Dietetic Internship Program

Corporal Michael. J. Crecenz (Philadelphia) VA Medical Center

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If you want to learn more about our program, you can attend our VA Open House Forum! No registration needed! 

The CMC VAMC DI Program  will be accepting applications for the 2025-2026 academic year. The program offers supervised practice hours in clinical, food service management and community dietetics. The Nutrition and Food Service Department professional staff at CMC VAMC administer the program. Registered Dietitians and Food Service Management participate in curriculum development in their specialty areas along with development of evaluation procedures. Staff of affiliate facilities will be preceptors for those rotations they supervise and assist in curriculum development of those rotations. No credit is given for assessment of prior learning.

All rotations are designed to prepare the intern for entry-level professional practice in dietetics or related fields. All interns will rotate at our main campus, the Corporal Michael. J. Crecenz Veterans Affairs Medical Center and may be assigned rotations at the following outpatient clinics: Burlington County VA Clinic, Gloucester County VA Clinic, and Victor J. Saracini Department of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic. Interns will also rotate through Community affiliation sites.

Program Schedule

During this 46-week internship program, the intern will be on duty 32 hours per week between the months of August to July. One day each week will be dedicated to a didactic review class while the other 4 days of the week comprise of supervised practice in various nutrition rotations. There will be a 2-week orientation period at the beginning of the program. Included in this week will be a general orientation to the CMC VA Medical Center along with introduction to computerized charting and utilizing the nutrition care process. Interns will spend 21 weeks in clinical nutrition, 10 weeks in food service management, 10 weeks in community nutrition, and 2 weeks in staff relief. Interns will receive a one-week vacation in November and in December, as well as observed federal holidays. Our program will select up to 4 interns each year.

Interns will not be required to locate their own supervised practice sites or preceptors. The CMC VAMC DI Program is not a distance program and thus all practice will occur within the CMC VAMC facilities and its affiliate partners. No credit will be awarded for prior learning experiences or classwork. Schedules are subject to change.

Curriculum

The CMC VAMC DI Program curriculum is developed by the DI Director with approval by the Nutrition and Food Services Chief and will be reviewed annually. Dietetic interns will learn under the guidance of the experienced staff of CMC VAMC Registered Dietitian Nutritionists who exhibit a wide range of expertise and knowledge in a variety of specialties.

Registered Dietitians also work as part of an interdisciplinary team including staff physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, therapists, pharmacists, psychologists, and clinical specialists of various specialties and services that will help to provide advice and information that is incorporated into the training experience.

Administrative Dietetics: Interns will gain experience in the roles and responsibilities of food service systems management and administration. The rotation includes clinical management, food preparation and evaluation, food service and operational management, informatics and process management and improvement. Learning is facilitated using a project-based rotation. Projects are based on practical needs of the department and intern interest. 

Clinical Dietetics: The clinical component of the program is designed to provide interns experience in the nutrition care process, patient education and active participation in the multidisciplinary health care team. The inpatient clinical rotation includes cardiology, general medicine, surgical care, renal, critical care and nutrition support, inpatient mental health, and staff relief. We also house a domiciliary drug, alcohol and mental health rehab unit and a Community Living Center (CLC) for physical rehabilitation and long-term care. The outpatient clinical rotation includes ambulatory care, home based primary care, MOVE! (a national weight management program), separate counseling clinics for renal patients/dialysis, oncology patients, and staff relief. CMC VAMC dietetic interns are also responsible for the planning and implementation of the healthcare system's National Nutrition Month program at CMC VAMC locations and in the community.

Community Dietetics: The community component of the program is designed to provide interns experience in wellness and health promotion across the lifespan, food insecurity, and food distribution. Unique to the CMC VAMC is experience in Sports Nutrition at a local university. Interns will rotate through affiliate sites in the Philadelphia metro area.

Internship Program Completion:

• Completion of supervised practice hours
• Completion all assignments and projects by established guidelines
• Satisfactorily completes the requirements for each rotation.
• Attends all workshops and seminars scheduled during the year

Unique qualities of Internship:

• Preceptors: We have a dedicated staff of highly qualified dietitians and a teaching environment that promotes education and evidenced based practice. Our small class size means that you will get specialized, individualized attention. In most rotations, only one intern is assigned to a preceptor at a time, allowing for maximum attention to your learning experience.
• Jobs Placement: We will assist you in finding employment in the government or private sector. With more than 100 VA Medical Centers across the country, you will have increased opportunities to work for the VA.
• Unique Tracks: To meet the increasing demand for experiences in Sports Nutrition, the CMC VAMC DI program offers a three-week rotation at the sports complex of a local university, working with some of the best dietitians in Sports Nutrition. Our program will help you meet the diverse needs of any group you wish to serve, and that is why the CMC VAMC DI program also offers educational opportunities for gender-related care and community health to underserved populations.

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