James H. Quillen VA Medical Center
Program Mission and Vision
VA Medical Center Mission
Honor and serve America's Veterans by providing exceptional healthcare that is patient centered and preferred by Veterans.
James H Quillen VA Medical Center Dietetic Internship- Mission
Prepare future dietitians by providing excellence in a supportive and challenging learning environment designed to promote progressive, evidence-based, patient-centered nutritional care, which prepares our graduates to be highly functioning, competent entry-level Registered Dietitians.
Dietetic Internship Program Goals and Measurable Outcomes
Goal 1. Prepare entry-level graduates who are competent to practice in administrative, clinical, and community dietetics.
- Objective 1 DI Only Program: At least 80% of interns complete program requirements within 12 months (150% of planned program length).
- Objective 2 MS/DI Program:
University of Alabama- At least 80% of interns complete program requirements within 30 months (150% of the planned program length).
East Tennessee State University- At least 80% of interns complete program requirements within 25.5 months (150% of the planned program length). - Objective 3: Of graduates who seek employment, at least 75% are employed in nutrition and dietetics or related fields within 12 months of graduation.
- Objective 4: At least 80% of program graduates take the CDR credentialing exam for dietitian nutritionists within 12 months of program completion.
- Objective 5: The program's one-year pass rate (graduates who pass the registration exam within one year of first attempt) on the CDR credentialing exam for dietitian nutritionists is at least 80%.
- Objective 6: At least 80% of employer evaluations rate graduates as prepared for entry-level practice or above as a dietitian.
- Objective 7: At least 80% of graduates responding to post-graduate surveys will report high level of competence to practice in entry level administrative, clinical and community dietetics.
Goal 2. Program graduates will be competent entry-level practitioners and able to work effectively with various populations.
- Objective 1: At least 80% of graduates responding to post-graduate surveys will report a high level of competence/ knowledge in assisting different populations.
The program mission and goals support training of future dietitians to be competent, high functioning practitioners who can provide patient centered nutritional care for our nation’s Veterans and the community.
Information about program outcomes data are available upon request from the internship director, Lindsay Howell via email at Lindsay.Howell@va.gov.
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Page Updated: July 2026
