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Dietetic Internship Program

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James J. Peters Bronx VA Medical Center

All James J. Peters VA Dietetic Internship Program Dietetic Interns will participate in 12 months (49-weeks) of supervised practice. The supervised practice begins in late August through to the following August. Those in the MS/DI Program will have one additional full-time semester at NYU to complete their 16-month program. The supervised practice program includes 3 weeks of orientation, 40 weeks of 32 hours per week of supervised practice, 4 weeks of 40 hours per week of Applied Nutrition Practicum and 2 weeks of vacation. Our program coordinates all aspects of rotation scheduling and preceptor assignments on your behalf, allowing you to focus on your learning experience. Typically, dietetic interns are scheduled Tuesday through Friday. Learning experiences may be accommodated with changes to the schedule. To satisfy ACEND learning competencies, dietetic interns may have assignments, projects, or readings to supplement the hands-on learning experience of the DI. Assignments include but are not limited to presentations, table events, literature reviews, and case studies. See below for our rotation descriptions.  

Distance Education

James J. Peters VA Medical Center Dietetic Internship Program

The JJPVA DI is primarily an onsite and in-person supervised training program. Our program includes a few elements of distance education to enhance the learning experience. JJPVA dietetic interns have a "homebase" at the medical center during the supervised practice portion of the internship with 15/18 rotations being housed at the JJPVA Medical Center. We offer three affiliate sites rotations, 2 of which are completed remotely while the other is a hybrid rotation. Interns are offered the opportunity to work from home during these rotations if they have home internet service. Those who do not have high speed internet access may utilize the onsite intern office during these rotations. Interns in the MS/DI may also consider utilizing the campus-wide internet access at New York University. Interns are currently provided a VA-issued Laptop during the supervised practice portion of the internship. This allows access to the secure VA network and applications while offsite. Interns have access to virtual IT, training and library services both when onsite or while conducting remote rotations. Communication with preceptors or the DI Director is not impacted by the virtual nature of these rotations. All rotations include detailed pre-rotation information packets and assignments. Regular and daily communication between preceptor and intern continues through either email, Microsoft Teams and/or phone. 

New York University

Graduate coursework at New York University is primarily onsite and in-person. Periodically there may be elective coursework offered remotely in a synchronous fashion, however this is not a common occurrence. Onsite courses may include an element of virtual learning, such as a remote guest lecturer, online plagiarism training module, presentation, or assignment. All students have access to a graduate advisor (whom they can see in-person or virtually depending on preference), library services and IT support as needed. 


Orientation and Management Rotations (3-weeks didactic learning with 6-weeks of supervised practice)

Rotation

Length

Overview

Orientation (JJPVA)

3 weeks

Overview of medical center, rotations, intern responsibilities, computer training and Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) review with clinical preceptors. 

Clinical Nutrition Management (JJPVA)

1 week

Provides comprehensive exposure to the process of assessing, planning, directing, controlling, and evaluating nutrition care in a clinical setting.

Dietetics Education Management (JJPVA)

1 week

Provides comprehensive exposure to the process of managing a dietetic internship program from recruitment and marketing to program development, goals, objectives, and evaluation.

Food Service Management (JJPVA)

4 weeks

Follow the flow of food from the receiving dock to patient delivery in our recently implemented Room Service model.  Participate in food waste evaluation, inventory monitoring, and gain a greater understanding of the many aspects involved in clinical food service. 

Community (2-weeks of supervised practice)

Rotation Length Overview

BronxWorks SNAP-Ed

2 weeks

Unique experience putting your community nutrition knowledge, cultural competency, and education skills to practice with a variety of age groups from different backgrounds. Experience the work being done to address food insecurity and food system inequities. This is an affiliate site rotation at BronxWorks and includes hybrid onsite/remote work. 

Clinical Rotations (34-weeks of supervised practice)

Rotation Length Overview

Medicine (JJPVA)

 4 weeks

Provides intense, in-depth exposure to a variety of acute and chronic medical conditions. Activities include assessments, counseling, team meetings, meal rounds, and observing medical procedures such as barium swallow evaluations and NGT placements.

Nutrition Support/Critical Care (JJPVA) 3 weeks Gain practical experience in the assessment, nutritional support and follow-up of critically ill patients while working as part of fast-paced interdisciplinary team in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). When appropriate, explore the use of Indirect Calorimetry to determine energy needs for critically ill patients.
Spinal Cord Injury and Disorders (JJPVA) 3 weeks JJPVA MC is a Center of Excellence for Spinal Cord Injury/Disorders. Gain exposure to the specialized needs of our ALS, MS, and spinal cord injury/disorder patients. Explore the unique energy needs, swallowing disorders and skin integrity challenges that face our Veterans. Interns may have the opportunity to collaborate with the interdisciplinary team in our outpatient ALS clinic. 
Renal/Dialysis (JJPVA) 3 weeks Provides exposure to the specialized nutritional needs for patients in a hemodialysis clinic setting. Provides outpatient counseling experience for this patient population.
Geriatrics/Extended Care (JJPVA) 3 weeks In-depth exposure to the geriatric population's specialized needs, as well as principles surrounding long-term and palliative care in our onsite Community Living Center (CLC). 
Home Based Primary Care (HBPC) (JJPVA) 1 week Work with a RDN who works closely with the care team to provide nutritional care to homebound Veterans. Participate in the unique learning experience of providing nutrition education to Veterans and their care givers in their home setting in the Bronx and surrounding communities. 
MOVE! (Weight Management) and Bariatric Surgery (JJPVA) 3 weeks MOVE! VA's evidenced based national weight management program developed for Veterans by the National Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention. Introduces our bariatric surgery program and the interdisciplinary team. Activities include individual counseling for weight management, leading support group sessions, and creating patient education materials/teaching aids.
Primary Care Outpatient Nutrition  (JJPVA) 2 weeks In-depth outpatient experience involving the exploration of patient care, counseling and applications of medical nutrition therapy for a variety of disease states. Facilitate several education classes including Diabetes 101 and 102, Whole Health Anti-Inflammatory Nutrition, and Heart Healthy Nutrition. 
Whole Health Nutrition/Culinary Nutrition (JJPVA) 3 weeks In-depth exploration of Whole Health approaches to counseling through the use of motivational interviewing, intuitive eating and Health At Every Size (HAES®) approaches. Support our Resilience and Wellness center by developing dynamic and personalized cooking demonstrations and recipes for veterans in our Healthy Teaching Kitchen (HTK).
Oncology (JJPVA) 3 weeks Provides interns the opportunity to become familiar with metabolic changes, MNT applications and nutrition-related side effects of cancer treatments. Interns gain experience working with an outpatient cancer care team including radiation, surgical and medical oncology. Interns will participate in multidisciplinary tumor board conferences to discuss comprehensive treatment plans. 
Gastrointestinal Disorders (Jill Roberts Center for Inflammatory Bowel Disease at Weill Cornell Medicine) 2 weeks In-depth outpatient counseling experience involving clients with GI disorders such as Crohn's Disease, Ulcerative Colitis, Irritable Bowel Syndrome and other conditions. This is an affiliate site rotation at the Jill Roberts Center and is conducted remotely.  
Nutrition Entrepreneurship in Pediatrics (Malina Malkani, MS, RDN) 2 weeks An exploration of what it takes to run a successful private practice through the lens of pediatrics. Learn about and develop social media content, blog posts, and education regarding transitional eating practices, baby lead weaning and navigating childhood food allergies. This is an affiliate site rotation at with Malina Malkani and is conducted remotely.   
Applied Nutrition Practicum (JJPVA) 4 weeks Gain first-hand experience as an entry-level dietitian in your final supervised practice rotation. With preceptor support, interns will assume the role of a dietitian in designated units/clinics and perform all duties and responsibilities. This rotation allows the intern to demonstrate their knowledge and competency, and gain first-hand experience as an entry-level dietitian.

Additional Features: Vacation (2 weeks): 1 week during the end of December and 1 week during the spring which is based on rotation schedule and discussion with DI director. The following information is subject to change without notice, based on availability.

Dietetic Internship Projects and Assignments

Dietetic interns also engage in several educational activities designed to promote skills in public speaking and presentation. Projects and assignments may include:

  • Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Training
  • Dietetic Intern Debates
  • Case Study Presentation
  • Nutrition Hot Topic Presentation
  • National Nutrition Month Table Event
  • Cooking Demonstration
  • Food Service Management Brief
  • Mentoring an Incoming Intern
  • Legislative Advocacy Assignment
  • Professional Development Portfolio
  • Literature Reviews, Case Studies, and critical thinking assignments specific to each rotation

New York University 

Dietetic interns pursuing the MS/DI option are required to attend classes at New York University during the dietetic internship (DI). A total of at least 19-graduate-level credits must be successfully completed during the DI year. Typically, dietetic interns will take 6 to 9-credits during the Fall and Spring semesters and 3 to 7-credits during the summer semester. After the supervised practice portion of the DI concludes in August, one additional full-time semester of 9-15 credits must be completed at NYU to earn the Master of Science in Clinical Nutrition degree. The completion of the degree is a requirement to meet new regulations as defined by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) to receive a Dietetic Internship Verification Statement. Dietetic interns are required to maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 for NYU classes to successfully complete the DI.

When applying to NYU, select the 40-credit Master of Science in Clinical Nutrition. Once applicants have successfully completed the supervised practice portion of the DI, the graduate degree will be converted to a 34-credit program and 6-credits will be awarded for the completion of a supervised practice program.

Please visit the JJP VA Dietetic Internship/NYU Steinhardt MS in Clinical Nutrition website for more information regarding your graduate degree requirements and sample schedules: 
JJP VA Dietetic Internship/NYU Steinhardt MS in Clinical Nutrition

NYU Notes: No graduate-level course may be taken pass/fail unless that is the only grading option. Not all courses listed are offered every semester. Classes run only if enrollment is sufficient.

Department of Nutrition, Food Studies, and Public Health 
411 Lafayette St. 5th floor New York, NY 10003    
NYU Nutrition and Dietetics

Picture of JJPVA Hospital

Updated: September 2023