James J. Peters Bronx VA Medical Center
All James J. Peters VA Dietetic Internship Program Dietetic Interns will participate in 12 months (49-weeks) of supervised practice. The supervised practice begins in late August through to the following August. Those in the MS/DI Program will have one additional full-time semester at NYU to complete their 16-month program. The supervised practice program includes 3 weeks of orientation, 40 weeks of 32 hours per week of supervised practice, 4 weeks of 40 hours per week of Applied Nutrition Practicum and 2 weeks (8 days) of vacation.
Our program coordinates all aspects of rotation scheduling and preceptor assignments on your behalf, allowing you to focus on your learning experience! Typically, dietetic interns are scheduled Tuesday through Friday. To accomodate certain learning experiences there may be periodic changes to the rotation schedule. To satisfy ACEND learning competencies, dietetic interns may have assignments, projects, or readings to supplement the hands-on learning experience of the DI. Assignments include but are not limited to presentations, table events, literature reviews, and case studies. See below for our rotation descriptions.
Distance Education
James J. Peters VA Medical Center Dietetic Internship Program
The JJPVA DI is primarily an onsite and in-person supervised training program. Our program includes a few elements of distance education to enhance the learning experience. JJPVA dietetic interns have a "homebase" approximately 80% of the time, with a majority of rotations being housed at the JJPVA Medical Center. We offer five affiliate sites rotations: one at the Brooklyn VA, one at the Manhattan VA, one in the Bronx community (in-person and hybrid), one in Manhattan (in-person and hybrid), and one which is completely remote in nature. Interns are offered the opportunity to work from home during these remote/hybrid rotations if they have high speed home internet service. Those who do not have high speed internet access may utilize the onsite intern office during these rotations. Interns in the MS/DI may also consider utilizing the campus-wide internet access at New York University. Interns are currently provided a VA-issued Laptop during the supervised practice portion of the internship. This allows access to the secure VA network and applications while offsite. Interns have access to virtual IT, training and library services both when onsite or while conducting remote rotations. Communication with preceptors or the DI Director is not impacted by the virtual nature of these rotations. All rotations include detailed pre-rotation information packets and assignments. Regular and daily communication between preceptor and intern continues through either email, Microsoft Teams and/or phone.
New York University
Graduate coursework at New York University is primarily onsite and in-person. Periodically there may be elective coursework offered remotely in a synchronous fashion, however this is not a common occurrence. Onsite courses may include an element of virtual learning, such as a remote guest lecturer, online plagiarism training module, presentation, or assignment. All students have access to a graduate advisor (whom they can see in-person or virtually depending on preference), library services and IT support as needed.
Orientation and Management Rotations (3-weeks didactic learning with 6-weeks of supervised practice)
|
Rotation |
Length |
Overview |
|
Orientation (JJPVA) |
3 weeks |
Overview of medical center, rotations, intern responsibilities, computer training and Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) review with clinical preceptors. |
|
Clinical Nutrition Management (JJPVA) |
1 week |
Provides comprehensive exposure to the process of assessing, planning, directing, hiring, controlling, and evaluating nutrition care in a clinical setting. |
|
Dietetics Education Management (JJPVA) |
1 week |
Provides comprehensive exposure to the process of managing a dietetic internship program from recruitment and marketing to program development, goals, objectives, and evaluation. |
|
Food Service Management (JJPVA) |
4 weeks |
Follow the flow of food from the receiving dock to patient delivery in our recently implemented Room Service model. Participate in food waste evaluation, inventory monitoring, and gain a greater understanding of the many aspects involved in clinical food service. |
Community (2-weeks of supervised practice)
| Rotation | Length | Overview |
|
BronxWorks SNAP-Ed |
2 weeks |
Unique experience putting your community nutrition knowledge, cultural competency, and education skills to practice with a variety of age groups from different backgrounds. Experience the work being done to address food insecurity and food system inequities. This is an affiliate site rotation at BronxWorks and includes hybrid onsite/remote work. |
Clinical Rotations (34-weeks of supervised practice)
| Rotation | Length | Overview |
|
Medicine (JJPVA) |
4 weeks |
Provides in-depth exposure to a variety of acute and chronic medical conditions. Activities include assessments, counseling, team meetings, meal rounds, and observing medical procedures such as barium swallow evaluations and NGT placements. |
| Nutrition Support/Critical Care (JJPVA) | 3 weeks | Gain practical experience in the assessment, nutritional support and follow-up of critically ill patients while working as part of fast-paced interdisciplinary team in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). When appropriate, explore the use of Indirect Calorimetry to determine energy needs for critically ill patients. |
| Spinal Cord Injury and Disorders (JJPVA) | 2 weeks | JJPVA MC is a Center of Excellence for Spinal Cord Injury/Disorders. Gain exposure to the specialized needs of our ALS, MS, and spinal cord injury/disorder patients. Explore the unique energy needs, swallowing disorders and skin integrity challenges that face our Veterans. Interns may have the opportunity to collaborate with the interdisciplinary team in our outpatient ALS clinic. |
| Renal/Dialysis (JJPVA) | 2 weeks | Provides exposure to the specialized nutritional needs for patients in a hemodialysis clinic setting. Provides outpatient counseling experience for this patient population. |
| Geriatrics/Extended Care (JJPVA) | 2 weeks | In-depth exposure to the geriatric population's specialized needs, as well as principles surrounding long-term and palliative care in our onsite Community Living Center (CLC). |
| Home Based Primary Care (HBPC) (JJPVA) | 1-2 weeks | Work with a RDN who works closely with the care team to provide nutritional care to homebound Veterans. Participate in the unique learning experience of providing nutrition education to Veterans and their care givers in their home setting in the Bronx and surrounding communities. |
| MOVE! (Weight Management) and Bariatric Surgery (JJPVA) | 3 weeks | MOVE! VA's evidenced based national weight management program developed for Veterans by the National Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention. Introduces our bariatric surgery program and the interdisciplinary team. Activities include individual counseling for weight management, leading support group sessions, and creating patient education materials/teaching aids. |
| Primary Care Diabetes Management (JJPVA) | 2 weeks | In-depth outpatient experience involving the exploration of patient care, counseling and applications of medical nutrition therapy for a variety of disease states. Facilitate several education classes including Diabetes 101 and 102, Whole Health Anti-Inflammatory Nutrition, and Heart Healthy Nutrition. |
| Primary Care-Whole Health Nutrition/Culinary Nutrition (JJPVA) | 3 weeks | In-depth exploration of Whole Health approaches to counseling through the use of motivational interviewing, intuitive eating and Health At Every Size (HAES®) approaches. Support our Resilience and Wellness center by developing dynamic and personalized cooking demonstrations and recipes for veterans in our Healthy Teaching Kitchen (HTK). |
| Eating Disorders (Manhattan VA) | 2 weeks | Explore nutritional considerations for eating disorders and disordered eating, which Veterans are at increased risk for, collaboratively with the interdisciplinary team. |
| Primary Care Women's Health | 2 weeks | Gain experience with the female Veteran population with nutrition and health considerations for pregnancy and lactation, as well as diseases and conditions impacting women's health. |
| Private Practice/The Lanby | 2 weeks | The Lanby is an all-inclusive, integrated primary care membership practice with a care team approach. In this unique rotation you will collaborate with the entire wellness healthcare team including their RDN /performance specialist and their health education marketing team. This rotation is mostly conducted remotely with 2 onsite days. |
| Nutrition Entrepreneurship in Pediatrics (Malina Malkani, MS, RDN) | 2 weeks | An exploration of what it takes to run a successful private practice through the lens of pediatrics. Learn about and develop social media content, blog posts, and education regarding transitional eating practices, baby lead weaning and navigating childhood food allergies. This is an affiliate site rotation at with Malina Malkani and is conducted remotely. |
| Applied Nutrition Practicum (JJPVA) | 4 weeks | Gain first-hand experience as an entry-level dietitian in your final supervised practice rotation. With preceptor support, interns will assume the role of a dietitian in designated units/clinics and perform all duties and responsibilities. This rotation allows the intern to demonstrate their knowledge and competency, and gain first-hand experience as an entry-level dietitian. |
Additional Features: Vacation (2 weeks/8 days): 1 week during the end of December and 1 week during the spring which is based on rotation schedule and discussion with DI director.
Note: 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.
Dietetic Internship Projects and Assignments
Dietetic interns also engage in several educational activities designed to promote skills in public speaking and presentation. Projects and assignments may include:
- Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Training
- Dietetic Intern Debates
- Case Study Presentation
- Nutrition Hot Topic Presentation
- National Nutrition Month Table Event
- Cooking Demonstration
- Food Service Management Brief
- Mentoring an Incoming Intern
- Legislative Advocacy Assignment
- Professional Development Portfolio
- Literature Reviews, Case Studies, and critical thinking assignments specific to each rotation
New York University
Dietetic interns pursuing the MS/DI option are required to attend classes at New York University during the dietetic internship (DI). A total of at least 19-graduate-level credits must be successfully completed during the DI year. Typically students complete 21-credit hours through a combination of 6 to 9-credits during the Fall and Spring semesters and 3 to 7-credits during the summer semester. After the supervised practice portion of the DI concludes in August, one additional full-time semester of 9-15 credits must be completed at NYU to earn the Master of Science in Clinical Nutrition degree. The completion of the degree is a requirement to meet new regulations as defined by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) to receive a Dietetic Internship Verification Statement. Dietetic interns are required to maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 for NYU classes to successfully complete the DI.
When applying to NYU, select the 40-credit Master of Science in Clinical Nutrition. Once applicants have successfully completed the supervised practice portion of the DI, the graduate degree will be converted to a 34-credit program and 6-credits will be awarded for the completion of a supervised practice program.
Please visit the JJP VA Dietetic Internship/NYU Steinhardt MS in Clinical Nutrition website for more information regarding your graduate degree requirements and sample schedules:
JJP VA Dietetic Internship/NYU Steinhardt MS in Clinical Nutrition
NYU Notes: No graduate-level course may be taken pass/fail unless that is the only grading option. Not all courses listed are offered every semester. Classes run only if enrollment is sufficient.
Department of Nutrition, Food Studies, and Public Health
411 Lafayette St. 5th floor New York, NY 10003
NYU Nutrition and Dietetics
