Dietetic Internship Program Information

Children's Hospital Colorado offers a dietetic internship training program with Pediatrics and Adult Acute Care concentrations. We offer a full-time, 10-month track as well as a 15-month, part-time track. This internship has full accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics.

Mission of the Dietetic Internship Program at Children's Colorado

Providing dietetic interns exceptional training to best prepare them for entry level positions as Registered Dietitian Nutritionists and to become leaders in clinical nutrition, nutrition education and nutrition research for children, adults and families.

Concentrations

The program has two concentration areas, Pediatrics and Adult Acute Care. The application process for both concentrations is the same and the preferred concentration area and preference for full- or part-time track should be provided in the letter of intent, as a part of the application process outlined below. When selected, the program director will utilize the letter of intent to place the student in the preferred concentration area. If in the event there are unequal requests for a concentration area, the director will use provided background information from the application process as well as a discussion with the interns to decide the best placement for interns such that there are equal number of students in each concentration area for the program year.

Pediatrics Concentration - Those enrolled in the Pediatrics Concentration will complete the majority of their core hours in pediatric acute care and pediatric care staff relief. The interns completing the Pediatrics Concentration will be able to:

• Demonstrate thorough nutritional assessment of infants, children and adolescents with a variety of chronic diseases, growth faltering and malnutrition, micronutrient deficiencies, pediatric overweight and obesity, critically ill neonates and critically ill infants and children through independent assessment, case studies and presentations.
• Develop effective strategies for monitoring and evaluating problems, etiologies, signs, symptoms and the impact of interventions on the nutrition diagnosis of infants, children and adolescents with a variety of chronic diseases, growth faltering and malnutrition, micronutrient deficiencies, pediatric overweight and obesity, critically ill neonates and critically ill infants and children.

Adult Acute Care Concentration - Those enrolled in the Adult Acute Care Concentration will complete the majority of their core hours in adult acute care and adult acute care staff relief. The interns completing the Adult Acute Care Concentration will be able to:

• Demonstrate thorough nutritional assessment of adults undergoing solid organ and/or bone marrow transplantation and acutely ill adults in advanced critical care areas including burn and neurosurgical intensive care.
• Develop effective strategies for monitoring and evaluating problems, etiologies, signs, symptoms and the impact of interventions on the nutrition diagnosis of adults undergoing solid organ and/or bone marrow transplantation and acutely ill adults in advanced critical care areas including burn and neurosurgical intensive care.

All interns, regardless of concentration, will complete all required rotations with a minimum total supervised practice time of 1266 hours. This includes 832 hours in clinical care covering the required areas of general medicine, gastroenterology, renal, oncology, weight management, diabetes, outpatient, critical care and staff relief. Additional 1-3 week rotations include Research, Long-Term Care, Food Service, Community Nutrition, Wellness, Home Care and two elective rotations to explore additional specialties and areas within the field of nutrition.

LEND Program

The dietetic internship (DI) program offers an opportunity to collaborate with the Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND) Program at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. After acceptance to the DI program, dietetic interns may apply to be a LEND trainee during their dietetic internship year while participating in the part-time DI track. The LEND training program emphasizes interdisciplinary training and communication among professions who care for individuals with disabilities, facilitating understanding of various disciplines’ processes and objectives, including nutrition and dietetics. Monthly stipends from federal grants are provided to program participants as they complete their training year.

LEND Nutrition Trainees will:

• Complete at least 300 hours in the training program by attending program didactics and practicum from August to May. Coursework covers a variety of topics including leadership, consultation, and interdisciplinary teamwork skills; essential concepts in systems change, and the evaluation and treatment of autism and developmental disabilities. Clinical rotations focus on children with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities, including autism. A portion of these hours will include supervised practice hours already scheduled within the DI program.
• Complete and share a scholarly project related to their career goals, incorporated into the DI case presentation project

Dietetic Internship Program goals and outcome measures

The dietetic internship at Children's Colorado, staff, preceptors, administrators and all committee members are committed to the success of our interns. This commitment drives the development of intern-centered goals, aiming for the development of excellent dietetics practitioners. To accomplish this, the dietetic internship has established the following program goals and outcome measures. The outcome measure data are collected and monitored to ensure the program continues to meet its goals.

Program Goal 1: Program graduates will be able to function competently in many facets of dietetics.

• Objective 1.1 - At least 80% of program graduates take the CDR credentialing exam for dietetic nutritionists within 12 months of program completion.
• Objective 1.2 - 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 nutritionist is at least 80%.
• Objective 1.3 - Of graduates who seek employment, 80% are employed in nutrition and dietetics or related fields within 12 months of graduation.
• Objective 1.4 - Eighty percent of employers who hire graduates will rate them as “Very Prepared” for their position when compared to others seeking the same or similar entry-level position.
• Objective 1.5 - Full-time track: at least 80% of program graduates complete program requirements within 15 months (150% of planned program length).
• Objective 1.6 - Part-time track: At least 80% of interns complete program requirements within 22.3 months (150% of planned program length).

Program Goal 2: Program graduates will be future leaders in the profession and be capable of providing a high level of clinical care, evidence-based nutrition education, and nutrition-related research for children and adults.

• Objective 2.1 - Sixty-five percent of program graduates who seek employment will obtain a position in pediatric or adult acute care dietetics, nutrition education, or nutrition research within one year of completing the program.
• Objective 2.2 -  Fifty percent of program graduates will demonstrate leadership in the field of nutrition by participating in research, process or quality improvement, creating or updating RDN competencies or policies for their area of work, and/or leading a discussion, rounds, or class on a nutrition-related topic for a group of peers.

Program outcomes data are available upon request. Please send requests to the Dietetic Internship Director, Children's Colorado at dieteticinternship@childrenscolorado.org

Tuition and fees

Tuition for the program is $11,000, of which half is due upon acceptance to the program and the other half due by week 21 of the program. The following table is a summary of additional fees associated with the program.

Required tuition and fees

Required Tuition and Fees	Amount	Due Date
Application fee	$65	Application Due Date
Tuition	$11,000 (2022-2023)	1st half due by May 1 of the year of program start; 2nd half due by week 21 of the program
Health Insurance	$0-500	Must show proof of health insurance active during internship; may be covered under parent's plan until age 26; suggest short-term health insurance (www.ehealthinsurance.com) if unable to be covered elsewhere
Professional Liability Insurance	$20-35	Required to carry professional liability insurance during the internship. Suggested companies: www.hpso.com or www.proliability.com the latter offers discount with Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics membership
BLS Certification	$15-85	Basic Life Support certification required for certain rotations
Background check	$0-75	Required to have completed a background check within the last 7 years
Drug screen	$75	Must be completed prior to start of internship for onboarding

The following are estimated costs that may be incurred during the program:

	Amount	Notes
Housing	$7,250 -14,500	Range based on estimate for double occupancy to single occupancy. Rent in Aurora and Denver varies greatly based on the area.
Food/Gas/etc.	$5,500-6,900	Most rotations are on the Anschutz Medical Campus (AMC), living on or near AMC will significantly cut costs.
Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Student Membership	$58	Not required, but strongly encouraged.
Laptop	$0-1000	A personal laptop is not required, but will make some of the remote and offsite rotations and assignments more accessible. Interns have access to designated desktops on the CHCO campus, and may borrow department laptops pending availability.
Books/Supplies	$0-500	It is not required to purchase books or journal memberships but it may be encouraged. The program makes every effort to make these available for intern use but in some cases interns may wish to purchase their own.

Total estimated costs for the Dietetic Internship Program: $23,525 - $33,320

Financial aid and loan deferment

Scholarship: The Children’s Hospital Colorado Dietetic Internship Program values diversity and opportunities to increase access to careers in nutrition and dietetics. The Children's Dietetic Internship will be offering 1-2 need-based scholarships for the upcoming year, ranging from $2500-$5000. The scholarship application is submitted as a supplemental section as part of the completed DICAS application. Completed scholarship applications and DICAS applications are due by Jan. 15, 2025. Applicants will be notified of scholarship selection by March 1, 2025. Scholarship applicants must:

• Be competitive applicants to the Children's Dietetic Internship and meet all applicant criteria
• Demonstrate need for financial assistance (i.e. previous recipient of Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, Federal Work-study, caring for dependents, etc).
• Submit a scholarship statement discussing your financial need and how this scholarship will allow you to pursue your career goals.
• Complete application by deadline. Incomplete or late applications will not be considered. Please do not submit additional materials beyond what is required on the application.

Additional Tuition Assistance: Employees of UC Health who work an average of 20 hours or more per week may be eligible for tuition reimbursement through the UCHealth Ascend Career Program for the dietetic internship (part-time track eligible). Students who are seeking financial assistance should also investigate the deferment options with educational loans they currently hold and may consider applying for a scholarship through the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Finally, some students seek personal loans for covering the costs of the internship.

Schedule

Interns meet as a group for class most Monday mornings, and have Monday afternoons off for personal work time or meetings.

Full-time track: The dietetic internship program runs for 43 weeks, which includes 39 weeks of internship time and 4 weeks of scheduled vacation (Thanksgiving week, Winter Break (2 weeks), Spring Break). Interns also receive 5 floating days of personal leave (i.e. illness), and we observe all Children’s Hospital holidays. The 2025 year will begin on Monday, Aug. 4, 2025 and end Friday, May 29, 2026.

Part-time track: The dietetic internship program runs for 64 weeks, which includes 62 weeks of internship time and 2 weeks of scheduled vacation (Thanksgiving week, Winter Break). Interns also receive 5 floating days of personal leave (i.e. illness) and we observe all Children’s Hospital holidays. The 2025 year will begin on Monday, Aug.4, 2025 and Oct. 23, 2026.

Program completion and verification

Upon the conclusion of the program, each intern who has successfully fulfilled all 2022 ACEND core competencies through all rotations and projects and completed their graduate degree (for those in the part-time intern-identified graduate degree option) will be provided a Verification Statement, acknowledging their completion of the Dietetic Internship program. In addition, intern name will be provided to the Commission on Dietetic Registration indicating eligibility to sit for the Registration Examination for Dietitians. The RD exam requirements are set by the Commission on Dietetic Registration. While state interpretations of statutes may vary, it is ACEND's considered opinion that the program meets the educational requirements for dietetics licensure and certification in all states. However, completing an ACEND-accredited academic program alone does not qualify an individual for licensure or certification as a dietitian in any state. Individuals should review their state's licensing statutes and regulations to understand the specific requirements, including supervised practice and examinations, needed to obtain a dietetics license. More information about state licensure and certification can be found at the Commission on Dietetic Registration website.

CDR's Master's Degree Requirement

Effective Jan. 1, 2024, the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) will require a minimum of a master’s degree to be eligible to take the credentialing exam to become a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN). For more information about this requirement visit CDR's website. In addition, CDR requires that individuals complete coursework and supervised practice in program(s) accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND). Graduates who successfully complete the ACEND-accredited Dietetic Internship program at Children’s Hospital Colorado are eligible to apply to take the CDR credentialing exam to become an RDN.

Full-time track: Children’s Hospital Colorado requires completion of a master’s degree prior to beginning the dietetic internship. Applications of students currently working on their master’s with plans to finish prior to the beginning of the internship will be considered.

Part-time track: Children’s Hospital Colorado requires that part-time interns must either be enrolled in or have completed a master’s degree program. For those with a master’s degree in progress, it is required there be no more than 18 credits remaining by the beginning of the dietetic internship, and a plan must be submitted outlining completion of the master’s degree by the end of the dietetic internship. A graduate degree is required for DI program completion.

In most states, graduates also must obtain licensure or certification to practice. Learn more about state licensure requirements here.

Learn more about educational pathways to become a RDN here.

Application information

Applications will be accepted from candidates who expect to have successfully completed a Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) through an accredited program as determined by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) and a master's degree before the internship start date (full- time or part-time track), or have a DPD verification statement and a master’s degree in progress with plan to finish by the end of the dietetic internship (part-time track only), and have a minimum total GPA of 3.0. Our application does not require the GRE test score. The CHCO Dietetic Internship Program is currently unable to sponsor visas for international applicants.

Applications are submitted through DICAS, and the application due date is Jan. 15th.

Within the DICAS application system, please include your personal statement, cover letter, short-answer responses and letters of reference. We do not have specific guidelines for the personal statement, nor do we have guidelines for whom to obtain your letters of reference from. Please use your judgment for both.

Interns will be notified of application status no later than March 1, 2025. Per ACEND guidelines, accepted applicants must notify the DI program of their attendance decision by March 15, 2025.

For any questions regarding this process please feel free to email or call the internship director at dieteticinternship@childrenscolorado.org or 720-777-0928.

Application Fee:
A $65 application fee may be paid online or by check/money order and sent to:

Children's Hospital Colorado, Department of Clinical Nutrition
13123 E 16th Avenue, B270
Aurora, CO 80045

It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that the application fee is sent and received by the program by the application deadline in the year for which they are applying.

For more information, please contact the Dietetic Internship Director by email: dieteticinternship@childrenscolorado.org or by phone: 720-777-0928
ACEND is a specialized accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of Education.

ACEND can be reached at:
120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2190
Chicago, IL 60606-6995
800-877-1600, ext. 5400
ACEND@eatright.org

Open house

We are hosting two open houses, Monday, Nov, 4 at 12 p.m. MST (virtual only) and Monday Dec. 2 at 11 a.m. MST (virtual and in-person). The in-person open house will be held at Children's Hospital Colorado on Anschutz Medical Campus in Mt. Harvard, 2nd floor conference center and will include a brief site tour following the Q&A. A virtual link will be available for those wishing to attend remotely for the first part of the program. Please register for open houses here.

Dietetic Internship Handbook

Available upon request