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Dietetic Internship Program

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James H. Quillen VA Medical Center

Program Rotations and Schedule

Interns are scheduled up to 1240 hours of PAID supervised practice that lasts approximately 32 weeks.

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Supervised Practice Rotations

Rotation 

Minimum Hours 

Inpatient Clinical Care-

Med Surg and Critical Care/ICU, Long-term care/ Hospice (CLC), Mental Health/ Psychiatric (DOM), and Home Based Primary Care

 354

Outpatient Clinical Care-

Oncology/ Nutrition Support, Outpatient Primary Care, Outpatient Telehealth, Integrative and Functional Nutrition/ Whole Health, Weight Management (MOVE! and Bariatric Surgery), Diabetes

 323
Food Service Management  183

Community Sites-

Women,Infants and Children- WIC rotation and Retail Nutrition

 104
Nutrition Practicum (Inpatient and Outpatient)  80
Enrichment Experience   40
Orientation Week 40


Important Reminders

All efforts are made to provide the rotation experiences listed above, however rotations are subject to change, without notice, based on patient care needs and the availability of preceptors.
The program breaks (during supervised practice hours) for 1 week towards the end of December. This will be an unpaid break without any scheduled hours. 
Interns will observe federal holidays during their supervised practice rotations. Ex: Labor Day, Columbus Day. A student practicing the placement of a feeding tube

*Distance Education: Interns will participate in several rotations offering telehealth appointments for Veterans. Interns will have the opportunity to become very familiar with conducting telehealth appointments. Within these rotations, preceptors may or may not be located in the same physical location as the intern. Interns rotating with a teleworking preceptor will be provided with all needed equipment and space required for appointments, as well as, an onsite preceptor. Interns are not eligible to telework at JHQVAMC. Students are provided an intern office on campus, VA-issued laptop, headphones and secure internet connection at no cost to connect virtually for appointments. 


Dietetic Internship Only Option 

Length: 8 months 

The DI is a fulltime program with 40 hours of supervised practice scheduled per week.  The program starts in September and finishes in April. Typically, interns are scheduled Monday through Friday.  In addition to supervised practice hours, dietetic interns have assignments or readings to supplement the hands-on learning experience.  Graduates are issued a verification statement after successfully completing the supervised practice hours and completing all assignments, with a minimum score of “competent at entry level” in all competencies. No award for prior supervised practice hours is available. 
The current Fall 2026 cohort schedule is as follows: 
Clinical rotations and Enrichment Experience are Monday-Thursday 6:30am-5:15pm. 
Food Service Management rotation is Monday to Friday with varying times based on position in the rotation. 
Community rotations are Monday to Friday, typically 8:00am-5:00pm. 
Orientation week is Monday to Friday 7:45am-4:30pm. 

 

Combined MS East Tennessee State University/ Dietetic Internship Option (MS/DI) 

Length: 17 months, includes the 32 weeks of supervised practice

The combined MS/DI program begins with enrollment in East Tennessee State University's MS in Nutrition Science program year one, followed by the supervised practice experience at JHQVAMC which occurs in the second year, after interns have completed all 2 semesters in the MS in Nutrition Science. Transcripts should be sent to JHQVAMC DI Director once MS completed. Supervised practice is a fulltime program with 40 hours of supervised practice per week.  Typically, interns are scheduled Monday through Friday.  In addition to supervised practice hours and required coursework, dietetic interns may have assignments or readings to supplement the hands-on learning experience.  Graduates are issued a verification statement after successfully completing the supervised practice hours, all assignments, with a minimum score of “competent at entry level” in all competencies, and conferral of the master’s degree.
  • Students in the MS / DI option will need to allow the university to share information on academic progress with the dietetic internship.


Combined MS University of Alabama/ Dietetic Internship Option (MS/DI) 

Length: 20 months, includes the 32 weeks of supervised practice

The combined MS/DI program begins with enrollment in University of Alabama’s MS in Human Nutrition program year one, followed by the supervised practice experience at JHQVAMC which occurs in the second year, after interns have completed all 3 semesters in the MS in Human Nutrition.  The remaining courses will be completed along with supervised practice rotations in year 2. Supervised practice is a fulltime program with 40 hours of supervised practice per week.  Typically, interns are scheduled Monday through Friday.  In addition to supervised practice hours and required coursework, dietetic interns may have assignments or readings to supplement the hands-on learning experience.  Graduates are issued a verification statement after successfully completing the supervised practice hours, all assignments, with a minimum score of “competent at entry level” in all competencies, and conferral of the master’s degree.
  • Students in the MS / DI option will need to allow the university to share information on academic progress with the dietetic internship.

Two individuals taking manual blood pressureSequence of MS / DI option:

  1. Application and admission to East Tennessee State University (ETSU) Graduate Program or University of Alabama (UA) School of Graduate Studies through UA.
  2. Application and admission to JHQVAMC Dietetic Internship through DICAS.

Year 1:

  • Fall and Spring Semesters: Interns will work through the selected MS program tand complete required courses. Those at ETSU will complete the MS in Nutrition Science in May. 
  • Summer Semester: Those at UA will continue in the online MS program taking required courses, online.

Year 2:

  • Fall Semester: Interns admitted to JHQVAMC Dietetic Internship will relocate, if needed, to Johnson City, TN to begin supervised practice rotations at JHQVAMC and affiliate community sites. 
  • Interns will rotate in supervised practice for up 32 weeks from September until April. Those at UA will continue completing the final courses for the MS in Human Nutrition.
  • Supervised practice is completed in April of the 2nd year. For those in the MS/DI pathway with remaining required credits, courses will end in May.
  • Verification statements are provided upon successful completion of the MS degree and the Dietetic Internship.

East Tennessee State Univeristy 

A copy of the academic calendar for students in the graduate degree will be released once confirmed by the university. For any specific questions related to courses offered, please reach out to: 

Michelle Johnson, PhD, RD, LDN
johnsoncme@etsu.edu
423-439-7661


University of Alabama 

A copy of the academic calendar for students in the graduate degree option can be found on the website for the Office of the University Registrar.

Course titles can be found on the University of Alabama's website.

 

 

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Page Updated: July 2026

 

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