Dietetic Internship Program
James J. Peters Bronx Veterans Affairs Medical Center
Dear Applicant,
Welcome to the James J. Peters VA Medical Center (JJPVAMC) Dietetic Internship (DI) Program website. We hope you will find the answers to all your questions about our program within these pages.
The JJPVAMC DI was first established in 1946. We are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND). Our program offers a 16-month Master of Science/Dietetic Internship (MS/DI) Program track and a 12-month stand-alone DI track. Both options include a 12-month (49-weeks) supervised practice experience with concentration in Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT). Our MS/DI track partners with New York University (NYU) for a Master of Science in Clinical Nutrition degree.
All applicants must apply to our program through Dietetic Internship Centralized Application System (DICAS) and the D&D Digital computer matching system by the deadline (usually February 15th). All applicants must show proof of verification of/or intent to complete their Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD). Applicants without a Master of Science in Clinical Nutrition degree must also apply to NYU by their deadline (usually February 1st) to be considered. Applicants with a previously obtained Master of Science in Clinical Nutrition (or related field) by program start may be considered for the stand-alone DI track, with DI Director approval. Applicants joining our program with a MS in Clinical Nutrition (or related field) must have degree conferred by the start of the internship. Details about the application process may be found on the JJPVAMC DI "Application Information" page.
Our MS/DI Dietetic Interns will begin their studies at NYU and be required to complete a minimum of 19 graduate credits during the 49-week supervised practice portion of the DI. Dietetic Interns will move on to complete the final credits of their 34-credit masters in one additional full-time semester after the completion of their supervised practice. Once the supervised practice rotations and Master of Science in Clinical Nutrition are successfully completed and conferred, Dietetic Interns will receive their ACEND Verification Statement (VS) allowing them to sit for your Commission on Dietetics Registration (CDR) examination to become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN). For Dietetic Interns with a completed master’s degree, they will receive their VS following the completion of the supervised practice portion of the DI.
JJPVAMC DI is proud to offer Dietetic Interns a paid stipend for their training provided by The Office of Academic Affiliations (OAA) during their 49-weeks of supervised practice at the hospital. It is paid in bi-weekly deposits. Note: U.S. Citizenship is required to obtain a stipend.
The JJPVAMC is a tertiary care medical center that provides a broad range of inpatient and outpatient health care services. It is strategically affiliated with three of the premier academic medical institutions in New York City, including Mount Sinai School of Medicine, the Hospital for Special Surgery and Columbia School of Dentistry. JJPVAMC provides academic support for medical students, resident training programs, and additional allied health care training programs, as well as providing state-of-the-art medical expertise for our Veteran patients. JJPVA Nutrition and Food Service (NFS) provides exceptional nutritional care by its knowledgeable clinical nutrition staff, extensive outpatient counseling and education programs, and quality inpatient services. JJPVAMC offers our Veterans a Room Service style dining experience. This allows Veterans the maximum choice in meal selection and delivery while fosters opportunities for dietitians and dietetic interns to educate Veterans on food choices aligned with their preferences and nutritional goals.
As a hospital-based DI, approximately three-fourths of the supervised practice are spent in clinical rotations (inpatient and outpatient), and the remaining time is spent in food service management, community, entrepreneurship in pediatrics, and culinary nutrition rotations. The primary demographic of our patients is adults, often male, therefore applicants should have an interest treating this population. While women’s and maternal health services are growing at our facility, dietetic interns in our program should expect limited exposure to women and children. Despite where you hope your dietetics career will take you, we believe developing strong clinical judgement and the ability to implement Medical Nutrition Therapy will allow you to excel in any field of dietetics.
If you are interested in applying to our program or have any further questions, please consider reaching out to the Dietetic Internship Director, Verzhine Owens. Email contact: verzhine.owens@va.gov.
We wish you good luck in your journey to becoming a Registered Dietitian.
Sincerely,
Verzhine V. Owens, MS, RDN, CDN, CDCES
Dietetic Internship Director
Nutrition and Hospitality Service Center (120)
James J. Peters VA Medical Center
130 West Kingsbridge Road
Bronx, NY 10468
Verzhine.Owens@va.gov (preferred)
(718) 584-9000 ext. 6845
Page Updated: September 2023.
