Dietetic Internship Program Overview

Accreditation Status
The Dietetic Internship Program at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) is a performance-based generalist program designed to bridge the gap between didactic education and entry-level dietetic practice.  The program has been granted full accreditation by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CADE) located at:

120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2000
Chicago, IL 60606-6995
Telephone: 800-877-1600
 

Mission, Goals and Measurable Outcomes
The program’s mission is to provide a variety of experiential learning and professional development opportunities to enable program graduates to develop entry-level competence for dietetic practice in diverse communities. The goals and measurable outcomes for this supervised practice program are noted as follows:
 

Goal One:
·         To prepare graduates who are competent to function as entry-level dietitians in clinical dietetics, foodservice management, and community nutrition.

Outcome Measures:
Five-year passage rates on the Registration Examination for Dietitians
Five-year averages for employer performance evaluation

Goal Two
·        Promote successful completion of the supervised practice program by qualified students.

Outcomes Measures:
Five-year program completion rates
Five-year program assessment by graduates

Program Schedule
The program length is 40 weeks, commencing on September 11, 2006 and concluding on

June 14, 2007.  Didactic and supervise practice experiences include:

Nutrition therapy                                   360 hours
Foodservice management                      280 hours
Community nutrition                              280 hours
Independent rotation                               40 hours
Didactic and professional meetings        200 hours

Affiliation Sites
Program experiences are designed in categories of dietetic subspecialties to clinical nutrition, foodservice management and community nutrition.  Some of the program partners include:

- Atlantic General Hospital
- Deer’s Head Center

- Delaware WIC Program
- Dorchester County Health Department

- Eastern Correctional Institution
- Eastern Shore Area Health Education Center
- Healthy U of Delmarva
- Peninsula Regional Medical Center
- Wicomico County Schools Food and Nutrition Services
- Wicomico Nursing Home

Program Completion Requirements and Graduate Credit
Interns must satisfactorily complete approximately 1160 hours of supervised practice and must satisfy 100 percent of the program competencies in order to receive a Verification Statement and a Certificate of Program Completion; two graduate credits are also awarded for the program.
 

Program Cost
Program costs are estimated below and are subject to change without prior written notice.         

* Housing Information

Salisbury, Maryland Chamber of Commerce

http://www.salisburyarea.com/

Application Procedure
The application is to be submitted as a single packet and will not be returned. The following items must be included:

• Completed Program Application - original signature is required.

• Signed and dated Verification of Completion Statement of Intent to Complete Degree Requirements for the Didactic Program. Students must submit the Verification Statement prior to starting the program.

• One official transcript from each institution attended. A minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 is required.

• Transcript must indicate awarding of the bachelor’s degree.

• Three ADA/CADE Recommendation Forms, two of which are completed by major professors. Documents should be submitted in a sealed envelope with evaluators' signature shown across the envelope seal.

• A current resume.

• A typewritten letter of application which includes a discussion of your interest in the profession, short-term and long-term goals, and a statement regarding your attributes and why you are uniquely suited for this program.

• Application fee of $ 50.00 payable to "U M E S" by check or money order (nonrefundable).