Dietetic Internship
I was accepted to the Dietetic Internship Program at the University of Maryland College Park. The program started in September 2003 and will finish in June of 2004. Upon successful completion of the internship program, I will be eligible to take the test to become a Registered Dietitian. Below you will find information for the various rotations that I have completed. Samples of projects and links to facilities are provided where applicable. I will continue to update this page as rotations are completed.
The first six weeks of my Food Service Rotation were spent at Riderwood Village in Silver Spring, MD. This was a paired rotation and we were responsible for planning a theme meal for the residents. We chose a theme with some historical significance, Great Tastes from Great Faces. This was a lunch buffet featuring the favorite foods of the Presidents featured on Mount Rushmore. The meal was a great success.
The next three weeks of the Food Service Rotation were spent with the University of Maryland's Dining Services Department. My partner and I developed a Passover Menu for Hillel and also created four products (salads and sandwiches) for the University to sell at their various cash operations.
My Clinical Rotation was spent at Anne Arundel Medical Center. This is a 248 bed tertiary care hospital in Annapolis, MD. I spent seven weeks rotating through different Medical/Surgical floors. During this rotation I experienced different patient populations and provided diet education including Cardiac, Renal, Diabetic, HIV/AIDS and Cancer. I presented two case studies to the Nutrition Staff during this rotation.
My next two weeks were spent in the CCU at Johns Hopkins Hospital, in Baltimore, MD. I saw patients with various Cardiovascular Diseases/Conditions and provided patient education for Cardiac, Diabetic and Renal diets. During this rotation I was given the opportunity to present a case study to the Nutrition Department.
Weeks 10 and 11 of the Clinical Rotation were spent at Children's National Medical Center in Washington, DC. In this rotation I assisted in developing an IBD Stage II diet for the inpatient population. I rotated through various inpatient and outpatient settings including Gastrointestinal, HIV/AIDS, and Metabolic Inborn Errors. A majority of the experience at this facility was learning nutritional assessment of pediatric patients.
I returned to Anne Arundel Medical Center for weeks 12 and 13 of the Clinical Rotation for Clinical Staff Relief. I covered a 27 bed inpatient Oncology unit during this two weeks and presented my Major Case Study during the final week of the rotation.
My Community Nutrition experience was gained in the following facilities:
Renal Outpatient - One week at Good Samaritan Hospital's Renal Outpatient Center. This dialysis center has 3 units with 24, 15 and 15 beds respectively. They operate on 3 shifts with apporximately 160 hemodialysis patients. Peritoneal patients are also seen at this facility on a monthly or as needed basis.
Diabetes Outpatient - One week at Harbor Hospital's Diabetes and Endocrine Outpatient Center. I observed and participated in client counseling sessions. Many of the clients seen in this facility have gestational diabetes. I modified an existing Food Guide Pyramid to include a gestational meal pattern and serving size suggestions for a Korean client.
Long Term Care - 64 practice hours at Franklin Woods Center. (This is a Genesis Eldercare Facility). One half of this facility is Long Term Care and the other half is Sub Acute/Rehab. I performed nutritional assessments, completed MDS forms, charted, attended wound rounds and made nutrition recommendations for both patient populations. During my two weeks here I developed a presentation for National Nutrition Month® and created handouts (The ABC's, Fad Diets) for the facility staff. Lunch was provided by the Nutrition Department and included salad and fresh fruit.
School Lunch - One week at Anne Arundel County Public Schools with the Food and Nutrition Services Department. Assisted with the Tootie Fruity Veggie Wedgie presentation at Glendale Elementary School in Glen Burnie,MD. Approximately 80 third graders attended the presentation. The children had the opportunity to visit different display booths, participate in activities and sample various fruits and vegetables. There was also a surprise visit by Snappy the School Meals Mascot.
HIV/AIDS - I had the opportunity to do a rotation with Food and Friends in Washington, DC. Food and Friends is a remarkable organization that provides home delivered meals and groceries to people living with HIV/AIDS and other life challenging illnesses in the Washington DC metropolitan area. I had worked with HIV/AIDS patients during previous rotations but until I walked in to Food and Friends and saw the area map and the number of meals they prepare each day, I really didn't appreciate the prevalence of this disease in the DC metro area. During this rotation I had the opportunity to help package meals, drive a route/deliver meals, perform first day deliveries and conduct nutrition assessments both in person and by phone. My partner and I also developed a nutrition education article which will appear in a future addition of the Food and Friends Newsletter "A La Carte". To learn more about the services this organization provides please visit their webpage. Volunteers play a big role in the success of this organizaiton. A few hours of your time DOES make a difference.
Area Agency on Aging - Prince George's County- One week spent observing the congregate and home delivered meal programs for Prince George's County. On our final day, my partner and I did a Nutrition Education presentation on Label Reading at one of the congregate meal locations (Council House in Marlow Heights, Maryland).
The next three weeks of the Food Service Rotation were spent with the University of Maryland's Dining Services Department. My partner and I developed a Passover Menu for Hillel and also created four products (salads and sandwiches) for the University to sell at their various cash operations.
My Clinical Rotation was spent at Anne Arundel Medical Center. This is a 248 bed tertiary care hospital in Annapolis, MD. I spent seven weeks rotating through different Medical/Surgical floors. During this rotation I experienced different patient populations and provided diet education including Cardiac, Renal, Diabetic, HIV/AIDS and Cancer. I presented two case studies to the Nutrition Staff during this rotation.
My next two weeks were spent in the CCU at Johns Hopkins Hospital, in Baltimore, MD. I saw patients with various Cardiovascular Diseases/Conditions and provided patient education for Cardiac, Diabetic and Renal diets. During this rotation I was given the opportunity to present a case study to the Nutrition Department.
Weeks 10 and 11 of the Clinical Rotation were spent at Children's National Medical Center in Washington, DC. In this rotation I assisted in developing an IBD Stage II diet for the inpatient population. I rotated through various inpatient and outpatient settings including Gastrointestinal, HIV/AIDS, and Metabolic Inborn Errors. A majority of the experience at this facility was learning nutritional assessment of pediatric patients.
I returned to Anne Arundel Medical Center for weeks 12 and 13 of the Clinical Rotation for Clinical Staff Relief. I covered a 27 bed inpatient Oncology unit during this two weeks and presented my Major Case Study during the final week of the rotation.
My Community Nutrition experience was gained in the following facilities:
Renal Outpatient - One week at Good Samaritan Hospital's Renal Outpatient Center. This dialysis center has 3 units with 24, 15 and 15 beds respectively. They operate on 3 shifts with apporximately 160 hemodialysis patients. Peritoneal patients are also seen at this facility on a monthly or as needed basis.
Diabetes Outpatient - One week at Harbor Hospital's Diabetes and Endocrine Outpatient Center. I observed and participated in client counseling sessions. Many of the clients seen in this facility have gestational diabetes. I modified an existing Food Guide Pyramid to include a gestational meal pattern and serving size suggestions for a Korean client.
Long Term Care - 64 practice hours at Franklin Woods Center. (This is a Genesis Eldercare Facility). One half of this facility is Long Term Care and the other half is Sub Acute/Rehab. I performed nutritional assessments, completed MDS forms, charted, attended wound rounds and made nutrition recommendations for both patient populations. During my two weeks here I developed a presentation for National Nutrition Month® and created handouts (The ABC's, Fad Diets) for the facility staff. Lunch was provided by the Nutrition Department and included salad and fresh fruit.
School Lunch - One week at Anne Arundel County Public Schools with the Food and Nutrition Services Department. Assisted with the Tootie Fruity Veggie Wedgie presentation at Glendale Elementary School in Glen Burnie,MD. Approximately 80 third graders attended the presentation. The children had the opportunity to visit different display booths, participate in activities and sample various fruits and vegetables. There was also a surprise visit by Snappy the School Meals Mascot.
HIV/AIDS - I had the opportunity to do a rotation with Food and Friends in Washington, DC. Food and Friends is a remarkable organization that provides home delivered meals and groceries to people living with HIV/AIDS and other life challenging illnesses in the Washington DC metropolitan area. I had worked with HIV/AIDS patients during previous rotations but until I walked in to Food and Friends and saw the area map and the number of meals they prepare each day, I really didn't appreciate the prevalence of this disease in the DC metro area. During this rotation I had the opportunity to help package meals, drive a route/deliver meals, perform first day deliveries and conduct nutrition assessments both in person and by phone. My partner and I also developed a nutrition education article which will appear in a future addition of the Food and Friends Newsletter "A La Carte". To learn more about the services this organization provides please visit their webpage. Volunteers play a big role in the success of this organizaiton. A few hours of your time DOES make a difference.
Area Agency on Aging - Prince George's County- One week spent observing the congregate and home delivered meal programs for Prince George's County. On our final day, my partner and I did a Nutrition Education presentation on Label Reading at one of the congregate meal locations (Council House in Marlow Heights, Maryland).
Information Technology Rotation
This rotation provided the IT component of the internship. I worked with the staff of the Child Care Nutrition Resource System to update a bibliographic resource list and add materials to their website. I also worked with the Reference Division at the National Agricultural Library, and developed an Access database to help them organize their Resource Directories. The final component of this rotation was to perform the duties of an Information Specialist by covering four reference shifts at the Food and Nutrition Information Center. This proved to be an interesting experience. This powerpoint presentation provides an overview of the IT rotation.
This website was also a requirement of the internship. Interns attended html coding classes and were required to build websites. This website will serve as my professional portfolio.
This rotation provided the IT component of the internship. I worked with the staff of the Child Care Nutrition Resource System to update a bibliographic resource list and add materials to their website. I also worked with the Reference Division at the National Agricultural Library, and developed an Access database to help them organize their Resource Directories. The final component of this rotation was to perform the duties of an Information Specialist by covering four reference shifts at the Food and Nutrition Information Center. This proved to be an interesting experience. This powerpoint presentation provides an overview of the IT rotation.
This website was also a requirement of the internship. Interns attended html coding classes and were required to build websites. This website will serve as my professional portfolio.
"Love is a fruit in season at all times, and within the reach of every hand."
-Mother Teresa
