The Dietitian Internship (DI) program is celebrating its 30th anniversary at Meredith College.
The program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Nutrition and Dietetics Education (ACEND) and provides more than 515 students with the knowledge and practical experience to begin a career in nutrition and the Registered Dietitian Dietitian. (RDN) has been prepared. ) Test. Her 100% of graduates seeking employment found employment in the field of nutrition or dietetics within 12 months of graduation. Graduates work at prestigious institutions such as Boston Children’s Hospital, Davita Dialysis, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, WakeMed Health & Hospitals, and UNC Hospitals. 91% of graduates pass their RDN exam within their first year of taking the exam.
Carolyn Klefman, 23, Master of Nutrition, who completed DI in April 2024, said, “I appreciate the rigor of the program to prepare me for rotations and to excel in the work environment.” said. She says, “The internship was a challenge for me,” pushing me to find my inner confidence in ways I didn’t expect. I am excited to be able to demonstrate my skills in the field as a dietitian in the intensive care unit. ”
Program Director Kathy Ostrowski said she is most proud of the strengths-based, leadership-focused approach the program has taken over the past 30 years. “Her StrongPoints® program at Meredith College provides advice and personal coaching to help students become leaders,” she said. “Through nutrition internships, students learn leadership skills that they can use in their future careers.”
This program continues to evolve with the ever-changing industry to provide students with a smooth transition into the field of nutrition. In 2012, the program introduced the Individualized Practice Pathway (ISPP), which in 2011 was established by ACEND. ISPP allows students greater flexibility by allowing them to independently identify rotation sites up to 150 miles outside of Raleigh. With changes from ACEND, starting in 2026, Meredith will redesign ISPP into a distance-track internship for students who want to customize their experience.
Additionally, the new requirement introduced by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) requiring students to have a master’s degree to be eligible to sit for the RDN exam means that the DI program will be merged with the Master’s degree in Nutrition. will be done. DI faculty are also in the process of building a prior learning assessment so that students can earn credit for their prior experience. This reduces your time in the program and allows you to get into the field faster.
“The program changes will help new students meet industry standards and prepare them for a solid and productive career as a registered dietitian,” Ostrovsky said.
Learn more about Meredith’s nutrition graduate program.
