FCS

Dietetics

Advisory Board

Intern Program Information

Dietetics interns Western Michigan University’s Dietetic Internship is a 10-month generalist program that is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Dietetic Education (CADE) c/o the American Dietetic Association, 216 W. Jackson Blvd, Chicago, IL, 60606-6995, (312-899-4876). This internship meets the Standards of Education of the American Dietetic Association and graduates are qualified to take the Dietetic Registration Examination. Interns earn 15 hours of graduate credit toward a Master of Arts (M.A.) in Family and Consumer Sciences during the program. The 40-week internship begins in late August and finishes in early June of the following year. The final graduate course of the year is offered online, can be completed anywhere the intern has access to the internet and finishes in late June. WMU accepts eight interns each year.

Program Philosophy
The Dietetic Internship Program seeks to help students build on the knowledge already gained in meeting academic requirements of the American Dietetic Association, to provide opportunities for the application of that knowledge in a variety of settings, and to develop the clinical and management skills essential for quality dietetics Interns practice in a changing health care and food service environment. The program includes both supervised practice and didactic opportunities in clinical nutrition, community nutrition and food service management. A one-to-one preceptor-student ratio enables interns to build skills and achieve competency in CADE’s Core Performance Requirements of the Standards of Education. Individualized learning opportunities are also provided through independent projects and an elective 2-week rotation.

Program Goals:

Provide supervised practice experiences in all areas of dietetics enabling students to achieve competency in the Core Performance Requirements.
Provide students with the environment in which to acquire and develop clinical and management skills essential in meeting the needs of clients at various age, education and income levels in a variety of settings.
Provide a supervised practice program, which allows for some elective experience, based upon career goals and/or perceived needs for additional experience.
Enhance interns' abilities to develop self-direction and competency in entry-level practice.
Provide opportunity for interns to develop skills and knowledge in research.
Develop and maintain the quality of education through program planning, implementation and evaluation.

Internship Rotations

Major Program Sites and Partners for 2008-09 Internship Year

Supervised practice experiences in clinical nutrition, community nutrition and food service management are provided at the following facilities for 2007-08:

Barry-Eaton District Health Department, Charlotte
Battle Creek Health System, Battle Creek
Borgess Medical Center, Kalamazoo
Bronson Methodist Hospital, Kalamazoo
Calhoun County Medical Facility, Battle Creek
Family Health Center, Kalamazoo
Hackley Hospital, Muskegon
Hayes Green Beach Memorial Hospital, Charlotte
Holland Homes, Grand Rapids
InterCare Community Health Network, Bangor
Kalamazoo County Health and Community Services
Kent County Health Department, Grand Rapids
Lakeland Hospital, St. Joseph
Metro Health Hospital, Grand Rapids
Muskegon County Health Department
Pennock Hospital, Hastings
Spectrum Health - Blodgett Memorial Medical Center, Grand Rapids
Spectrum Heartreach Program, Grand Rapids
St. Mary's Medical Center, Grand Rapids
Tendercare Nursing Homes, Portage (Kalamazoo), Marshall, Wyoming (Grand Rapids)

Expenses

Academic Credit is earned during the internship. Graduate Classes for 2008-09:

Fall Semester	FCS 6010 Basic Research Methods FCS 6220 Practicum (Internship)	3 credits 3 credits
Spring Semester	FCS 5900 Nutrition Education FCS 6220 Practicum (Internship)	3 credits 3 credits
Summer I	FCS 6100 Nutrition during the Lifespan (offered online)	3 credits

Application Process:

Internship Application deadline is Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2009. Applications must be postmarked by this date. Send application materials to:

Dietetic Internship Admissions Committee
c/o Caroline Webber, PhD, RD
Dept. of Family and Consumer Sciences
Western Michigan University
1903 W. Michigan Avenue
Kalamazoo, MI 49008-5322

Intern applicants must also apply to D & D Digital Computer Matching. This involves submitting the computer matching preference card*, release card* and check or money order for $50.00 to D & D Digital Systems postmarked on or before Feb. 17, 2009. Most intern applicants can get the computer matching materials from their DPD Director at their university. The materials must be sent via certified mail with return receipt requested. Alternatively, it is also now possible to apply online if done before the above deadline. Go to D&D Digital’s website for more information.

Application Process per D&D Digital (from D & D Digital Computer Matching):

Timeline for Internship Applicants for Spring 2009
Tuesday, February 17, 2009	Applicants must register online and enter their contact information and Dietetic Internship choices on or before 11:59pm Central Time Tuesday, February 17, 2009 -or- send their completed combined preference and release sheet, along with a non-refundable check or money order (payable to D&D Digital for $50.00) to D&D Digital, postmarked on or before Tuesday, February 17, 2009. Mailed materials should be sent by certified mail with return receipt requested to provide written verification for the applicant of on-time mailing and receipt by D&D, if needed.
Friday, March 20, 2009	If you make other arrangements and will not be able to accept a match that may occur, you must notify D&D Digital in writing of your decision to withdraw from Dietetic Internship matching by Friday, March 20, 2009. The $50 fee will not be refunded if an applicant withdraws from the matching process.
Monday, April 20, 2009	(Notification Day) Applicant matching results will be posted on www.dnddigital.com from 12:01am Central Time, Monday, April 20, 2009 (Notification Day) through Tuesday, April 21, 2009 (Appointment Day). This is the ONLY source of notification for applicants. Each applicant will receive either ONE MATCH or NO MATCH after log in. All applicants who receive ONE MATCH will find the matched DI Program name and contact information to accept the appointment. The MATCHED DI Program is planning that the MATCH will be accepted. Matched applicants must contact the DI program on Notification or Appointment Day to confirm the acceptance of the MATCH. No arrangements should be made with any other DI programs. Applicants who received NO MATCH will be given other instructions.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009	(Appointment Day) Matched applicant must contact the Dietetic Internship program by telephone or FAX on or before 5:00 PM (time zone of the program) Tuesday, April 21, 2009 to confirm the acceptance of the MATCH. After this time, the program is under no obligation to hold the opening for the matched applicant.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009	Names of Dietetic Internship programs that did not fill their class and authorized the release of their name will appear on www.dnddigital.com. Applicants who did not match and Dietetic Internship Directors with openings may contact each other.

For additional information, contact

Director, Dietetic Internship Program
Department of Family and Consumer Sciences
Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo, MI 49008-5322
(269) 387-3710 or (269) 387-3704

Information updated 12/02/2008