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Dietetics

Curriculum

Dietetic Internship - Rochester
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The Mayo School of Health Sciences Dietetic Internship Program prepares individuals for professional practice in hospitals, clinics, public health agencies and food service management. During the program, learning experiences are provided to allow the intern to:

  • Assess the nutritional status of patients with complex medical conditions, and design and implement medical nutrition therapy plans.
  • Manage normal nutritional needs of individuals across the life span.
  • Integrate pathophysiology into medical nutrition therapy recommendations.
  • Provide and supervise nutrition education to patients for healthy lifestyle changes.
  • Participate in patient-care rounds, functioning as a member of a multidisciplinary health-care team.
  • Supervise the production of food that meets specified criteria for nutrients, cost and patient acceptance.
  • Supervise aspects of a continuous improvement program, which includes data collection and analysis, as well as system review and development.
  • Assist in supervising the food service at catered events, in cafeterias and inpatient service (traditional and room service).
  • Supervise the collection and processing of key financial and productivity indicators, and use the information to monitor the progress of a food service operation.
  • Participate in managing human resources essential to food and nutrition service operation.
  • Manage safety and sanitation issues related to food service.
  • Develop, conduct, supervise and evaluate a community-based program.
  • Provide nutritional care in community-based settings.

Program Curriculum Learning Experience Distribution
Program length: 47 weeks (3 weeks as vacation)

    • 3 weeks orientation
    • 26 weeks clinical (5 weeks of this time is staffing experience)
    • 9 weeks community
    • 6 weeks food service management

    Vacation/Holiday
    Interns are granted two weeks of vacation around the Christmas and New Year holiday. A third week of vacation will be arranged on an individual basis with the Internship Director in the spring. Interns work holidays the rest of the year.

    Clinical
    Before you complete the program, you will serve as the clinical staff dietitian in assigned areas. During this time you will concentrate on providing appropriate nutritional support and information to patients.

    Didactic
    Weekly classes cover current trends in dietetics. Lectures, workshops, in-service training, case studies, field trips and informal discussions will help prepare you for the American Dietetic Association registration examination.

    Rotations to Other Sites
    Through a community services rotation, you will have the opportunity to work with people of different ages and socioeconomic conditions. There are placements in senior services, outpatient nutrition counseling, and community hospitals and clinics.

    Our interns also present nutrition programs to community audiences, thereby increasing their skills in public speaking and working with community groups.

    Grading or Evaluation
    Mayo School of Health Sciences uses student evaluative tools that include:

    • Written examination
    • Demonstration of skills
    • Self-assessment exercises
    • Faculty reviews

    Our system of evaluation provides students and faculty with a comprehensive look at individual performance. This allows faculty and administrative staff to direct students who are experiencing academic difficulty to the appropriate support resources, including tutoring programs and counseling opportunities.

    Curriculum Enhancements
    Mayo School of Health Sciences is committed to developing and maintaining the very best education programs. Changes may be made to the curriculum and other aspects of this program as necessary to assure the highest quality training.

    Changes may be made to the curriculum and other aspects of this program as necessary to assure quality.

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