Dietetics Academy

 

The Iowa State University Dietetic Internship (DI) began as an AP4 program in 1989. It meets the performance requirements for experience programs for students who have completed the academic requirements of the American Dietetic Association (ADA). The internship is administered through the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition and interns are admitted to Iowa State University (ISU) as undergraduate students. Students successfully completing the internship will be eligible to take the registration examination administered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR). Successful completion of the internship and the registration examination meet the requirements to be a Registered Dietitian (RD).

The Dietetic Internship Program at Iowa State University has been granted continued accreditation status until 2018 by The Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education of the American Dietetic Association (CADE), 120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2000, Chicago, IL 60606-6995, 312/899-4876.

This accelerated full-time, generalist DI program offers approximately 960 hours of supervised practice in medical nutrition therapy, community nutrition and foodservice management with additional time spent on projects and case studies. This generalist program meets these CADE 2002 competencies: Core Competencies 1- 46; Specialty Competencies: NT 3, 6, 9, CO 2, 8, FS 2, 3, and BE3. (See this webpage: http://www.eatright.org/ada/files/2002rdfksc.pdf, pages 3 - 7.)

Success as a Registered Dietitian means lifelong learning and a substantial and regular time commitment.  Successful completion of this accelerated dietetic internship requires a high level of motivation and commitment and significant portion of the intern’s time. Work and volunteer commitments outside of the internship are not recommended.

ISU DI OFFERS TWO OPTIONS: Iowa-based option and Nationwide option. Any qualified applicant may apply to either (or both) options.

Interns in the Iowa-based option complete the internship in locations within the State of Iowa.  The intern is required to live in the internship location area regardless of where the intern resides at the time of application.  (e.g.:  The applicant may reside in California and will be required to move to the assigned location in Iowa, such as Des Moines.)  ISU instructors identify the preceptors and location for each of the Iowa-based option interns.

Interns in the Nationwide option complete the internship in their own geographic location.  This intern is required to attend orientation week in Ames, IA but will return to their own area to complete the remainder of the program.  (e.g.: The intern lives in California and completes the internship there.)  The applicant must locate and identify preceptors and supervised practice facilities prior to submitting the application.  The ISU instructor does NOT assist with identifying preceptors or locations.

The dates for the June 2010 internship class are: June 14, 2010 - November 19, 1010.

One group of 25 students is enrolled in the program from January through June and another group of 25 from June through December. Throughout the program, students meet regularly with ISU faculty to discuss program progress. Dates for the January 2011 internship classes witll be posted by April 15, 2010.

FOR JUNE INTERNSHIP 2010: The Iowa State University Dietetic Internship will participate in educational experiences with the University of Iowa Medical School "Clinical Beginnings" workshop. Interns will have the opportunity to collaborate in inter-disciplinary groups to learn about and solve complex medical cases. Each group will consist of students in medicine, nursing, pharmacy, physical therapy, dietetics, and medical social work. Skills in critical thinking, problem solving and communication will be enhanced. Topics such as medical ethics, patient confidentiality, professional credentialing, and communication with patients/clients and families will be covered. In addition to “Clinical Beginning”, interns will complete nutrition policy and motivational interviewing training taught by experts in the field.  These workshops will be held June 22 – June 24, 2010 (with the Jean Inman Review Course held in Iowa City IA June 25 – June 26, 2010).