The dietetic internship is an 11-month program of post-baccalaureate study accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education of the American Dietetic Association (CADE). The address and telephone number of CADE are 120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2000, Chicago, IL 60606-6995, 312-899-0040. The program is designed to provide a strong theoretical knowledge base with exceptional practical experiences in acute-care clinical nutrition, outpatient nutrition services, community nutrition, food service management, and research in the field of nutrition.
The Brigham and Women's Hospital is world renowned for offering innovative and comprehensive care for complex medical problems and for carrying out cutting-edge research. The Registered Dietitians in the Department of Nutrition likewise are known for providing the highest-quality, evidence-based clinical nutrition management of patients. With the availability of this level of expertise in the acute care setting, beginning with the Class of 2011, the Dietetic Internship in the Department of Nutrition at Brigham and Women's Hospital will offer a Concentration in Clinical Nutrition.
The internship provides 18 weeks in clinical nutrition supervised practice experiences. Through the addition of a structured, independent study rotation, Interns will have the opportunity to explore in-depth the clinical nutrition management of a complex medical condition. In addition to researching and summarizing the guidelines for evidence-based practice, each Intern will provide clinical nutrition care to a select patient population utilizing these best practices.
Competencies for the concentration area of Clinical Nutrition are:
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Demonstrate in-depth understanding of a clinical case by preparing and delivering a comprehensive case report during Metabolic Support Rounds.
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Develop/enhance best practice guidelines by analyzing and evaluating the nutritional management of a specific disease state utilizing the most recent scientific evidence.
Candidates must possess the ability to participate in a multifaceted program. This includes strong personal motivation for library and seminar work; initiative to become involved and contribute to all aspects of patient care; willingness to teach; and an interest in research.
The Dietetic Intern Job Description can be found at the bottom of this page.
Brigham and Women's Hospital firmly advocates that the graduate who successfully completes the accredited dietetic internship can face his/her future with justifiable confidence and self-assurance. Leadership comes to those who who achieve professional competence, are adaptable, and who have a perceptive mind.
The geographic location of Brigham and Women's Hospital — across the street from the Harvard Medical School and Harvard School of Public Health; adjoining Boston Children's Hospital Medical Center and the Dana Farber Cancer Center; and within walking distance of the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center — provides interns with opportunities to attend lectures, rounds, clinics, and conferences conducted by leaders in their fields. Harvard University's Francis S. Countway Library of Medicine also adjoins the hospital and is available for study and reference work.
Mission Statement for the Dietetic Internship
The Brigham and Women's Hospital Dietetic Internship is committed to providing the highest quality training in order to prepare interns who will function competently, creatively, compassionately, and collaboratively in a dynamic health care environment.
To further define the BWH internship's mission, goals have been established that reflect the ends toward which the Program's resources will be directed.
Goal 1- The program will prepare graduates to be competent entry-level dietitians.
- Outcome measure –1 Over a five year period, graduates will achieve a 90% first-time pass rate on the Registration Exam.
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Outcome measure-2 All Interns will complete the program requirements by achieving an overall satisfactory rating (3.0) or greater for the competencies on the performance evaluations for all rotations.
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Outcome measure-3 100% of Interns enrolled in the Internship will complete the program requirements within 150% of the time planned for completion.
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Outcome measure-4 Over a five year period, 70% or more of DI graduates who sought employment in dietetics will be employed within three months of program completion.
Goal 2- The level of preparation of program graduates for an entry-level position is considered satisfactory (3.0) or better by program graduates and/or employers.
Goal 3- The level of preparation of program graduates for positions requiring clinical nutrition skills is considered satisfactory by 90% of the program graduates and employers of graduates.
Dietetic Intern Rotations (for 2009-2010)
Orientation - (2 weeks)
Clinical Rotations (16 weeks)
General Medicine or General Surgery
Metabolic Support Service
Hematology/Oncology
Cardiac Surgery/Transplant or Cardiac Medicine
Renal/Dialysis/Transplant
Medical or Surgical Intensive Care
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (optional)
Specialty Rotations (12 weeks)
Dana Farber Cancer Institute
Children’s Hospital
Center for Clinical Investigation
Special Rotation of Your Choice
Food Service Management (5 weeks)
Tower Room Service
Food Service Production and Distribution
Purchasing
Catering/Cafeteria
Ambulatory Service / Community Rotation (9 weeks)
Nutrition Consult Service
- Ambulatory Diabetes Center
- Brookside Family Health Center
Outpatient Obstetrics
WIC Program
Massachusetts Department of Public Health
Administration - 1 week
Staff Relief - (3 weeks)
Vacation - 1 week
Dietetic Intern Class Days
Class days are held every Monday from mid-October through May.
- 2 Mondays per month classes are held at Brigham and Women's Hospital, which include speakers from the Departments of Nutrition, Medicine, and Allied Health Fields, as well as opportunities to attend lectures at institutions such as the Harvard School of Public Health.
- 1-2 Mondays per month classes are held at the locations of other Boston Internships, including Massachusetts General Hospital, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Mount Auburn Hospital, Simmons College, Boston University, and Frances Stern Nutrition Center at Tufts Medical Center.
Minimum Admission Requirements
Verification Statement from an accredited Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) and at least a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited school.
Application Procedure:
Application materials should be sent to:
- Robin H. Abourizk, MA, MS, RD, LDN
- Associate Director of the Dietetic Internship
- Department of Nutrition
- Brigham and Women's Hospital
- 75 Francis Street
- Boston, MA 02115
The completed application packet must include:
Please note that all application materials become the property of Brigham and Women's Hospital and cannot be returned.
General Information About the Dietetic Internship
11 month program
- 2 starting dates
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1st week of August *
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1st week of October *
- 12 dietetic interns selected each year
- On program completion, graduate is eligible to take the Registration Exam for dietitians
- 9 holidays per year
- 1 week vacation
- Meals provided by hospital
- Housing information is provided by the Internship Associate Director, who will aid interns in making their own housing arrangements
- Work hours vary with requirements and activity of the unit to which the intern is assigned. The intern hours will be similar to those of the preceptor to whom she/he is assigned. Due to the professional nature of the internship, extra time may be required to complete assignments and projects
- Intern stipend of $4500.00 per year
* RE: Start Dates - Once an applicant is matched to the Internship in April, she or he must call
617 732-5595 to confirm acceptance. At this time, the individual can state their preferred start
date. This conversation must be in person with Associate Internship Director Robin Abourizk.
No emails or voice mails re: preferred start date will be accepted. The vast majority of the time,
incoming interns get their first choice for start date.
The program dates for the Internship Class of 2011 are:
- August entry: 8/02/10 - 7/01/11
- October entry: 10/04/10 - 9/02/11
Please note that the Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) Completion Date on the final
Verification Statement must be prior to the entry date. If a person's DPD completion date
is August 3, 2009 or later, only the October entry date would be feasible.
Cost of program:
- Enrollment fee of $200.00
- Housing and parking are very expensive. We recommend not bringing a car.
- Housing costs vary but an estimate for a 4 bedroom apartment is between $2500-$3000/month, or $625-$750 per person per month.
- Public transportation is recommended and with the hospital subsidy of 50% the average transportation cost is $30.00/month for travel using the MBTA system within Boston. (Note: the MBTA fares are scheduled to be increased in 2010)
- Health insurance is supplemented by the hospital and can vary from $10-$15/week. If you are under 25 and can be covered by your parents' insurance the hospital reimburses you $75.00 monthly.
Dietetic Intern Tours
We strongly recommend that you visit Brigham and Women’s Hospital. This will give you an opportunity to meet and talk with our staff and interns to help you determine if our program is right for you.
We would be happy to schedule you for a tour, which are held every Friday at 2PM from November through January.
Please call, write or e-mail to make an appointment for a specific tour. Contact Robin Abourizk at 617-732-5595 or rabourizk@partners.org
JOB DESCRIPTION: DIETETIC INTERN
General Summary
In the supervised practice setting, the Intern works under the guidance of preceptors in assigned rotations. All rotations require strong interpersonal skills, competence in requisite background knowledge, good organizational and time management skills. The Intern must be able to meet deadlines and work within a defined timeframe, prioritize tasks/responsibilities, and concentrate for extended periods of time on detailed materials.
PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIESResponsibilities:
1. Clinical nutrition setting: contributes to the design and implementation of a plan of patient nutrition care, based on identification and assessment of a patient’s nutritional needs, correlated with other health plans.
2. Ambulatory care settings: contributes to the planning and delivery of the nutrition component of the care plan.
3. Food service rotation: involved in management and delivery of quality food items to patients and guests.
4. Center for Clinical Investigation: works with the Center’s dietitians on various aspects of current studies utilizing human subjects.
QUALIFICATIONS
1. Acceptance to the Brigham and Women’s Dietetic Internship after undergoing the formal application process (including the matching procedure coordinated by D&D Digital) with evidence of completion of the CADE required coursework.
2. Minimum of a Baccalaureate Degree.
3. Completion of an accredited Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) as confirmed by submission of a final Verification Statement.
SKILLS AND ABILITIES REQUIRED:
1. Knowledge of metabolism in relation to clinical nutrition.
2. Knowledge of food chemistry and macro/micro-nutrition composition.
3. Knowledge of food production and service systems in relation to safe, nutritious food products.
4. Basic personnel skills for interaction with a diverse group of people in the work setting (including physicians, nurses, other allied health professionals, managers, and supportive personnel).
5. High level of analytical abilities to interpret laboratory data, to identify and plan individual nutrition programs, and to discriminate new product claims and their physiologic effect.
6. High level of interpersonal skills necessary to provide counseling to patients and their families on nutrition related issues.
7. Ability to work in changing environment.
WORKING CONDITIONS:
1. Works as part of a team, assigned to various patient populations in a variety of patient care, research, and food service settings.
2. Works 2 weekends during clinical rotations supporting the inpatient dietitians.
3. Fast-paced work environment dealing with a wide variety of hospital staff, patients and families, providing consultation services, public speaking, or presentations to professional audiences.
4. Works in varied environments including normal office environment, on hospital floors, outpatient settings, and in the food service areas.
5. Work requires standing/walking for a minimum of 4 hours most days.
6. Work may require travel to and from contracted consultation programs in the community (accessible by public transportation).
7. Usual work hours vary depending on the schedule of the preceptor, Monday through Friday. Occasional early morning, evening and weekend work may be required.
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