The mission of the Dietetic Internship (DI) at the University of Tennessee at Martin is to prepare interns for the registration examination and competent entry-level practice delivering nutrition therapy in hospitals and community based nutrition programs in order to promote a better quality of life for individuals, families, and communities.
Lori Littleton, M.S., R.D.
Assistant Professor and Director, Dietetic Internship Program
University of Tennessee, Martin
340 Gooch Hall
Martin, TN 38238
731.881.7107
loril@utm.edu
The Dietetic Internship Program at the University of Tennessee, Martin has been placed on probationary status by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND).
Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND)
Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND)
120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2000
Chicago, IL 60606-6995
312.899.0040 ext.5400
www.eatright.org/acend
For questions on the probationary status, please contact the DI Director.
The University of TN Dietetic Internship Program reserves the right to revise its curriculum policies or fees in response to changing conditions.
The Dietetic Internship (DI) is a post-baccalaureate program currently place on probationary status by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND). Interns receive 1200 hours of supervised practice in clinical nutrition, food systems management and community nutrition with a concentration in nutrition therapy.
Goals –
To prepare entry level dietitians in core competency areas with a specialization in nutrition therapy as a route to eligibility for credentialing.
- Over a five-year period, 80% of first-time test takers will pass the registration examination.
- At least 90% of all interns will complete the internship program requirements within 1.5 years.
- Over a five-year period, at least 70% of interns who successfully complete the internship and seek employment in dietetics will be employed within three months of program completion.
- In preceptor evaluations of core and nutrition therapy competencies, intern performance will be at or above average.
To provide a supply of competent entry level dietitians to meet the needs of the West Tennessee region and beyond.
- At least 50% of interns who successfully complete internship requirements will be employed in dietetics related professions in the West Tennessee area.
- At least 75% of surveyed respondents who successfully completed the internship program will rank UT Martin as preparing them adequately for entry level dietetics related practice.
- At least 75% of surveyed employer respondents will rank UT Martin as adequately preparing interns for entry level dietetics related practice.
- At least 75% of surveyed preceptor respondents will rank UT Martin's interns as entering the internship with average or above average prerequisite knowledge and skills.
- Rotation experiences are offered at various healthcare facilities in Middle and West Tennessee, Western Kentucky, and Northwest Mississippi. Community rotations are offered in these areas also.
- Learning experiences are scheduled 5 days per week and include some weekends, early morning and late evenings. The various times will depend on the specific rotation and the preceptor schedule.
- Computer, printer, and internet access are required to complete projects and assignments throughout the internship.
2012 - 2013 Program Calendar
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8/20/2012 –
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Program Start Date
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9/3/2012 –
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Labor Day - No Rotations
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11/22 - 11/25/2012 –
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Thanksgiving Break
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12/15/2012 - 1/6/2013 –
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Christmas Break
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3/29/2013 –
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Good Friday - No Rotations
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5/9/2013 –
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Program Completion
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Lori Littleton has been a registered dietitian for several years. She has an undergraduate degree in Home Economics with a dietetics concentration from the University of TN, Martin and a Masters degree in Family and Consumer Sciences with a dietetics concentration also from the University of TN Martin.
For 11 years she has been the Director of the University of Tennessee Dietetic Internship Program and an assistant professor in Nutrition, Food Science, and Food Systems Management. In addition to her responsibilities at UT Martin she is also a member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND) and she has held various positions with the West Tennessee Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (WTAND).
The Dietetic Internship Program at the University of Tennessee, Martin welcomes you and encourages you to submit an application.
If you have questions, please call 731-881-7107 or email loril@utm.edu. We look forward to receiving your application.
- A baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university must be completed prior to the start of the internship program.
- Official transcript verifying the degree was conferred
- Minimum of 3.00 GPA on a 4.00 scale or equivalent.
- Verification statement showing completion of or intent to complete an approved didactic program in dietetics (DPD) from a regionally accredited college or university.
- Recency of education in courses related to practice; if the degree is over five years old, six credit hours of college course work must be taken. If degree is over 10 years old, 12 credit hours of course work is required.
- Preference will be given to applicants whose combined verbal and quantitative GRE scores equal or exceed 900 (exam taken prior to August 1, 2011), applicants with GRE taken after August 1, 2011, will have their scores converted on the ETS GRE concordance table to prior scale.
- Strong preference will be given to students with strong dietetic-related work experience, volunteer experience, extracurricular and leadership activities.
- Additional requirements include student membership to the American Dietetic Association and computer access, including access to Microsoft® Word, email, and the Internet.
- A phone interview may be required.
- The Dietetic Internship Program at the University of Tennessee, Martin uses the DEP internship application. The application and the letter of reference form can be found at www.depdpg.org
- Ten interns are selected to complete the internship program that typically runs from August to May.
- Applications are reviewed by a selection committee which includes the internship director, other department faculty, preceptors, and current interns.
- Any special accommodations can be discussed with the internship program director but will not be considered in the selection process.
- Appointments are awarded without regard to race, sex, religion, color, national or ethnic origin, age, disability, military service, or genetic information. Marital status, age, and geographic area of the applicant are not considered.
The process for selecting precepting facilities to mentor/educate/work with the UT Martin dietetic interns involves several components. The precepting facilities used for the internship are Joint Commission accredited and the dietitians are capable of training and teaching the interns. An attempt is made to place interns in a geographical location near their home or where they plan to live during the internship as possible. Even though this attempt is made sometimes it is not possible to find preceptors willing to work with the dietetic interns, for various reasons, to include: short-handed/dietitians on sick leave, unwilling to donate the time and effort needed, unable to get an affiliation agreement between the university and the facility finalized. This contract finalization can be a lengthy process (4-6 weeks), so even if the facility is willing the legal issues involved with the contract can engulf more time than available. When the DI director knows the preceptors and the intern, every attempt is made for placement where personalities are suited for each other. The director is not always able to do this, for instance, when neither the preceptor or the intern are personally known by the director. Prospective interns are told prior to match day that they may be required to relocate in the event that I cannot secure a placement in their geographical location. Once facilities are in place for precepting a dietetic intern, I gain feedback from the intern regarding the learning experience, the professionalism of the faculty at the precepting facility, and any problems that might arise during the rotations. If the need is warranted to remove the intern from a facility, either on behalf of the intern or the facility, the director will seek additional preceptors and bring the intern to a new location.
- Graduate school application fee $30.00
- D&D Digital Computer Matching Fee $50.00
- Housing/food/transportation $1000-$1100 month (varies with location and if sharing housing)
- Liability Insurance $32.00
- Health Insurance $300-$500 month (varies)
- The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics student membership $50.00
- Books and Supplies $200-$300 (varies)
- Professional Meetings (TAND and WTAND) $200.00
- TB Skin Test $7.00 approx.
- Hept B 3 shot series $115.00 approx.
- Background check $58.00 approx.
- Drug screen $30.00-$50.00 varies on lab used
- Successful completion of a minimum 1200 hours of supervised practice provided through various practice courses (Pre Professional Practice I, II, III, V, and VI) and 200 hours of didactic instruction/research.
- Successful completion of all course with a 80% or better on the evaluations
- Average (80%) or better scores on examinations
- Average (80%) or better score on the Graduate Research Presentation Project (GRP). The GRP can be library research, action research for improvement of practice in one of the rotation sites, or development of patient education literature.
- Successful presentation of material at one of the WTAND meetings or the UT Martin Nutrition Symposium. The presentation will emphasize creative and visual quality for effectiveness and increased audience participation.
- Average or better score on non-thesis graduate research poster session and abstract, national nutrition month display, and other assignments in syllabi.
- Interns are expected to comply with the Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice of The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
Upon successful completion of the UT Martin dietetic internship, the intern will receive a verification statement issued by ACEND which enables them to establish eligibility to take the national registration examination for dietitians. Once the former intern has passed the registration examination for dietitians administered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) he/she will be a Registered Dietitian. The individual will also be eligible for Licensure in the state of Tennessee. Many states require licensure before being able to practice as a Registered Dietitian.
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