Program Overview
Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital History
Situated 12 miles west of downtown Chicago on a sprawling 147-acre campus, Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital is a key healthcare facility providing primary, extended, and specialty care to veteran patients in the Chicagoland area. Named after Edward Hines Jr., a World War I veteran and advocate for veterans' rights, the hospital was initially known as the Hines General Hospital. It was originally built to provide medical care for veterans returning from World War I.
As the largest VA in Illinois, serving over a million veterans, Hines VA boasts specialized clinical programs like Blind Rehabilitation, Spinal Cord Injury, Neurosurgery, Radiation Therapy, and Cardiovascular Surgery. With 483 inpatient hospital beds and six community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs) strategically located in Kankakee, Oak Lawn, Aurora, LaSalle, Hoffman Estates, and Joliet, Hines VA ensures comprehensive coverage across the spectrum of VA healthcare and clinical programs.
Over the years, the hospital has undergone expansions and renovations to meet the changing needs of veterans. The hospital has been at the forefront of advancements in healthcare, incorporating new technologies and treatment modalities to improve the quality of care for veterans. It is part of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) system, dedicated to serving the healthcare needs of military veterans. Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital continues to be a vital institution in the VA healthcare network, contributing to the well-being of veterans and upholding the legacy of its namesake, Edward Hines Jr.
Dietetic Internship Program
The Edward Hines, Jr. VA Hospital Dietetic Internship program was established in 1943 and has received full accreditation since establishment from the currently known accrediting body, The Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics.
Our dietetic internship curriculum at Hines stands out for its emphasis on fundamental competencies shared across all practice programs. What sets us apart is our exclusive focus on Medical Nutrition Therapy, a specialized concentration that only admits ten interns each year. This one-of-a-kind program takes an integrated approach, meticulously preparing entry-level dietitians for success.
The Edward Hines Jr. VA Dietetic Internship offers three tracks:
1) Dietetic Internship Only Ideal for: Students who will have earned your Master’s degree and completed DPD requirements by the start of the internship. Duration: ~10 months. If you have already completed a graduate degree, our dietetic internship option is perfect for you. This track allows you to complete only the supervised practice portion of the program. Edward Hines Jr. VA dietetic internship rotations provide 1,120 hours of rotations in clinical nutrition, management and community. 2) Combined Master’s Program with Loyola University Chicago.
Ideal for: Students who wish to complete a Master’s degree that has public health and healthcare administration class options and prefers a mix of in-person and online classes
Duration: 21-23 months, depending on course load. Interns may concurrently complete their graduate degree coordinated with the supervised practice portion from the Loyola University Chicago. This is a hybrid curriculum of 33 credit hours over the course of 4 semesters (fall, spring, summer, fall). The degree granted is a Masters in Science (MS) in Dietetics. For more details, check the program details at the Loyola University Chicago MS Dietetics page.
3 ) Combined Master’s Program with University of Alabama
Ideal for: Students who wish to complete a Master’s degree at a faster pace and prefer online only
classes
Duration: 14-18 months, depending on course load. Interns may concurrently complete their graduate degree coordinated with the supervised practice portion from the University of Alabama. This is a 100% online curriculum of 30 credit hours over the course of 4 semesters (summer, fall, spring, summer). The degree granted is a Master of Science (MS) in Human Nutrition. For more details, check the UA Online website.
Accreditation Information:
The Edward Hines, Jr. VA Hospital Dietetic Internship is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
ACEND® contact information:
Website: www.eatrightpro.org/acend
Phone: 800/877-1600, ext. 5400
Mail: 120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2190, Chicago, IL, 60606-6995
Program Curriculum:
The Edward Hines, Jr. VA Hospital Dietetic Internship prepares entry-level dietitians through planned curriculum with emphasis on fundamental competencies shared across all practice programs. What sets us apart is our exclusive focus on Medical Nutrition Therapy, a specialized concentration that only admits ten interns each year. This one-of-a-kind program takes an integrated approach, meticulously preparing entry-level dietitians for success.
For supervised practice, our interns embark on a transformative 38-week journey (August-May) that immerses them in dynamic rotations across Clinical, Outpatient, Healthcare and Foodservice Management, Specialty, and Community. These carefully crafted rotations build upon one another, providing a holistic understanding of the intricate connections within the realms of nutrition and dietetics.
The regular work week runs from Monday through Friday, with varying hours (tour of duty) depending on the specific rotation. Occasional weekend duties may also be part of the experience.
Graduation Requirements:
The intern will require the following to complete the dietetic internship:
• Successful achievement of supervised practice competencies and documentation of at least1120 hours of supervised practice as well as all associated didactic and other required learning
activities and projects.
• Abide by all dietetic internship program policies and procedures.
• If enrolled in combined Master’s and dietetic internship, the graduate degree must be conferred
prior to receiving the verification statement.
• If enrolled in dietetic internship only, a previously conferred Master’s degree has been
completed.
Interns who make insufficient progress on program requirements may delay program completion.
To become a Registered Dietitian/Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RD/RDN), you must meet the following requirements:
- Obtain a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university recognized by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) and receive a verification statement.
- Complete an ACEND-accredited dietetic internship or another ACEND approved program and receive a verification statement. It is worth noting that you cannot receive a verification statement until you have completed your graduation degree.
- Obtain a graduate degree and receive a verification statement. This verification statement is necessary to register for the Registration Examination for Dietitians.
- Pass the Registration Examination for Dietitians, which is administered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR).
- Obtain a license to practice in your state if it is a requirement. For instance, the state of Illinois requires all Registered Dietitian Nutritionists to be licensed.
- Keep up with the professional continuing education requirements.
