UCSF Health offers a 10-month clinically focused dietetic internship in a dynamic teaching medical center environment. The internship includes experiences under the supervision of registered dietitians in clinical nutrition, management, and nutrition counseling and education. Over 800 Registered Dietitians have completed our dietetic internship program since it began in 1934. Our graduates are employed as clinical and outpatient dietitians, managers in clinical nutrition and food service, and in non-traditional jobs.
Please watch this introductory video to hear information from Nutrition and Food Services leadership, former interns, and preceptors about the internship experience:
Program Completion Requirements
- Required competency level: required learning experiences must be completed at established competency level in order to receive a Verification Statement and establishing eligibilibity to sit for the CDR credentialing examination for registered dietitian nutritionists.
- Evaluation forms: evaluations from all practice learning experiences and additional activities must be completed and turned in for the Intern to receive a Verification statement.
- Supervised practice hours: a minimum of 1400 supervised practice hours must be completed.
- Maximum time allowed: Interns must complete the Internship within 15 months from the start date of the program year the Intern was accepted for admission.
Accreditation Statement
The Dietetic Internship at UCSF Medical Center is currently granted accreditation status by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. ACEND is a specialized accrediting body recognized by Commission on Recognition of Post Secondary Education and the United States Department of Education. The address of ACEND is 120 South Riverside Plaza Suite 2190, Chicago, IL 60606-6995. The phone number of ACEND is (800) 877-1600 ext 5400. To view the ACEND webpage please click here.
Expectations of Dietetic Interns
- Demonstrates personal and professional values that are consistent with the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Code of Ethics and UCSF’s ethical standards, showing respect for cultural, ethnic and socioeconomic diversity.
- Promotes collaborative and cooperative working relationships with the health care team, preceptors, managers, staff and peers.
- Effectively expresses ideas, assessments and recommendations in oral, written and/or graphic form when working with patients, peers, preceptors, managers, the health care team and the public. Adjusts communication style and content based upon the audience.
- Demonstrates evidence based practice and critical thinking. Skills include collection and evaluation of relevant data, analysis of facts and information with attention to the source and strength of the evidence. Uses evidence to solve problems in all areas of practice.
- Performs medical nutrition therapy through systematic assessment, planning, intervention and evaluation according to established standards with individuals ranging in age from infants to elders, with a variety of medical and nutrition diagnoses.
- Plans and evaluates food and nutrition services to meet customer needs, applicable regulations, and in keeping with the institution’s priorities and resources.
- Describes and utilizes as appropriate community resources related to nutrition and food programs.
- Takes responsibility for own learning and professional development through self-assessment, planning and participation in professional activities.
UCSF Health Campuses
Parnassus Heights
- UCSF Medical Center (529 beds): A tertiary care teaching hospital with urgent care/emergency department and adult primary and specialty inpatient care
- Ambulatory Care Center: Outpatient services for adult patients in a variety of specialties
Mission Bay
- UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital San Francisco (183 beds): Urgent care/emergency department, pediatric primary, and specialty inpatient care
- UCSF Irene Betty Moore Women's Specialty Hospital at Mission Bay (36 beds): Cancer care, specialty surgery, birth center, and select women's ambulatory services
- UCSF Bakar Cancer Hospital at Mission Bay Part of the Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center (70 beds): Inpatient and outpatient cancer services; including inpatient and outpatient surgery for broad range of cancer specialties
- Ron Conway Family Gateway Medical Building: To provide outpatient services for children, women and cancer patients
- Baker Precision Cancer Medicine Building: Provides an innvative approach to cancer care by bringing together researchers, clinicians and supportive care in one building to revolutionize care and providing patients with the latest, most personalized treatments.
Mount Zion
- UCSF Medical Center at Mount Zion (53 beds): general medicine, short stay post-surgical unit, critical care
- Langley Porter Psychiatric Hospitals and Clinics: Inpatient (30 beds) and partial hospitalization program for mental health services
- Adult Dialysis Center