Dietetic Internship 

Our Mission and philosophy

The Geisinger Medical Center Dietetic Internship utilizes the resources of our regional healthcare system in the areas of patient care, research, education and community service. This post-baccalaureate program prepares dietetic interns for entry-level positions as registered dietitians. Graduates of this program will positively contribute to the supply of registered dietitians.

The faculty believes:

  • Professional competence and productivity require self-motivation and initiative to continuously assess oneself and seek learning opportunities.
  • Interns are responsible for their own professional competence.
  • Learning opportunities are unlimited and the intern is expected to take advantage of these abundant opportunities for growth.
  • The curriculum is merely a starting point from which interns launch individualized plans for development.
  • Achieving professional competence is an ongoing process which continues throughout a career.
  • The faculty-intern relationship is a mutually respectful one in which both can learn and grow.
  • Professional development is facilitated by constructive criticism and respectful guidance.
  • Just as professional development is an ongoing process, the development of this internship is never complete. Intern, faculty and advisor input is actively sought, encouraged, and used in continuous quality improvement.

The following graduate and program outcome measures assess the full intent of the dietetic internship mission and goals:

Internship goals

The dietetic internship will prepare graduates to be competent entry-level dietitians.

Outcome measureCurrent result
On the graduate surveys, of the respondents who rated the entry level skill, the rating of the skill will meet or exceed 85% of moderate or high ratings over a 5 year period.98%
On the employer surveys, of the respondents who rated the entry level skills, the average rating of the skill will meet or exceed an average of 3 on a 4 point scale over a 5 year period.3.6 (2003-04)
4.5 (different survey used 1999-2002 based on 5-point scale)


The program will positively influence the supply of registered dietitians over a five-year period.

Outcome measureCurrent result
90% of interns who enter the program will complete the program.100%
Graduates will achieve a 5 year pass rate of at least 80% on the registered dietitian examination for first time test takers.96%
80% of graduates seeking employment in dietetics-related positions will be employed within 6 months of program completion.100%

 

Internship short-term plans

  1. Continue to enhance Dietetic Internship website.
  2. Strive for greater response to post-graduate surveys; follow up with graduates who do not respond.
  3. Strive for greater response to employer surveys
  4. Obtain feedback from advisory committee for curriculum updates – minutes from advisory committee meetings and contact with committee members throughout the year - ongoing.
  5. Revise the post-graduate dietetic intern survey. Explore electronic tabulation of this document.

Internship long-term plans

  1. Continue to investigate other opportunities for community nutrition experiences that are within a reasonable geographic area.
  2. Explore development of "seamless graduate degree" program by initiating discussions with Geisinger Medical Center administration and targeted universities.