Dietetic Internship Program

VA Sierra Nevada Health Care System

Thank you for your interest VA Sierra Nevada Health Care System (VASNHCS) Dietetic Internship (DI) located in Reno, Nevada. Our 31-week (1240 hour) program provides hands-on supervised practice across clinical nutrition, food service and clinical management, community nutrition, and specialty rotations. The program features a concentration in Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) using the Nutrition Care Process. We utilize an interdisciplinary team approach to deliver high-quality care to the Veterans we serve. Through this experience, interns gain the skills and confidence needed to become competent-entry level dietitians and future leaders in the field. 

VASNHCS operates approximately 130 beds, including critical care, medical, surgical, extended care, rehabilitation, dementia care, and inpatient mental health units. VASNHCS also offers services through local outpatient clinics, community-based outpatient clinics, and home-based primary care. 

VASNHCS is pleased to provide dietetic interns with a PAID stipend for the duration of their training. Funded by the Office of Academic Affiliations (OAA), this stipend is distributed exclusively for supervised practice hours.

The VASNHCS Dietetic Internship offers two tracks: 
1.  Dietetic Internship Track Only (7 months): Applicants who already hold a Master of Science in Nutrition (or a related field, subject to approval) can complete the 31-week supervised practice portion of the program without the additional coursework. Degree confirmation and submission of transcripts must occur prior to the program start date. 

2.  MS/DI Combined Track with University of Alabama (14 months): This MS/DI track is designated to be completed in 14 months. Students in this track will concurrently be enrolled in the fully, online 30-credit hour Master of Science in Human Nutrition degree program while completing supervised practice rotations at VASNHCS. All courses are offered fully online, and out-of state fees are waived. You can learn more about the program here: MS in Human Nutrition | University of Alabma*. For more information, contact the Human Nutrition program director, Tiffany Hylton, PhD, RDN, LD at tmhylton@ches.ua.edu. 

Graduate School Application Due Date: January 15th
To allow the UA graduate and VASNHCS DI program adequate time to review applications, MS/DI track applicants must apply to the UA graduate program by January 15th.

Overview of required curriculum for MS degree program (14-month) pathway:

	Summer 1  (Late May-early Aug)	Fall 1  (Aug-mid Dec)	Spring 1  (Jan-mid May)	Summer 1  (Late May-early Aug)
14 months	NHM 566  NHM 587  NHM 509	Clinical Rotations  NHM 585*     Mgt Rotations  NHM 588*    Plus POPH 522	Clinical Rotations  NHM 585*     Mgt Rotations  NHM 588*    Plus NHM 572	NHM 567  NHM 573  NHM 597  Verification Statement

Course Titles:
NHM 566:    Advanced Clinical Nutrition
NHM 587:    Integrated Food Systems Management
NHM 572:    Metabolism of Energy Nutrients
NHM 585:    Clinical Nutrition Management*
NHM 588:    Advanced Food Service Systems Management*
POPH 522:  Biostatistics
NHM 572:    Metabolism of Energy Nutrients
NHM 567:    Nutrition Support of teh Critically Ill
NHM 573:    Advanced Vitamin and Mineral Metabolism
NHM 597:    MS Capstone Course
*Integrated with Supervised Practice - interns will need to be in rotations to take these courses

Why choose the VA Sierra Nevada Health Care System Dietetic Internship?

• There's NO FEE to attend or apply to our program -  In fact, interns receive a stipend, paid bi-weekly, through the course of the internship!
• Individualized Attention from Preceptors - We have a dedicated staff of highly qualified dietitians and small class sizes of 2-6 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.
• Hands-on supervised practice - Interns gain the skills and confidence to be entry-level dietitians because our program provides hands-on real-world experience.
• Professional Respect and Enhanced Scope of Practice - VA dietitians typically enjoy a wider range of ordering privileges than their private-sector peers leading to more efficient patient care and better nutrition outcomes.
• Team Approach to Patient Care - Dietitians and interns serve as the nutrition expert on interdisciplinary teams. At the VA, physicians and healthcare staff are receptive to questions and your recommendations are usually implemented.
• Electronic Medical Records - Easy access your patient's medical record from your desk. No waiting for paper charts!
• Intern Workspaces - Include personal laptops, high speed internet access and workspace at each rotation site.
• VAMC Career Opportunities - VA is one of the largest employers of dietitians, with locations across the country, and offers highly competitive salary and benefits packages. We love to hire our interns and program graduates!
• Location - Downtown Reno is just 30 min from Mt. Rose and Lake Tahoe for year-round outdoor recreation.
• Curriculum - The program is hospital based with rotations in all areas of medicine, surgery and specialty care. These rotations are supplemented with experiences in the community such as WIC, Truckee Meadows Community College (TMCC), Northern Nevada Medical Center (NNMC), Nevada Diabetes Association (NDA) Teen Camp, public health clinics, and more.
• Jobs - 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.
• Stipend - Interns in our program receive a stipend, which is paid throughout the course of the internship.

Please take all this information into consideration when you are making your decision on how to rank your program choices. If you have additional questions, please contact the Internship Director, Michelle Pearson MS, RD at Michelle.Pearson1@va.gov. 

VA Open House Information

RSVP to the DI Director Michelle Pearson at Michelle.Pearson1@va.gov for the meeting link. 

All VA Program Forum (virtual):
September 28, 2026: 10:00-11:30am PST
December 4, 2026: 11:00am-12:30pm PST

VA Sierra Nevada Health Care System DI Program Forum (virtual):
December 28, 2026: 11:00-11:30am PST

Important Dates

August 5	DICAS application portal opens
January 15	Last day to complete application through DICAS
March 1	Offer extended to applicants
March 10	Last day for appointees to accept or reject offers

Accreditation

VA Sierra Nevada HCS has been granted candidacy accreditation by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND®) to open an ACEND accredited Dietetics Internship to prepare Registered Dietitian Nutritionists in Fall 2022.

Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics
Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics

120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2190
Chicago, Illinois 60606-6995
Phone: 312-899-5400
Fax:  312-899-4817
https://www.eatrightpro.org/acend*

Credentialing Process to Become a Registered Dietitian

1. Complete a minimum of a graduate degree at a U.S. regionally accredited university or college and course work accredited or approved by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND). Refer to CDR’s website for further information: https://www.cdrnet.org/graduatedegree*
2. Complete an ACEND-accredited supervised practice program. Successful completion of the VA Sierra Nevada Health Care System Dietetic Internship provides the intern with a verification statement issued by ACEND which allows the intern to take the National Registration Exam. Upon successful completion of the exam, the intern is officially designated as a Registered Dietitian. The Dietetic Internship must provide at least 1000 hours of supervised practice experiences to meet the Competencies/Learning Outcomes defined for entry-level practice as a registered dietitian.
3. Pass a national examination administered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR). For more information regarding the examination, refer to CDR's website at www.cdrnet.org*.  Graduates who successfully complete the ACEND-accredited Dietetic Internship at the VA Sierra Nevada Health Care System are eligible to take the CDR credentialing exam to become a RDN.
4. Obtain state licensure if required. Licensure is required in the state of Nevada. More information about licensure can be found online at DPBH Nevada Dietitian Licensure*.
5. Complete continuing professional educational requirements to maintain registration.

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