Dear Applicant,

Thank you for your interest in the dietetic internship program at the Department of Veterans Affairs Healthcare System at Bay Pines, Florida. The 42-week internship program at the VA Hospital is a generalist program with emphasis areas in Nutrition Therapy, Community, Food Service and Business. You will see after browsing through our website that our dietetic internship program offers diverse learning experiences which will prepare you for a variety of positions in the field of dietetics.

Some unique qualities which may not be immediately apparent when browsing through our website include the following.

Preceptors: We have a very dedicated staff of dietitians; 75% of the dietetics staff has a minimum of 10 years of experience. Our small class size of 6 interns means that you will get specialized and individualized attention from the internship director. With the exception of some of our management and community rotations, only one intern is assigned to a preceptor at a time, allowing for maximum attention to your learning experience.

Curriculum: The program is hospital based with rotations in cardiology, surgery & intensive care, geriatrics, oncology medicine, neurology, rehabilitative medicine, outpatient counseling, diabetes and renal. These rotations are supplemented with experiences in the community such as pediatrics, school food service and Extension Service.

Increased job opportunities: We will assist you in finding employment in the government or in the private sector. With over 100 VA Medical Centers across the country, you will have increased opportunities to work for the VA. The VA is a leader in health care patient safety and has a fully computerized patient record system (CPRS). While the pay for entry-level dietetic positions in the VA varies across the country, within 3 years, most dietitians in the VA earn a greater salary than those who have been working in the private sector for 20 years!

Stipend: Interns in our program receive a stipend, which is paid throughout the course of the internship.

Graduate Credit: Interns have the option to receive graduate credit for their weekly applied practice classes and completed special project. Graduate credit has been granted from the University of South Florida, College of Public Health.

Please take all of these points into consideration when making your decision of how to rank your program choices. Should you have any questions, or should you wish to schedule an appointment to come and visit the medical center, please do not hesitate to contact Chief, Nutrition and Food Service:

(727) 398-6661, extension 5549

Sincerely,

Barbara Harrington, MS, RD, FADA
Chief, Nutrition and Food Service