Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital
I am so happy that I completed my internship at the Hines VA. The Hines Dietetic Internship provides a wide variety of challenging experiences with diverse Veterans, but what unifies each rotation is the amount of care each preceptor puts into cultivating your nutrition knowledge and clinical expertise. You will get every opportunity to practice and grow in your independence and decision making while working alongside passionate dietitians, fellow interns, and an internship director who works tirelessly to secure valuable experiences for each intern. The internship will leave you confident and prepared to work as an entry-level dietitian.
- Maria Taylor, Class of 2021
This has been one of the most challenging, yet rewarding 10 months of my life. I entered the program with little expectation of what was to come. Not only did I learn a lot about dietetics and our nation's Veterans, but I also learned a lot about myself. The preceptors in this program are brilliant and have so much to offer. Being a part of the Hines dietetic internship gave me the skillset of an entry level dietitian and helped me develop positive character traits that can be applied to all aspects of my life. Most importantly, I made friendships with interns and staff that will last a lifetime. Even though it was exhausting, I would not trade this experience for the world.
- Jennifer Afana, Class of 2021
The Hines Dietetic Internship presents the opportunity to gain experience in a variety of settings while working with diverse populations. The preceptors are extremely knowledgeable and provide a tremendous amount of guidance to prepare their interns for any entry-level RD position. The best part about the internship is the continuous help and support received from the internship director, preceptors, and fellow interns during and after graduation from the program.
- Avery Warwick, Class of 2015
I realized fairly early in this program that I’d made the right choice with Hines VA, and that realization was strengthened all throughout the program, and again after graduation. The level of knowledge, attention to detail, and thorough scope of practice that can be obtained in this program is second to none. You will notice this quickly, as you work with interns from other programs. Don’t get me wrong... it's a very difficult program, and will challenge you physically, mentally, and emotionally. This program is not for everyone, but it can set you apart from the crowd. I’m positive that I have had professional doors open for me because I have Hines VA on my resumé.
Upon graduation, I had a Registry Clinical Dietitian position waiting for me. I was writing tube feeding orders within weeks, and TPN orders within months of finishing my internship.
I am now a Product Education Specialist for a professional quality nutraceutical company. Every day, I speak with Integrative Medicine Physicians, Dietitians, and Nurses regarding our extensive product line. I’m sure that the technical training I received at Hines VA prepared me to quickly adapt and excel in this position. I would highly recommend the Hines VA internship as that additional component.
- Mike Grochocki, Class of 2014
The Hines Dietetic Internship Program was simultaneously one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences of my professional career. It wouldn't have been possible to accomplish all that was expected of us interns without our fantastic internship director and our incredible preceptors. Their leadership and proficiency were unmatched and, to this day, are qualities I still admire and strive to emulate. After the internship I worked as a clinical dietitian for over six years and later went on to complete my master's in clinical nutrition. I'm currently a private practice dietitian and serve as an adjunct instructor for Loyola University. Hines helped me to lay a solid foundation of knowledge that I continue to build upon. I would without a doubt recommend this program to any aspiring dietitian.
- Hannah Diamond, Class of 2011
