About the Baptist Health System Dietetic Internship Program

Kevin Haubrick MS, RD, LD Dietetic Internship Director

The Baptist Health System Dietetic Internship program is a post-baccalaureate, supervised practice experience that allows successful participants to be eligible to take the examination for Registered Dietitians upon completion.

The length of the program is 39 weeks total, with 4 weeks time off for vacations/personal days. The total hours of the program are 1188 supervised practice hours. Dietetic Interns must also attend the required didactic class portion of this internship.

Supervised practice clinical and management/leadership rotations will take place within the Baptist Health System hospitals. Supervised practice community rotations will take place in various sites in the San Antonio Community. 

Mission Statements

The mission of the Baptist Health System is:
To provide the highest quality in healthcare delivery, education, and community service through a dedicated team of healthcare professionals working together in a compassionate Christian environment.

The mission of the Baptist Health System Dietetic Internship is:
To provide a high quality dietetics practice program that prepares competent, professional, entry-level dietitians dedicated to the Christian mission of providing quality nutrition services to all persons seeking care.

Goals, Outcome Statements, and Target Measures
1). The BHS Dietetic Internship program will prepare graduates to be competent entry-level dietitians.

1. Over a 5-year period, the pass rate on the Registration Examination for Dietitians will be 80% for first-time test takers.
2. Over a 5-year period, 70% or more of graduates who sought employment in dietetics will be employed within 3 months of program completion.
3. On the employer survey for the question "Quality of Work”, 100% of the respondents will rate the graduate as a 4 or 5.
4. On the intern end of year evaluation, 100% of the interns will rate their level of competency to work in entry level practice as a 4.

2). The BHS Dietetic Internship program will provide a supply of well trained professionals to meet the employment needs of this and the surrounding area.

1. 90% of the interns will complete all program requirements within one year of the start date (or within 133% of the time planned for completion).
2. 40% of the graduates of the program will obtain positions in the field of dietetics in the state of Texas within one year of successfully passing the RD examination.
3. Over a five year period, 10% of graduating interns will be potentially recruited by the Baptist Health System.

3). The BHS Dietetic Internship program will prepare graduates for life-long learning and advancement in dietetics through professional activities and development.

1. 100% of the interns will be student members of the American Dietetic Association.
2. Each intern will attend a minimum of four (4) local dietetic association meetings/CEU opportunities each year.
3. Within 5 years of completing the program, 50% of the graduates will have completed a graduate degree and/or specialty certification.
4. Within 5 years of completing the program, 20% of the graduates will have held or currently holding a leadership role in a professional, community, or civic organization.

The Credentialing Process

Registered Dietitians (RDs) are food and nutrition experts who have met the following criteria to earn the RD credential:

1. Complete a minimum of a bachelor’s degree at a U.S. regionally accredited university or college and course work approved the Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education (CADE) of the American Dietetic Association (ADA).
2. Complete a CADE-accredited supervised practice program at a healthcare facility, community agency, or a foodservice corporation, or combined with undergraduate or graduate students. The Baptist Health System Dietetic Internship provides this required supervised practice component.
3. Pass a national examination administered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR).
4. Complete continuing professional educational requirements to maintain registration.
5. In the state of Texas, once an individual obtains the Registered Dietitian credential they can apply for state licensure .

Program Associated Costs

The following are estimated costs of the Internship program.

Tuition	$5,500.00 (Payable cashier's check, money order, or Visa/Mastercard)
Travel ($30.00 x 39 weeks)	$1170.00
Housing (one bedroom apt)	$500.00 to $600.00/month
Food ($50.00/week)	$1950.00
Books	$100.00
Professional liability insurance	$30.00 to $40.00/year
ADA student membership	$49.00
SADA student membership	$15.00
Library fee (not required)	$120.00
ServSafe class/examination	$75.00
Lab coats (2)	$60.00
Immunizations	Variable cost dependent on what immunizations interns have up to date

Interns of the Baptist Health System are not eligible to receive financial aid. Student loans may be deferred for the duration of the internship. Interns are encouraged to apply for scholarship opportunities from their local and state dietetic associations as well as the American Dietetic Association.  

Accreditation Status

The Baptist Health System Dietetic Internship Program has Candidacy for Accreditation Status by the Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education .

Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education
A part of the American Dietetic Association
120 Riverside Plaza Suite 2000
Chicago, IL 60606-6995
800.877.1600 ext. 5400
312.899.0400
fax: 312.899.4817
cade@eatright.org

Admission Requirements/Application Process/Post Acceptance Requirements

To be eligible for admission into the BHS Dietetic Internship program, candidates must meet the following criteria:

1. Bachelor’s degree from a regionally-accredited college or university.
2. Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
3. Official transcripts of all college and/or university course work with final degree posted (if accepted into the program prior to completion of a bachelor’s degree, the candidate must provide the official transcript copy with final degree posted prior to entering the internship).
4. An original verification statement from a Commission on Accreditation approved/accredited Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) if you are a graduate or an Intent to Complete Form if you have yet to graduate.
5. A minimum GRE score of 800 on combined verbal and quantitative portions of the exam.
6. Students whose DPD verification statements are 5 years or older are required to complete a minimum of 2 academic refresher courses prior to potential admission to the program. Courses may be taken at the undergraduate or graduate level from any accredited college or university (must provide an official transcript(s) to verify the completion of these classes). Due to the clinical intensity of this program, one course must be a general nutrition course and the other must be a diet therapy/clinical nutrition course.

The application requirements into the BHS Dietetic Internship are:

1. Completion of the Standard Dietetic Educators of Practitioners (DEP) application to dietetic internship form
2. 3 letters of recommendation using the Standard Dietetic Educators of Practitioners (DEP) recommendation form (recommender’s signature must be on the seal of the envelope; 1 letter must be from a Food and Nutrition faculty member, 1 letter must be from an additional academic faculty member, and 1 letter must be from an employer from a paid or voluntary work experience).
3. Personal letter of interest addressing why the candidate chose the field of dietetics and BHS Dietetic Internship program. The letter must be handwritten, not more than 2 pages in length, single-spaced, 1” margins.
4. A phone interview of final candidates with the selection committee and Dietetic Internship Director.
5. Official College Transcripts
6. An original verification statement from a Commission on Accreditation approved/accredited Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) if you are a graduate or an Intent to Complete Form if you have yet to graduate.
7. Application fee of $40.00 made payable to the Baptist Health System.
8. All materials must be postmarked by February 15th.
9. The application materials and checklist should be assembled and mailed in one package by the February 15th deadline to:
         Kevin Haubrick MS, RD, LD
         Dietetic Internship Director
         Baptist Medical Center
         111 Dallas Street
         San Antonio, TX 78205-1230
         Phone: 210-297-7649

    10. Complete the required computer matching process by the required deadline.

 

Post Acceptance Requirements:

1. BHS new employee orientation
2. Proof of negative TB skin testing (1 –2 depending on when the last one was completed)
3. Negative drug screening urinalysis
4. Criminal background check
5. Proof of current immunizations (proof of tetanus within the past 10 years or signed declination form and vaccines or titers to Measles, Mumps, and Rubella. If the interns do not have either, they need to have lab work drawn)
6. Proof of health insurance
7. Proof of student liability insurance

Academic/Program calendar

The Baptist Health System Dietetic Internship is 39 weeks in total length and provides 1188 hours of supervised practice. Within the 39 weeks, there are 4 weeks of vacation/personal days (2 days at Thanksgiving, 3 personal days, 2 weeks at Christmas/New Year’s, and 1 week for Spring Break). The program has been designed to include one week of general orientation, one week of general clinical orientation, 18 weeks of clinical, 5 weeks of community, 6 weeks of management/leadership, 4 weeks of a culminating staff experience, and one week of wrap up items for the internship. Learn more about the Baptist Health System Dietetic Internship program composition and view the student rotation cycle.

 

Graduation/Program completion requirements

• All assignments from rotations and rotation hours must be successfully completed within the 133% of allotted time.
• Submission and passing of the Portfolio project
• Both Case studies must be successfully completed.
• 75% final post test examination score on the practice RD test
• Exit Interview
• ServSafe certificate (or other equivalent sanitation certificate approved by the Dietetic Internship Director)
   

Computer Matching Information

Computer matching is mandatory for this program’s Dietetic Internship appointments. Applicants should follow the guidelines provided by the Applicant Responsibilites—Policy and Procedure from the American Dietetic Association . Please follow these instructions very carefully. There is no-charge to request computer matching information from D & D Digital Systems. However, there is a $50.00 charge for the computer matching fee that needs to accompany the applicant’s prioritized ranking. The computer matching information and fee must be postmarked by February 15th.