Thank you for your interest in the Sarasota Memorial Health Care System Dietetic Internship Program.

The Program is based upon the Eligibility Requirements and Accreditation Standards (ERAS) of the Commission on Accreditation for Dietetic Education (CADE) and provides students with supervised practice and didactic experiences that meet CADE core performance requirements for entry-level practitioners with a concentration in Pediatric Nutrition. Students who successfully complete this Dietetic Internship program are eligible to write the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR), registration examination for dietitians.

Please see admission requirements first to determine your eligibility for this program.

Program Goals

To prepare graduates to be competent entry level dietitians in all areas of dietetics. Through experience and opportunities graduates will become potential employees at Sarasota Memorial Hospital and other local and national organizations.

Program Mission

The mission of the Sarasota Memorial Hospital Dietetic Internship Program is to prepare students for practice as competent, conscientious dietetic practitioners who excel in professionalism and customer service.

Food & Nutrition Services

Food and Nutrition Services of Sarasota Memorial Hospital serves the community with expertise and dedication in a multi-skilled approach to nutrition intervention. Our dietitians are registered and licensed professionals providing quality in patient and outpatient nutrition services which includes: nutrition assessments, individualized nutrition education, diet order and tube feeding/TPN nutrition recommendations, specialized nutrition classes and a weight management program.

Food and Nutrition Services strives for exceptional service by providing attractive nutritious meals served by courteous staff. Conventional and cook-chill retherm systems are utilized to prepare approximately one million meals per year for patients, visitors, staff and doctors.

Program Schedule & Components

The Dietetic Internship Programs begins each September and continues on full-time basis for eight months. Two weeks of vacation are scheduled during the eight month program. The 32 week program of supervised practice and didactic training will consist of:

Clinical rotations, to include Cardiology, Diabetes, GI/Nutrition Support, Long Term Care, Renal, Oncology, Pediatrics clinical staff experience for a total of nineteen weeks. The pediatric rotation is completed at All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Administrative rotations, to include Food and Nutrition Services Management, Patient Food Services, Production and Procurement, Catering and catering operations, and an Administrative Staff experience for a total of seven weeks.

Community rotations, to include school food and nutrition services and mini rotations with community programs such as outpatient renal, public health and outpatient counseling for a total of four weeks.

Elective rotation and research and education, each a one week experience planned by the intern, with faculty guidance, to allow for individualized exploration within the field of dietetics.

Requirements for Completion

Satisfactory performance on all required assignments, projects, curricula, rotation objectives, case studies, presentation, and exams and compliance with policies and procedures are required for completion of the Dietetic Internship Program. In addition interns must demonstrate behaviors consistent with the “Code of Ethics for the Profession of Dietetics,” the SMH Standards of Behavior and employability skills.