First class of Dietetic Interns graduate

07/18/2011 11:38 AM

The first students in Bradley University’s post-baccalaureate Dietetic Internship program graduated July 16 in the Michel Student Center ballroom on campus.

Each of the 10 dietetic interns has an undergraduate degree in food, nutrition, dietetics or a related field. Completion of the post-baccalaureate internship qualifies them to take the Registered Dietician exam, a national standardized test administered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration, the credentialing agency for the American Dietetic Association.

Since enrolling in the new highly competitive program last August, students have engaged in research and learning opportunities in the classroom and the community with supervised practice in clinical, community, food service and wellness settings. Bradley’s internship program offers applied professional and supervised experiences with an emphasis in wellness. Students also completed 13 hours of graduate course work.

“We designed Bradley’s Dietetic Internship Program in response to the nationwide shortage of registered dietitians and internship programs,” said Dr. Joan Sattler, dean of the College of Education and Health Sciences. “With the broad range of practical experiences focusing on wellness, our graduates will have the experiences to step into dietetic positions in various industries that are focusing on client and employee health and wellness.”

Bradley launched the Dietetics Internship program in 2010. The second class of 10 students began in August. The program has received Candidacy for Accreditation status from the Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education.