About Our Program
The AdventHealth Orlando Dietetic Internship Program is dedicated to the education of the next generation of Registered Dietitian Nutritionists. We are dedicated to welcoming and supporting diverse students in an inclusive learning environment conducive to their success. This program supports the education and development of dietetic practitioners through knowledgeable and experienced faculty and preceptors working together as a team to uphold the program's goals and outcomes. Registered Dietitian Nutritionists utilize the Nutrition Care Process to accomplish nutrition assessment and provide nutrition care. Registered Dietitian Nutritionists and dietetic interns will provide clinical nutrition care in collaboration with physicians, nursing, pharmacists, case managers and speech pathologists.
Supervised Practice
The AdventHealth Orlando Dietetic Internship Program is a full-time, non-degree program with a clinical emphasis. It is an 8.5 month dietetic internship consisting of 1,012 hours of supervised practice.
The supervised practice hours are included in rotations in each of the five experiences, which are:
- Food Service and Management: 4 weeks
- Community: 5 weeks
- Clinical 1: 9 weeks
- Clinical 2: 9 weeks
- Staff Relief: 4 weeks
The required number of supervised practice hours (1,012 hours) provided by the AdventHealth Orlando Dietetic Internship Program is the only viable route to complete the internship program and achieve eligibility to sit for the dietitian registration exam.
Program Description
- Program Goals
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Goal 1: To prepare graduates to become leaders, life-long learners, and service minded individuals through community involvement.
Objectives to support goal one:
- At least 15% of graduates responses will report participation or service in a local or national dietetic association or nutrition organization of their choice
Goal 2: To prepare graduates to serve as competent and professional entry-level dietitian nutritionists.
Objectives to support goal two:
- At least 80% of graduates will rank themselves as adequately prepared for their dietetic position
- At least 10% of graduates will be hired by AdventHealth Orlando
- At least 80% of program students complete program/degree requirements within 12.75 months
- Of graduates who seek employment, 80% percent are employed in nutrition and dietetics or related fields within 12 months of graduation
- 80% percent of program graduates take the CDR credentialing exam for dietitian nutritionists within 12 months of program completion
- The program’s one-year pass rate on the CDR credentialing exam for dietitian nutritionists is at least 80%
- 90% of employers who respond to the survey will rank graduates as adequately prepared of higher
Goals and objectives are monitored for program effectiveness. The program outcomes data are available upon request. Please contact Program Director for details.
The RDN exam pass rate for Cohorts 1 to 6 is 93%.
- Accreditation Status
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The AdventHealth Orlando Dietetic Internship Program has been granted full accreditation by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND). ACEND is a specialized accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of Education.
Contact information for ACEND:
120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2190, Chicago, IL 60606-6995
Call312-899-0040 x5400, Call1-800-877-1600 x5400
[email protected], www.eatright.org/ACEND - RDN Status Requirements
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Effective January 1, 2024, the CDR will require a minimum of a master’s degree to be eligible to take the credentialing exam to become a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN). In order to be approved for registration examination eligibility with a bachelor’s degree, an individual must meet all eligibility requirements and be submitted into CDR's Registration Eligibility Processing System (REPS) before 12:00 midnight Central Time, December 31, 2023. For more information about this requirement visit CDR's website: https://www.cdrnet.org/graduatedegree.
In addition, CDR requires that individuals complete coursework and supervised practice in program(s) accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND). Graduates who successfully complete the ACEND-accredited dietetic internship program at AdventHealth Orlando Dietetic Internship are eligible to apply to take the CDR credentialing exam to become an RDN. A Dietetic Internship (DI) verification statement will be provided upon the completion of the 1,216 supervised practice hours in the AdventHealth Orlando Dietetic Internship Program.
After obtaining your RDN, it is encouraged to obtain state licensure as it may be required with non-federal employers. By law, the State of Florida requires a license to practice dietetics and is regulated by the Division of Medical Quality Assurance of the Florida State Department of Health.
For more information view this link on 5 Steps to Become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist.
- Class Size
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Each year, AdventHealth Orlando Dietetic Internship Program may admit two cohorts of interns, with up to 10 interns in July and up to 10 interns in January. This small class size ensures close one-on-one instruction and a comprehensive and positive educational experience.
- Parking
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Free parking for employees, students, and interns is available at all AdventHealth Orlando locations.
- Campus Assignment
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The intern will be assigned to one of our campus locations within a 30-mile radius. Currently, interns are assigned to AdventHealth Altamonte Springs, AdventHealth Celebration, AdventHealth East Orlando, AdventHealth Winter Park, AdventHealth Orlando, AdventHealth Winter Garden and AdventHealth Kissimmee.
The intern is responsible for transportation to campuses and other supervised practice sites. The AdventHealth Orlando Dietetic Internship Program is not responsible for intern safety in travel to campuses or other supervised practice sites.
- Preselection Agreement
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The AdventHealth Orlando Dietetic Internship Program participates in the preselect agreement with the University of North Florida. Applicants must meet all admission requirements of the AdventHealth Orlando Dietetic Internship. Up to 16 candidates will be preselected twice a year, on February 1 and September 1, for the April and November computer match, respectively. The remaining position will be filled through computer matching (DICAS). For more information, contact the internship director.
- Master’s Degree Affiliation Agreement
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Beginning in 2023, the AdventHealth Orlando Dietetic Internship Program will offer an online Master of Science degree with the University of North Florida (UNF). This 12-month program integrates graduate-level education with supervised practice activities to prepare entry-level registered dietitians to improve the health of individuals, families and communities. The graduate students in the Dietetic Practice Emphasis take courses in Clinical Nutrition, Nutrition Science and Research. Students receive graduate credit for their supervised practice experience.
Other courses, in areas such as nutrition counseling and education and advanced concepts in dietetics practice, complement the traditional areas of dietetics and create a well-rounded food and nutrition professional. All the degree requirements are available fully online, requiring no visits to campus.
Admission requirements for this master’s degree include:
- A baccalaureate degree in nutrition from an ACEND-accredited program or a verification statement from an ACEND-accredited program
- A GPA of 3.0 or higher in all work attempted in the last 60 credit hours of undergraduate study
See this link for more information related to the MS Online program and admission criteria: UNF: Master of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics.
Students enrolled in the master’s degree program may receive up to 12 graduate credits for the supervised practice hours at AdventHealth Orlando Dietetic Internship. Students enrolled in the degree program are eligible for financial aid through UNF to aid internship tuition. The cost of credit at UNF reflects market-rate tuition and is significantly lower than out-of-state tuition. For more information related to the cost of credits, tuition and financial aid, see: UNF: Tuition & Fees-Graduate. The application deadline for the summer semester is April 1; fall semester is August 1; spring semester is October 1. Please see the UNF academic calendar for updated information related to deadlines: UNF: Academic Calendar.
Attend Our Virtual Open House
To learn more about our internship program, join us for our Virtual Open House, which happens every third Thursday in January and August. To register ahead of time, please email [email protected].
Testimonials
"The AdventHealth Dietetic Internship Program provides its interns with invaluable opportunities to participate in and ultimately provide whole-person care to individuals and communities through its food service, community, and clinical rotations. The internship provided me with a rich and diverse set of experiences that shaped my practice as a dietitian and facilitated profound personal growth. One unique aspect of the AdventHealth Dietetic Internship Program is the critical care focus during the Clinical 2 rotation. Interns not only learn fundamentals of critical care nutrition but become active participants in critical care dietetics, participating in ICU rounds and managing nutrition care for critically ill patients. This helped me cultivate confidence as a practitioner which has positively affected the care I provide at all levels of acuity. Further, the internship was the best preparation for succeeding on the RD exam. Ultimately, the greatest strength of the internship lies in the sense of community it offers. The internship blessed me with opportunities to be on both the giving and receiving ends of thoughtful professional mentorship. Campus leaders take great care in developing and teaching interns to be effective, patient-focused dietitians. The Internship Manager, Director, and all preceptors involved continually work to improve intern education and engage interns with evidence-based dietetics education that inspires them to be lifelong learners and patient advocates."
- Katie Elzer, RDN, Cohort 5 graduate
"As someone who was interested in a strongly clinical internship program, I couldn’t be happier with my experience with AHODIP (Formally FHODIP). The education I was provided was well rounded and allowed me to easily transition into a clinical setting following my graduation. As this was a relatively new program when I began, I was highly impressed with how valued our opinions and feedback were to help mold this program into the best possible version of itself for future RDNs."
- Meghan Stoops RDN, Cohort 2 graduate
"The didactic program and strong clinical rotations more than adequately prepared me to pass the RD exam and become a successful clinical dietitian."
– Catherine McClelland, RDN, LDN, Cohort 1 graduate
"I enjoyed the opportunity to learn about other disciplines- I was able to shadow a speech language pathologist, several doctors, and even watch feeding tube placements and a surgery. I think this helps me as a dietitian to work better with these different professionals since I have a deeper understanding of what they do."
- Claire Lozano, RDN, LDN, Cohort 1 graduate
AdventHealth Orlando Mission Statement
“To extend the healing ministry of Christ…”
The AdventHealth Orlando Dietetic Internship Program mission statement is a natural evolution of the AdventHealth Orlando mission statement. AdventHealth Orlando is affiliated with the Seventh-Day Adventist Church. Thus, Christ’s ministry is at the forefront of the culture and care extended to the patient. Furthermore, the AdventHealth Orlando Dietetic Internship Program mission statement aligns with the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics’ Scope of Practice for the Registered Dietitian Nutritionist.
AdventHealth Orlando Dietetic Internship Mission Statement
To develop entry level registered dietitian nutritionists that are equipped with nutrition expertise to extend the healing ministry of Christ.
Program Contacts
Email: [email protected]
Mailing Address: 525 Lake Estelle Drive, Orlando, Florida 32803
Gabriela Palou-De Jesus MS, RDN, LDN
Director, AdventHealth Orlando Dietetic Internship Program
Ruth Hanson, RD, CDE
Manager, AdventHealth Orlando Dietetic Internship Program