Bay Pines VA Healthcare System
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Application Procedures
The Paul M. Russo Dietetic Internship participates in the Spring DICAS application process. Applications are accepted starting August 5th, 2026. All applications must be received and completed in DICAS by January 15, 2027, at 11:59 PM (Central Time). The fee to use DICAS is $50 for the first application and $25 for each additional application. No paper applications will be accepted. For assistance, contact DICAS Customer Service at DICASinfo@Dicas.org. Guidelines and resources addressing the new dietetics application process for supervised practice programs are now available to applicants on the ACEND website here. As part of the DICAS application process you will be asked to complete a personal statement in 1,000-1,500 words that address the following questions. We are looking for candidates who have overall goals that match what we can provide.
Key points to include in your personal statement are:
- Why are you interested in the Paul M. Russo Dietetic Internship Program?
- Why do you want to pursue a career in nutrition and dietetics?
- What experiences have helped prepare you for your career?
- What are your short-term and long-term professional goals?
- What are your strengths, and which areas you are seeking to improve?
- Provide an example of a leadership role you have served in and describe the skills you demonstrated.
Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended should be sent to:
DICAS Transcript Dept.
PO Box 9118
Watertown, MA 02471
When completing the DICAS application form, applicants must include the name and contact information (specifically an email address) for each reference. This will trigger an email message requesting completion of a reference form. The form will be completed online.
The Paul M. Russo Dietetic Internship has three program options. Applicants must specify which option they are applying for in DICAS.
1. MPH/DI Option:
Applicants interested in the MPH/DI option must apply to both the University of South Florida (USF) Graduate School and the Paul M. Russo Dietetic Internship Program. Applications to the Paul M. Russo Dietetic Internship should be submitted through the Spring DICAS Application Portal. Applicants to the MPH/DI program must meet the requirements for both the internship program and the University of South Florida. Please check with the College of Public Health (COPH) for more information. To allow sufficient time for the USF graduate and DI programs to review applications, MPH/DI applicants must start the graduate program application process by January 15th. This ensures that admission information is available in a timely manner for the DI program review. Incomplete applications will not be considered by the Paul M. Russo Dietetic Internship Selection Committee. Once notified of your appointment on March 10, 2027, both the SOPHAS and USF applications must be completed and submitted by May 1, 2027.
2. MS/DI Option:
Applicants interested in the MS/DI option must apply to both the University of Alabama Graduate School and the Paul M. Russo Dietetic Internship Program. Applications to the Paul M. Russo Dietetic Internship should be submitted through the Spring DICAS Application Portal. Applicants to the MS/DI program must satisfy the requirements for both the internship program and the University of Alabama. For more information, please visit the MS in Human Nutrition program at The University of Alabama. Once notified of your appointment on March 10, 2027, you must complete and submit the UA graduate program application by April 15, 2027.
3. Verification Statement Only Option:
Applicants for the Verification Statement Only option must have completed a master’s degree before the internship start date. Apply through the Spring DICAS Application Portal.
Requirements for All Applicants:
- Citizenship: Must be a U.S. citizen by the application deadline.
- Education: Must have a baccalaureate degree in a nutrition program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) before beginning the dietetic internship or graduate program.
- Verification Statement: Must hold an official Verification Statement of Completion or Declaration of Intent to Complete from an accredited Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD), with original signatures issued within the last 5 years. The GRE is not required.
Your application will be scored based on the following selection criteria:
- Grade Point Average: Candidates should have a GPA of 3.0 or higher.
- Work and volunteer experience: (excluding practicum experience) that demonstrate exposure to the field of nutrition and dietetics.
- Extracurricular activities: These may include memberships in student nutrition and dietetics organizations or other service organizations, athletics, development of nutrition education materials and/or classes. Please be sure to highlight any leadership roles held.
- Letters of recommendation: We value evaluations from your college professors/instructors and work supervisors. Select individuals who can adequately assess your abilities to succeed in a dietetic internship and as a registered dietitian nutritionist. Please submit only 3 letters of reference.
Video interviews are conducted for highest scoring candidates. A maximum of six interns are appointed annually. A selection committee will review your application.
Appointment Procedures
- Applicants will receive notification of their application status on or before March 1, 2027. Applicants may receive acceptance, waitlist status or rejection notification.
- Applicants selected to the Paul M. Russo Dietetic Internship Program must confirm their acceptance by emailing the Dietetic Internship Director sharon.hickman@va.gov (preferred) or calling (727) 398-6661, extension 14449 by March 10, 2027 at 3 pm (Eastern Time). After this deadline, the program is no longer committed to holding offers.
- Applicants on the waitlist will be notified if positions become available and they are offered acceptance.
- A letter confirming the dietetic internship appointment will be sent to all appointees. This letter is considered tentative until the appointee has successfully completed all onboarding requirements of the VA (see below).
- Before starting the internship in August, incoming interns must submit official transcripts and the DPD Verification Statement to the Dietetic Internship Director.
- All university requirements must be fulfilled for those pursuing the MPH/DI or MS/DI program options in order to proceed with the internship.
All applicants are encouraged to review the Dietetics Applicant and Program Code of Conduct and Traffic Rules found here.
Onboarding Requirements
- Appointees must be physically and mentally able to perform the responsibilities of an intern safely and efficiently.
- Appointees will need to provide proof of immunization status (as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC) and have a physical examination within the past year.
- The Federal Government does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, sex, national origin, age or disability. As part of the Federal Government's onboarding process, a background check is completed at no cost to the appointee.
- Males must have registered for Selective Service or be exempt to be eligible to be admitted into the program. Males will be required to provide verification of status through Selective Service Online Registration Search.
Please note: As part of your training program requirements as an intern, you may be required to complete rotations at affiliate sites. The affiliates reserve the right to dismiss any trainee from a non-VA health care facility or agency assignment for unsatisfactory educational performance, noncompliance with the policies and procedures of the non-VA health care facility or agency, or for cause. The Dietetic Internship Director will provide you with a list of specific requirements for each affiliate site. These may include requirements such as drug screening or other conditions not provided or required by the VA, for which the intern will be personally responsible.
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