MEDICAL NUTRITION THERAPY EMPHASIS CURRICULUM

The Sodexo Dietetic Internship is a 41-week course of study (September through June) requiring full-time participation by the interns.  After one week of orientation to the program and to the hospital, interns rotate through food service management, clinical practice, community nutrition, specialty electives, and an advanced practice rotation.  Rotations are planned to allow the intern to build skills and reach increasing levels of independence.

Clinical rotations comprise the largest portion of training with 23 weeks of experience.  Clinical rotations include:

• The development of basic assessment and counseling skills

• In-depth management of patients with all major disease states

• Mastery of parenteral nutrition, enteral nutrition and other feeding modalities

• Experience in dietetics specialties such as HIV/AIDS, renal, nutrition support, and others

• Clinical staff relief, which gives the interns the opportunity to function as independently as possible to prepare for initial employment.

• Clinical electives, which gives the interns the ability to explore a personal area of interest.  Examples include neonatal ICU, rehabilitation medicine and trauma nutrition

Additional rotation options include long term care, rehabilitation medicine and neonatal ICU.  Clinical rotations are supplemented with readings, case studies and other activities, which add to the comprehensive learning experience.

Food Service Management rotations consist of 9 weeks of study intended to develop the intern’s skill in overall department operations including:

• Procurement, receiving and storage

• Food production and distribution

• Retail operations

• Patient services management

• Financial management

• Current management theory

Community nutrition experiences of 5 weeks allow the intern to become familiar with federal, state, and community resources and programs impacting nutrition of individuals and groups.  Interns are involved in outpatient nutrition education programs, and spend time with nutritionists and other professionals in charitable and for-profit organizations.

Electives and Staff Relief provides the interns with 7 weeks of opportunities to further develop in-depth skills in an area of special interest and to function as independently as possible to prepare for initial employment.

All rotations are pre-planned and are designed to meet the entry-level dietitian competencies established by the American Dietetic Association.  In addition to rotation assignments, each intern completes projects, readings and other activities as a supplement to the “hands-on” practical experience.  Rotations and assignments are provided in a logical sequence, building on previous weeks’ training.

Didactic training is provided each week in a group environment.  Specialists in clinical dietetics, management, community nutrition, and other areas are featured as speakers each Monday during the program.  These classes are coordinated with the interns’ rotations and are provided to supplement the practical experiences.  Presentation skills and analytical abilities are also enhanced during the didactic portion through case studies and journal reviews presented by the interns.