Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital
Program Application Requirements
- Overall GPA of 3.0 (GPA of > 3.3 in Dietetic-Specific DPD Curriculum)
- Completion of all requirements for the DPD from a program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics must be completed within the past three (3) years. An original, signed copy of the DPD Verification Statement must be provided to the Internship Director before the beginning of the program.
- A master’s degree is required to apply for the 2024-2025 internship year.
- You must be a U.S. citizen to apply and be admitted to the program.
- Please note: Effective September 2021, Hines VA Dietetic Interns will be required to be fully vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus. Religious and medical exemptions will be considered.
DICAS Application Overview
The Hines VA Dietetic Internship Program is using an online centralized internship application called DICAS. If you have any specific questions, please email DICASinfo@DICAS.org.
Please note that there is a fee to use DICAS. You can find out more about the Spring Match application dates and fees by checking with D&D Digital and DICAS.
You must also register online* for computer matching. The Edward Hines, Jr. VA Hospital Dietetic Internship Program uses Code Number 325 on the prioritized list of dietetic internship programs that you will submit to D&D Digital Systems. Please note that there is a $55.00 computer matching fee required, which you can pay via credit card to D&D Digital Systems. There is no additional application fee for our program. Please note mailed applications will not be accepted.
DICAS Application Requirements
- NO APPLICATION FEE
- Official transcripts
- Completion of all requirements for the DPD from a program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics must be completed within the past three (3) years.
- All official transcripts from colleges and universities you have attended must be sent to DICAS.
- An original, signed copy of the DPD Verification Statement must be provided to the Internship Director before the beginning of the program.
- Professional Resume
- Dietetics-related experiences are helpful – includes paid and volunteer clinical, community, foodservice, etc.
- Personal Statement Answers
- Be insightful & honest about yourself
- Make sure your responses are original, error-free, and relevant
- Explain why you want to attend this program and how your professional goals match with what it offers
- Three strong letters of recommendation
- Two letters from college professors and/or program director
- One letter from a work supervisor
- When completing the application form, please ensure that you include the name and contact information, including an email address, for each of your references. This will trigger an email that requests the completion of a reference form. The form will be completed online. If you are submitting multiple applications, you should use the same individuals as references for each application.
- An interview may be conducted with select applicants using Microsoft Teams
For any questions, please contact the Dietetic Internship Director, Brooke Schantz Fosco, MS, RDN, LDN at BrookeSchantzFosco@va.gov
Appointment Procedures / Match Results
D&D Digital Systems will provide all applicants with their personal matching results via posting on www.dnddigital.com* on notification day. Appointees are to contact the Dietetic Internship Director by email (Brooke.SchantzFosco@va.gov) to accept or reject the appointment according to match guidelines. The program is under no obligation to hold the opening for an applicant who does not accept the appointment by the required date/time.
An appointment letter will be sent from the Hines VA Human Resource Department confirming appointment to the dietetic internship program once all pre-program requirements are met. These include:
- Appointees must be physically and mentally able to safely and efficiently perform the responsibilities of a dietetic intern. Appointees must have a physical examination utilizing the required physical exam and required immunization documents, and submit those documents, signed by their health care provider, to the Dietetic Internship Director in accordance with assigned deadlines. The physical examination must be satisfactory, and all required immunizations completed, to be accepted into the Dietetic Internship Program. Should the physical examination be unsatisfactory, no part of any expense involved can be borne by the Federal Government. The federal government does not discriminate based on race, color, creed, sex, national origin, age, or disability. If, after beginning the internship, it is found that the intern failed to provide honest and accurate information regarding their application, interview, etc., they may be dismissed from the program with no further pay or action.
- Required immunizations include both seasonal influenza and COVID-19, among others. Please visit CDC Vaccines for Healthcare Workers for additional information. Religious and medical exemptions will be considered. The federal government does not discriminate based on race, color, creed, sex, national origin, age, or disability. If, after beginning the internship, it is found that the intern failed to provide honest and accurate information regarding their application, interview, etc., they may be dismissed from the program with no further pay or action.
- VHA policies also require verification of US citizenship and passing a suitability and security investigation/background check (conducted by the VA and not at the expense of the applicant) before appointment as a dietetic intern.
*Links will take you outside of the Department of Veterans Affairs Website. VA does not endorse and is not responsible for the content of the linked websites. The link will open in a new window.
