Dietetic Internship Program
Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center
Frequently Asked Questions
- What makes this program different from other programs?
- What does the 18 months include?
- Where should I live?
- Do the interns work outside of school/internship?
- What do the interns do for fun in Cleveland?
- Do I need a car?
1. What makes this program different from other programs?
Three things come to mind immediately (after the stipend, of course).
- You will have a wide variety of experiences each day in clinical areas, community and foodservice systems under the guidance of experienced preceptors.
- You will learn to use advanced computer technology, including telehealth modalities.
- You will complete a program that has a high pass rate on the registration exam and rapid job placement.
2. What does the 12 months include for the Dietetic Internship only? What does the 18 months include for the Combined Dietetic Internship/Master's Degree Program (CDI/MDP)?
Dietetic Internship Only (for matched applicants with a completed Master's Degree and DPD Verification Statement):For the first two semesters (August - December and January - May):
Tuesday - Friday: supervised practice at the Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center (usualy 8A - 4:30P)
For May - July:
Monday-Friday: supervised practice at the Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center including staff relief (usually 8A - 4:30P)
July: Upon successful completion of the internship in July, the interns receive a verification statement allowing them to take the Registration Exam for Registered Dietitian Nutritionists.
Combined Dietetic Internship/Master's Degree Program (CDI/MDP):
For the first semester (Aug. - Dec. and Jan. - May):
Monday and one evening: Graduate classes at Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) - complete 8 graduate credits
Tuesday - Friday: Internship at the Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center (usually 8A - 4:30P)
For the second semester (January-May) it will be:
Mondays: Graduate classes at Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) - complete 7 graduate credits
Tuesday - Friday: supervised practice at the Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center (usually 8A - 4:30P)
May - July:
Monday - Friday: supervised practice at the Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center including staff relief (usually 8A - 4:30P)
August - December:
Monday - Friday (variable days depending on classes selected): Graduate classes at Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) - complete 15 graduate credits
January: After the third semester is completed, and the degree is conferred in January, the interns receive a verification statement allowing them to take the Registration Exam for Registered Dietitian Nutritionists.
There are apartment complexes and renovated houses available for rent within walking distance of CWRU. This is a benefit since parking on campus can be quite costly. We suggest visiting to check out the area before you sign a lease. There is no charge for parking at the VA.
4. Do the interns work outside of school/internship?
Although there is a stipend provided by the VA (the stipend is divided into equal payments which are paid every other Friday over the course of the internship (August - July), some interns choose to work on the weekends to provide a little extra cash. There are plenty of restaurants, retail stores, and jobs that are available.
5. What do the interns do for fun in Cleveland?
We are always in search of things to do here in Cleveland since all of us are new to the area. We have done a variety of things such as shopping at Beachwood Mall and Legacy Village, attended a Cleveland Browns football game and Cleveland Guardians baseball game, explored the downtown area surrounded by the beautiful Lake Erie, went to see a play in the Theatre District, went to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Cleveland Museum of Art, and the Botanical Gardens, ran the race for breast cancer (5K in downtown Cleveland), went to Cedar Point (an amusement park 1 hour west of Cleveland), and the list goes on. All of these locations except Cedar Point are located within 20 minutes of campus.
The Wade Park VA is only a 5 minute drive from CWRU. There are several bus routes around the campus/VA area. However, some of the rotations require you to commute to other VA locations in Parma, Lake county and Lorain county. This may take careful planning and consideration if you plan to ride the bus to these locations.
