Program Information

The Henry Ford Hospital Dietetic Internship is part of the Department of Food and Nutrition Services, which plays a vital role within the facility as one of the largest support service departments.

The internship program is planned to provide the students the knowledge, skills, methods, and tools to achieve professional expertise and competence plus establish life-long learning within the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics “Standards of Professional Practice” and the “Code of Ethics for the Profession of Dietetics.”

The 36-week program is designed with a Medical Nutrition Therapy concentration. The program provides 2 pathways.

• Pathway A: Completed graduate degree and DPD verification statement with enrollment in Henry Ford Hospital’s Dietetic Internship program only
• Pathway B: Completed undergraduate degree and DPD verification statement with enrollment in both Henry Ford Hospital’s Dietetic Internship program and Michigan State University’s Master of Science Nutrition and Dietetics Program.

The program is affiliated with Michigan State University. Upon matching to our internship, students must apply and be accepted into The Graduate School at Michigan State University. Upon acceptance, students will be enrolled in the Master of Science Nutrition and Dietetics Program in the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition.

The MS in Nutrition and Dietetics is a 16-month program culminating in 30 credits. The supervised practice is coordinated with HNF 894, the Human Nutrition Practicum course. This will provide a total of 6 credits toward the MS degree. Students will be evaluated using the competency statements from ACEND that specify what every registered dietitian nutritionist should be able to complete at the beginning of their practice career. Sample Schedule can be found here: Program Guide 2024-25.pdf (msu.edu)

Prior to being issued a Verification Statement, the students must complete the courses required for the Master of Science Degree in Nutrition and Dietetics from Michigan State University. Degree requirements are as follows:

• The student must complete a total of 30 credits:
  
  • All of the following courses (18 credits)
    
    • HNF 823 Research Methods in Human Nutrition – 3 credits
    • HNF 832 Advanced Clinical Nutrition – 3 credits
    • HNF 892 Nutrition Seminar – 2 credits
    • HNF 894 Human Nutrition Practicum – 6 credits
    • HNF 898 Master’s Project – 1 credit
    • NUR 804 Statistics for the Healthcare Professional – 3 credits
    A minimum of 12 elective credits. Electives not preapproved by the department will require the approval of your faculty advisor.
  • Completion of a final capstone project and evaluation, including a formal presentation by the student on a topic approved by the faculty advisor.

Henry Ford Hospital Dietetic Internship Program Mission, Goals, and Objectives

Mission: The Mission of the Henry Ford Hospital Dietetic Internship Program is to provide patient-centered, supervised practice experiences and practical application, in an intellectual, collaborative and compassionate atmosphere, to prepare entry-level registered dietitian nutritionists for career excellence. The program is structured with a nutrition therapy concentration focusing on evidence-based practice across the continuum of care. Dietetic interns will develop outstanding critical thinking skills and be exposed to a highly diverse environment of people, experiences and practices.

Goal 1: To facilitate the development and maintenance of Medical Nutrition Therapy knowledge and skills through interactive learning experiences while cultivating outstanding critical thinking skills to individualize interactions in diverse areas of dietetics practice.

Objectives:

• At least 80% of interns complete program/degree requirements within 24 months (150% of graduate degree length) or 54 weeks~1 year (150% of program length) if DI only option is selected”.
• At least 80% of program graduates take the CDR credentialing exam for dietitian nutritionists within 12 months of graduate degree completion or completion of dietetic internship.
• The program’s one-year pass rate (graduates who pass the registration exam within one year of first attempt) on the CDR credentialing exam for dietitian nutritionists is at least 80%.
• 100% of program graduates rate staff guidance to meet basic competencies, as outlined for each supervised practice experience, as satisfactory or above.
• 85% of employers rate the graduates’ Medical Nutrition Therapy knowledge and skills and development of critical thinking skills to individualize each interaction as satisfactory or above.

Goal 2: To prepare competent entry-level dietitian nutritionists who demonstrate a commitment to professional growth and career excellence.

Objectives:

• 100% of program graduates rate their overall confidence level that the internship prepared them as competent for entry-level practice as satisfactory or above.
• Of graduates who seek employment, at least 75% are employed in nutrition and dietetics or related fields within 12 months of graduate degree completion or 12 months of completion of dietetic internship.
• 85% of employers are satisfied with graduate preparation for entry-level practice.
• 85% of employers will rate the graduates’ organizational skills, customer service skills, communication skills, and overall commitment to professional growth and career development as satisfactory or above
• All program outcomes are available upon request.

Internship Philosophy

The Henry Ford Hospital Dietetic Internship is committed to the development of dietetic interns for their roles as beginning Registered Dietitian Nutritionist practitioners in the profession and as members of The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. The program is designed with a Medical Nutrition Therapy Concentration. Competency statements specify what every registered dietitian nutritionist should be able to do at the beginning of his/her practice career. The competency statements build on the foundation knowledge necessary for the entry-level practitioner to perform reliably at the level indicated.

INTERNSHIP PROGRAM EXPENSE ESTIMATES

• Program Fee (due by July 1st) $7500
• Interns are required to carry their own Health Insurance $750-800 (estimated cost depending on plan)
• Housing $800-1000/month
• Travel $1000
• Student Academy Membership $58 + SEMDA membership $15
• Miscellaneous Supplies $250 (Non-slip shoes for food service rotation+ NFPE book)

Michigan requires all drivers to carry auto insurance. It is the intern's responsibility to carry appropriate health and automobile insurance to cover liability in travel and assigned work related to the internship. Interns should have a car as the availability of public transportation is very limited. Traveling is required, especially when assigned to community experiences.

Employment

The Internship Program is demanding and challenging, requiring organization, self-discipline and stamina. Because of these demands, the Program faculty strongly recommend that interns not be employed during the Program.

English Fluency

Fluency in written and spoken English is essential to succeed in the program and to ensure patient safety. If English is a second language, you must be able to demonstrate fluency. Satisfactory performance on the Test of English as a Foreign Language examination or the Michigan Test of English Language Proficiency must be documented as proof of fluency. Your test results must be less than two years old.

Living Accommodations

There is a variety of moderately priced apartments available within easy access to the Hospital. Housing is available for dietetic interns in the hospital owned and operated apartment building located on the hospital campus . Contact Guest Housing at (313) 916-3299.

Pre-placement screening includes verification of negative TB tests, and Flu vaccination.

Drug testing is not required as part of the Pre-Placement Screening however, Henry Ford Health reserves the right to conduct testing of a dietetic intern who is reasonably suspected of using alcohol or illegally using drugs. Any dietetic intern that who refuses to submit to a drug and alcohol screening test will be considered to have voluntarily resigned from Henry Ford Hospital’s dietetic internship program.

Dietetic interns are required to sign a Disclosure and Release of Information Authorization and a Criminal Offence form.

Loans: The Dietetic Internship Program does not participate in the Guaranteed Student Loan program.

Benefits

• Health Care: There are on-site employee health services for infection control screening and occupational health for work related injury evaluations.
• Liability Insurance: Interns have full professional liability insurance from Henry Ford Health. Interns must carry their own personal liability insurance.
• Library: Interns have free use of the Sladen Medical Library. This includes computer searches, internet, interlibrary loans and copy service.
• Meals: Interns receive a meal allowance on scheduled workdays.
• Parking: Interns have guarded, assigned parking. From the parking lot, they ride the free shuttle directly to the Hospital.
• Security: The Hospital is very conscious of the safety of its staff and students. Security personnel, on request, will provide security escorts to staff and students.