Accredited Nutrition and Dietetics Internship Program launched for 2017-2018 school year

Dr. Ann Gaba, who was integral in guiding the program through the accreditation process, will be the Internship’s first Program Director.

The mission of CUNY SPH Nutrition and Dietetic Internship is to prepare entry-level Registered Dietitian Nutritionists, in a collaborative and accessible environment, to provide nutrition care and services for the diverse populations of New York City, nationally, and around the world. The Internship Program provides interdisciplinary practicum and didactic experiences that will prepare interns to attain entry-level competencies in nutrition therapy, food service systems management, community nutrition, and public health nutrition. Interns will develop ethical values consistent with professional health care and abide by codes of practice while practicing within diverse multi-ethnic urban communities.

The vision of the Internship is to provide access to supervised practice and the Registered Dietitian credentialing process for individuals entering the profession at a range of career points. This includes individuals starting as “traditional” interns, career changers, people already in the workforce seeking to enhance their roles, and those seeking to pursue advanced degrees. The Internship program reflects the values of: food justice, sustainability, use of communications technology to promote nutrition, a global perspective on food, and culturally competent approaches to nutrition education.

The on-site track will provide opportunities for interns to work with CUNY SPH faculty and established community partners. The on-line track is designed to facilitate individuals holding the New York State Certified Dietitian Nutritionist (CDN) credential to evaluate their learning needs and to engage in supervised practice activities to complete the requirements for transition to the Registered Dietitian (RD) credential from the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR). This innovative approach will allow non-traditional interns to participate in a Dietetic Internship who may not otherwise be able to do so, and thus encourage individuals who have shown commitment to a career in nutrition and dietetics to enhance their practice capabilities through obtaining the Registered Dietitian credential.

The Internship is the second of three steps required to become a Registered Dietitian (RD), with the first step being completing the required course work in a Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD). After completing the internship, graduates are eligible to sit for the Registered Dietitian Exam.

Further information is available here.