The Internship’s Business, Management, and Community Coordinator made prior arrangements (on an exchange basis) with three workout facilities, (1) VU recreational center – may use during the entire year, in exchange for each intern creating 3 nutrition fast facts pages to be distributed in the VU student news paper, (2) Faculty and Staff Wellness Center – may use facility during rotation, each intern creates a newsletter on a topic given by the staff, and (3) Dayani Center (this center has continuous health and nutrition edu. classes with team instructors – an RD, a Psychologist, and Exercise Coach; as well as pool and workout equipment) – may use facility during rotation in exchange for each intern creating some facet of nutrition edu., Ex. I designed a table set-up for a Health Fair with all materials and brochures related to weight loss/maintenance. Another intern created small signs to hang on/near each piece of equipment with a food or dessert item and how long one would have to exercise on that piece of equipment to work off the calories. The net result is, the centers got free labor to assist with their nutrition edu projects and interns received invaluable experience in critical thinking, creative design, writing skills, working with “Publisher” software, and improving multitasking abilities.

Every rotation has outside project(s). A lot of work. Plus two very comprehensive case studies (one clinical, one management).

"Clinical case study--follow an acutal patients stay in the hospital from the time they are admitted to the time they are discharged. They you have to a very lenghty (approx. 30 pages) paper discussing certain specific topics. Your clinical coordinator will provide you with an outline and guide you throught the paper. Food Systems/Community case study--choose a project from a list to work on such as researching, designing, and implementing a nutrition program for children, or designing holiday cooking classes for a local health center, or evaluating menus and writing new menus for patients with Celiac Disease, etc. "

Clinical case study Management case study Seminar presentations (2) Nutrition related volunteering events

Bellevue neighborhood in Nashville, TN.

The internship was beyond my expectations or imagination, because of exposure to so many different areas of RD responsibility (~23). I really enjoyed the nutrition research rotation which I think is unique for an internship. It feels good to read Journal articles dealing with diabetes research, and understand equipment and procedures because of studies I’ve had the opportunity to observe. I am currently in a Masters Degree program, and I believe I am a better student because of the VUMC internship.

I chose this program because of Vanderbilt's wonderful reputation, Nashville is a great city, and everyone was so nice on my visit. Also, my DPD highly recommended the program.

Vanderbilt is one of the top internship programs and I knew that I wanted to go somewhere that was recognized nationally. It is a big medical center that allows for experiences in many different areas. Also, I wanted a program that was very structured and organized.

It is a phenomenal hospital! There are so many opportunities to see things that are rare and they are always seemed to be on top of the most current research, etc. I wasn't that excited to do the clinical part of the internship but absolutely loved it!! The internship coordinators are awesome and so organized! You rotate around the different clinical fields and I never got bored! The have an amazing children's hospital that was my favorite part.

Vanderbilt's program has a excellent reputation, high caliber of medicine practice, had various rotation experiences, and valued management opportunies the same as clinical. The selling point was the excitement of the current interns - they were HAPPY..I visited 3 other programs that the interns vocalized their misery!

Children, Adolescents, Pregnant Women, Elderly, Adults

Children, Adolescents, Pregnant Women, Elderly, Adults

Children, Adolescents, Pregnant Women, Elderly

Parents' help

Parents' help

Loans

There was no interview. Make sure to follow all guidelines listed on the application details. Be real, they don't expect superman. Do it early, make sure to take your time handwriting your letter.

Make sure that you make yourself as competitive as possible. Focus on your grades and try to do the best that you can in your classes. Your letter or essay that you send with the appolication is VERY important. It is handwriiten, which means that they are looking at grammar and sentence structure. It should be organized and flow well. Read it aloud to yourself to make sure that you like how it flows. Be sure that the letter does not repeat information that application has already covered. Your essay should focus on your goal and talk about experiences that you have had that will make you a competent dietitian.

Do research on the programs...narrow it down to 3-5 and if you have a chance go visit the programs. I went and visited a few during fall break and it was fun. Look at the cities the internships are in and look at it also as an experience to live somewhere different for a year:)

I have been on internship application review committees for 4 years - proof read you personal statement, be yourself, and be honest about what you want to accomplish - not what you think will look good on your resume.