James J. Peters Bronx VA Medical Center
JJPVA Dietetic Internship Application Information
Selection Criteria, Admission Requirements and Application Instructions
A sincere note to applicants: While our program is competitive, we take the time to review every application received, taking into account all aspects of each application. If you are considering applying, we encourage you to do so.
Selection Criteria Checklist
- Dietetic Internship Centralized Application Services (DICAS) application and D&D Digital: JJPVA DI participates in the application match via DICAS and matching via D&D Digital.
- Degree Requirement: Applicants matched to our program must hold a minimum of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university (conferred before the internship start date) and must have completed the requirements of an accredited Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) set forth by Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND). Please note: During the application process, a DPD Letter of Intent will suffice however, an official transcripts indicating the confirmation of your degree and a DPD Verification Statement are required prior to the start of the internship. Our program has a policy on recency of education which requires all applicants to have taken a Medical Nutrition Therapy or similar nutrition and therapy course of 3-credit hours within the last 3 years prior to time of application.
- JJPVA MS/DI Program: All applicants without a previous master's degree in clinical nutrition (or related field) MUST apply or already be enrolled in the Master of Science in Clinical Nutrition at New York University to be considered.
- GPA Requirement: A minimum cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.0.
- Work and Volunteer Experience: Experiences (excluding practicum experience) which demonstrate exposure and commitment to the field of dietetics and professional practice.
- Extracurricular Activities: related to dietetics. These may include volunteer experiences, food drives, student nutrition/dietetic club membership, nutrition education materials and/or classes/programs you have developed.
- Letters of recommendation: We require 3 letters of recommendation. Tip: We are interested in how your college professors/instructors and work supervisors evaluate you and your work. Please carefully choose those who can adequately assess your abilities to perform as a dietetic intern.
- Personal Statement: The JJPVA DI requires a personal statement specific to our program. This statement allows the reviewers to get a sense of who you are as a person, your interests, your commitment to the profession, the reason you chose to pursue a career as a Registered Dietitian, your long- and short-term career goals and the reason for choosing the program. For those considering the MS/DI track, please specify the reasons for choosing our program.
- Supplementary Material (Proof of U.S. Citizenship): Applicants MUST be United States Citizens to receive a stipend. Proof of U.S. Citizenship (valid passport or birth certificate) is required to be submitted as a supplemental document through the DICAS portal.
- VA-Specific Admission Requirements: Please review the 'VA-Specific Admission Requirements' detailed at the end of this page for additional procedures needed for successful appointment if matched to the JJPVA DI.
Selection Process
- Open House: All interested applicants should consider attending an open house. JJPVA DI will be hosting 4 open houses for the Spring 2024 match, two of which will be in-person at the hospital. If you are unable to attend any of the open houses, you are encouraged to contact the DI Director before applying to the internship. More information can be found on our Program Information page.
- Application Scoring: Prior to the interview, submitted applications are reviewed and scored by the DI Director and the selection committee. Our selection committee changes each year, and may include RD preceptors, JJPVA Nutrition Department Leadership, members of the VA interdisciplinary team or NYU faculty.
- Interviews: Interviews are conducted for our highest scoring applications. These applicants will then be contacted via e-mail for an interview. Interviews will be conducted in-person with the DI Director + 2 members of the selection committee for the Spring 2024 cycle. At the conclusion of the interview, an educational writing prompt will be e-mailed to applicants for completion within a specified time frame. Should the in-person interview be prohibitive, please discuss with DI Director.
- Appointment Notifications: Match notifications are released by D&D Digital in April for the following Fall (August/Sept). Procedures for accepting established by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) should be followed.
- A maximum of 7 dietetic interns are appointed annually during each Spring match cycle.
The James J. Peters VAMC is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer. The United States Government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factor. Selection of our interns follows these guidelines.
Additional Information on Application Procedures and Fees
Applicants to this program must complete 3 steps:
1. JJPVA Dietetic Internship via Dietetic Internship Centralized Application Services (DICAS)
Our program participates in the Spring DICAS match. DICAS Program Code: 96. Our application period begins September 18th, 2023 and your application must be completed by the February deadline set by ACEND (usually February 15th). Special Instructions for JJPVA DI: Under 'Supplemental Documents" submit proof of US Citizenship (valid passport or birth certificate).
The fee to use DICAS is $50 for the first application submitted and $25 for each additional application. For additional information on the DICAS application and cycle dates visit the new DICAS Portal. If you have questions about the centralized application, please contact DICAS customer support at (617) 612-2855 or dicasinfo@dicas.org.
2. D&D Digital Systems Procedures
All applicants participating in DICAS must also register for the DI match through D & D Digital. This step allows a candidate to create, edit and verify the priorities for your choices of internships by the deadline set forth by ACEND. The JJPVA Dietetic Internship Program uses Code Number 358. There is a one-time computer matching fee of $65 for the use of D&D Digital Systems. If you need assistance with computer matching, please contact D&D Digital customer support at (515) 292-0490 or dnd@sigler.com.
For further general information regarding the match process refer to The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics webpage: Computer Matching Applicant Responsibilities (eatrightpro.org)
3. New York University Application Procedures (applicant's without a previous MS in Nutrition/Dietetics or related field)
Effective January 1, 2024, the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) will require a minimum of a master’s degree to be eligible to take the credentialing exam to become a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN). All applicants without a previous master's degree in clinical nutrition (or related field) interested in the JJPVA Dietetic Internship MUST apply to New York University's Steinhardt School of Culture, Education and Human Development-Master of Science in Clinical Nutrition (HOND-CNU) to be considered.
- The GRE is not required for the NYU or JJPVA application.
- To waive the NYU application fee, please select that you are applying to the JJPVA Dietetic Internship.
- The NYU MS application is due February 1st, 2024.
Applicants who have or will complete a Master of Science in Clinical Nutrition (or related field) by program start may be exempt from application to NYU through an assessment of their prior learning. This option requires DI Program Director approval and is determined on a case-by-case basis. Contact DI Director, Verzhine Owens, at Verzhine.Owens@va.gov for inquiries.
Note: There is no additional tuition or processing fee paid directly to the JJPVA DI Program.
Appointment Procedure and VA-Specific Admission Requirements
Matched Applicants:
- D&D Digital System will provide all applicants their personal matching results via posting on the D&D Digital System website on notification day.
- Matched applicants to the James J. Peters VA Medical Center Dietetic Internship Program must contact the Dietetic Internship Director, Verzhine Owens, by telephone at 718-584-9000 x 6845 or via email Verzhine.Owens@va.gov (preferred) to confirm acceptance of the match by the deadline set by ACEND.
- A letter will be sent to appointees confirming the dietetic internship appointment. This letter is considered tentative until the appointee has successfully completed all hiring and onboarding requirements of the VA including but not limited to a background check with fingerprints, physical examination, and demonstrating satisfactory immunization/vaccination status.
Note: Should the background check or physical examination be unsatisfactory, no part of the expenses involved in reporting or returning home can be borne by the Federal Government.
VA-Specific Admission Requirements:
If matched to the JJPVA DI:- Selective Service: Male born applicants ages 18-26 will be required to register for selective service or be exempt and provide verification of their status through Selective Service Online Registration Search.
- Background Check: All trainees must pass a background check (paid for by the VA).
- Physical Examination: To be eligible for appointment, all trainees must show verification of good mental and physical health to meet the needs of a DI. A physical examination must be conducted (either by a private Primary Care Provider or at a Department of Veterans Affairs medical facility) prior to reporting to duty.
- Immunization/Vaccination Documentation: All trainees must be up to date on vaccinations for health care workers as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Recommended Vaccines for Healthcare Workers | CDC and VA. Human Resources, the program director and occupational health will provide necessary forms for documentation that are required for onboarding.
- Drug Testing: All trainees are subject to random drug testing per Human Resources guidelines during their time of employment with VA. Drug screening is not required by the VA for admission to the internship. Drug testing has not been required by an outside affiliate. If an outside affiliate site begins to require drug testing, it will be at the interns' expense. No estimated costs for this are currently available as it is not required at this time.
Page Updated: December 2023
