Mission, Goals, and Objectives

Mission Statements

UCSF Health Mission Statement: Caring, Healing, Teaching and Discovering.

UCSF Health Nutrition and Food Services Mission Statement: Nourishment, Service, Teaching, Discovery​

UCSF Health Dietetic Internship Mission Statement: To prepare entry-level registered dietitians who will provide evidence-based practice and compassionate patient care, through learning experiences in a diverse, academic tertiary health care system. 

Dietetic Internship Philosophy

We are committed to:

  • Providing individualized learning experiences in a supportive learning environment;
  • Developing dietitians with in-depth knowledge in nutrition, medical nutrition therapy, food service systems, and management;
  • Modeling and teaching skills for evidence based practice with the expectation that interns apply these skills in their daily work and in their future careers;
  • Fostering an environment that thrives on effective and honest communication and respect for others;
  • Providing guidance for interns to take responsibility for their own learning and professional development;
  • Maintaining high ethical standards;
  • Compliance with regulatory and accreditation standards.

Program Goals and Measureable Objectives

Program Goal 1: Graduates are competent for practice as registered dietitians and obtain employment in dietetics related positions. 

  • At least 80% of interns complete program requirements within 15 months (150% of planned program length).   
  • Of graduates who seek employment, at least 75 percent are employed in nutrition and dietetics or related fields within 12 months of graduation. 
  • 100 percent of program graduates take the CDR credentialing exam for dietitian nutritionists within 12 months of program completion 
  • The program’s one-year pass rate (graduates who pass the registration exam within one year of first attempt) on the CDR credentialing exam for dietitian nutritionists is at least 80%.  
  • When surveyed 12 - 15 months after graduation, employers of UCSF Health DI graduates rate the graduate’s professional competence as at least average when compared with other entry-level dietitians. 
  • When surveyed 12-15 months after graduation, graduates give a score of at least 3.0 (satisfactory) on a scale of 1-5 for their preparation in each major curriculum area (clinical knowledge and skills, management knowledge and skills, nutrition counseling and education knowledge and skills) to rate readiness to work as a registered dietitian. 

Program Goal 2: Graduates demonstrate professional skills and a commitment to professional growth. 

  • Employers of UCSF Health DI graduates rate the graduate’s ability to utilize principles of evidence-based practice as at least 3.0 (satisfactory) on a scale of 1-5.
  • When surveyed 12-15 months after graduation, at least 65% of graduates indicate they have participated in an event sponsored by a dietetics-related professional organization; acted as a preceptor or mentor; or provided an oral or written presentation targeted for a professional-level audience. 

Outcome data measuring achievement of program objectives are available upon request from the UCSF Dietetic Internship Director, Liz Sullivan