Dietetic Internship Program

Louis Stokes Cleveland Dietetic Internship Program

 

 

The ACEND accredited Dietetic Internship Program at the Louis Stokes Cleveland Veterans Affairs Medical Center [LSCVAMC], part of the the VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System [VANEOHS], was established in 1965. Since its inception, it has been affiliated with the Department of Nutrition at Case Western Reserve University [CWRU] to provide a Combined Dietetic Internship/Master's Degree Program [CDI/MDP] within an 18 month time frame.

The Louis Stokes Cleveland VAMC Dietetic Internship provides more than 1,200 hours of supervised practice over 12 months (49 weeks) and a focus on clinical nutrition practice. Supervised practice experiences in Medical Nutrition Therapy, Foodservice Systems Management and Community Nutrition are offered in accordance with practice areas of registered dietitians at the LSCVAMC. Dietetic interns are paid a stipend of $25,200 (pre-tax) during the 12 month dietetic internship. All interns earn the stipend. 

Dietetic interns, entering the internship without a graduate degree, take a total of 14-15 graduate credit hours at CWRU during the first academic year (August to May). In the third and final semester of the graduate program, students enroll for 15-16 hours of graduate credit. CWRU provides a $7,000 memorandum of assistance, from the Department of Nutrition, spread over the three (3) semesters of graduate studies ($2,000 the first semester, $2,000 the second semester, $3,000 the third semester) to decrease tuition costs.

Program Opportunities:

• Dietetic Internship Only (for applicants who will enter with a completed Master's Degree and a DPD verification statement): Supervised practice experiences in medical nutrition therapy, community nutrition, and foodservice systems management, are provided over 12 months (49 weeks), from mid-August through mid-July of the following year. All rotations are within the VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System except for the pediatric and enrichment rotations. During the internship, dietetic interns are in supervised practice rotations, at the VA hospital, from Tuesday through Friday. Starting in June, the rotation schedule transitions to Monday through Friday until the internship ends in July. Upon completion of the internship in July, the interns receive a verification statement allowing them to take the Registration Exam for Registered Dietitian Nutritionists.

• Combined Dietetic Internship and Master's Degree Program (CDI/MDP): Supervised practice experience in medical nutrition therapy, community nutrition, and foodservice systems management, are provided over 12 months (49 weeks), from mid-August through mid-July of the following year. All rotations are within the VA Northeast Ohio Healthcare System except for the pediatric and enrichment rotations. During the first fall semester, dietetic interns are in graduate classes on Monday and on one evening (earning 8 graduate credits) and in supervised practice rotations at the VA hospital from Tuesday through Friday. During the spring semester, dietetic interns are in graduate classes on Monday (earning 6 graduate credits) and in supervised practice rotations at the VA hospital from Tuesday through Friday. Starting in June, the interns are in rotations Monday through Friday until the internship ends in July. In the final fall semester (3rd semester), of the CDI/MDP, interns complete the remaining 16 graduate credits from a variety of elective courses. The CDI/MDP in a non-thesis program and requires successfully completing a comprehensive exam to fulfill the Master's degree requirements. After the third semester is completed, and the degree is conferred in January, the interns receive a verification statement allowing them to take the Registration Exam for Registered Dietitian Nutritionists.

Over 500 registered dietitians have completed the accredited dietetic internship at the LSCVAMC since the program began in 1965. These master's prepared registered dietitians are employed throughout the country in Medical Nutrition Therapy, Community Nutrition, Foodservice Systems Management and Research.

Open House: Please contact Arianna Aoun for information [Email: arianna.aoun@va.gov; Phone: 216/791-3800, ext. 64375]. The program offers multiple open houses in cooperation with Case Western Reserve University. 

VA Open House Information: https://www.dieteticinternship.va.gov

2024 Virtual Open House Recording: https://cwru.zoom.us/rec/play/HELYzYKfjSGbH9dfDi4b_qHeKA4ISj0r_qMFO5eCWQFeWG1PKm0-sNdXi_nBr8V5OxG7V4LrR0duNqhF.IOLpKIs8J4fTZlug?canPlayFromShare=true&from=share_recording_detail&startTime=1724951718000&componentName=rec-play&originRequestUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fcwru.zoom.us%2Frec%2Fshare%2FAatNbjjvESR2ZbK_ca1-AOHOCEYH5TgnAJbviMBF4XmbQRc9ekJBwOSCwrfNjSRv.xH07laZe9ymesYUF%3FstartTime%3D1724951718000

Application Timelines: timelines suggested by Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND):

Dates for Fall Application cycle:

- Applications Due: October 15, 2024
- Enrollment offers made on or by November 1, 2024
- Applicants must accept or decline the enrollment offer on or by November 15, 2024

Dates for Winter/Spring Application cycle:

- Applications Due: January 15, 2025
- Enrollment offers made on or by March 1, 2025
- Applicants must accept or decline the enrollment offer on or by March 15, 2025

Application Procedures: Interested applicants should apply to the Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center through DICAS. Graduate school applications are not required until after acceptance of the internship offer. View the application procedures:

-Fall procedures: https://www.dieteticinternship.va.gov/cleveland/ClevelandApplicationFall.asp 

-Spring procedures: https://www.dieteticinternship.va.gov/cleveland/ClevelandApplicationSpring.asp

Program Director's Message: Read the Program Director's Message

Dietetic Internship Start Date: Mid-August

Dietetic Internship Acceditation: The Dietetic Internship Program at the Louis Stokes Cleveland Veterans Affairs Medical Center is currently granted accreditation by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND)

Address:
Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics
120 South Riverside Plaza
Suite 2190
Chicago, IL 60606-6995

Phone: 800-877-1600 ext. 5400
Email: ACEND@eatright.org
Website: https://www.eatrightpro.org/acend

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). In order to be approved for registration examination eligibility with a bachelor’s degree, an individual must meet all eligibility requirements and be submitted into CDR's Registration Eligibility Processing System (REPS) before 12:00 midnight Central Time, December 31, 2023. For more information about this requirement visit CDR's website: https://www.cdrnet.org/graduatedegree. In addition, CDR requires that individuals complete coursework and supervised practice in program(s) accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND). Graduates who successfully complete the ACEND-accredited [program type] program at [Institution name] are eligible to [apply to an ACEND-accredited supervised practice program/apply to take the CDR credentialing exam to become an RDN].

In most states, graduates also must obtain licensure or certification to practice. For more information about state licensure requirements click here.

For more information about educational pathways to become a RDN click here.