Dietetic Internship

** There are no computer match slots available for the 2013-2014 internship year.

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The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services Program for Dietetic Interns (PDI) was established in 1999 to help meet the demand for skilled dietetic professionals in public health and community-based programs in Missouri. The mission of the PDI is “To provide training in competency skills required in dietetics for public health nutritionists and dietetics graduates from Missouri.” It was with this mission in mind that the PDI was designed to meet the needs of the non-traditional intern, especially those currently working in the Missouri WIC program.

The internship is a full time program, 40 or more hours per week for 40-weeks, and runs from mid-August through late May, with an area of emphasis in public health/community nutrition. The internship provides a minimum of 1200 supervised practice experience hours to meet the 2012 Eligibility Requirements and Accreditation Standards (ERAS). The program accepts four dietetic interns per year. Up to four slots will be filled through the pre-select option with individuals working for the Department of Health and Senior Services or one of its contractors. Additional position(s), as needed, will be filled through computer matching. Those interested in applying through the computer matching option should check our website or contact the program director after February 1st annually to inquire about available positions. The program provides didactic education and clinical, food systems management, and public health/community nutrition practicum experiences.

The program has affiliate sites throughout the state. Practicum experiences are made in consideration of the intern's geographical location whenever possible, however, depending upon location, and due to limited sites in some areas, this may not always be feasible. Some sites also have limitations of only being able to take one intern during the internship year. If more than one intern is from the same area or part of the state, this may require the interns to travel a greater distance for rotations. Currently, most rotations are located in the Kansas City/St. Joseph, Jefferson City/Columbia, and St. Louis areas. An intern may need to travel 200 miles or more per day round trip to an affiliate site, or be willing to obtain temporary housing for some rotations.

To be eligible for the program, individuals must meet specific academic requirements. Other selection criteria may apply. See Application Process for specific details and to download application materials. The deadline for the pre-select option (employees of the Department of Health and Senior Services or a DHSS contractor) is December 15th of each year. The deadline for computer match selection is February 15th.

Questions?

To learn more about how internship rotations are scheduled, Internship Hours & Scheduling for the Program for Dietetic Internship may be viewed on the Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services website. To learn more about the costs of the PDI, see Internship Costs. To find out how to apply to the PDI, see Application Process and Application Tips. If you would like more information on the PDI, Contact us through the Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services website.

Program Accreditation:

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services Program for Dietetic Interns is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2000, Chicago, Illinois 60606-6995, (312) 899-0040 ext. 5400, http://www.eatright.org/ACEND.

Civil Rights:

In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability. To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (866) 632-9992 (Voice) or (800) 795-3272 (toll free). Individuals who are hearing impaired or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339; or (800) 845-6136 (Spanish). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

It is the policy of the Department to provide equal employment opportunity and access to services and programs to applicants, employees and clients without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, genetic information and when applicable, veteran status, ancestry, and sexual orientation; hereafter referred to as protected category.