rotation at Brooklyn VA, exposure to women and children may be limited. Regardless of your future career direction in dietetics, developing strong clinical judgment and proficiency in Medical Nutrition Therapy are essential skills that will support success across all areas of the profession.
If you are interested in applying or have additional questions, please contact the Dietetic Internship Director, Verzhine Owens, at Verzhine.Owens@va.gov.
We wish you the best of luck on your journey to becoming a Registered Dietitian.
Sincerely,
Verzhine V. Owens, MS, RDN, CDN, CDCES
Dietetic Internship Director
Nutrition & Food Service (NFS) (120)
James J. Peters VA Medical Center
130 West Kingsbridge Road
Bronx, NY 10468
Verzhine.Owens@va.gov (preferred)
(718) 584-9000 ext. 6845
Page Updated: August 2025
