Public Health Nutrition
384 Hours
The public health rotation will offer experiences with leading nutrition professionals in public health, research, public policy, and food systems and matched based on student interest. This experience, used to satisfy the required MPH practicum, will provide the opportunity to integrate classroom learning and practice in a public health work environment. Sites are chosen from a wide range of public health organizations and interns are matched based on their own objectives for professional development and the needs of the organization. For example, students with an interest in serving WIC populations will spend their public health nutrition rotation fully immersed in WIC – understanding rules and regulations surrounding WIC and dynamics within a government agency (WIC Branch of the California Department of Public Health, CDPH), participating in advocacy to promote WIC, public health, and health care reform (California WIC Association), and working directly with WIC families (local WIC agencies).
Outpatient Clinical 1 & 2
176 Hours
Outpatient clinical rotations offer opportunities for interns to practice their motivational interviewing skills, utilize principles of cultural humility, and demonstrate active listening in real world settings. BPH DI outpatient clinical sites are all outpatient community-based organizations that offer nutrition services and counseling to underserved populations. It is critical to the BPH DI program that interns increase their confidence in practicing patient-centered care and are positioned to empower patients and clients while providing nutrition counseling, education, and support. To the best of the program’s ability, interns will be matched with the communities they represent.
Foodservice Management
160 Hours
While RDs in food management are frequently employed in acute care, the BPH DI offers nontraditional opportunities for interns to expand to other settings in which management of nutrition and foodservice is required. Interns will rotate at either a school district, community kitchen, or a private restaurant management company. The foodservice rotation will reinforce the skills and practices learned during the first summer seminar that are essential to create work environments that support high quality customer-centered care and services, attract and retain talented staff, and foster an atmosphere of collaboration and innovation.
Clinical
96 Hours
The clinical rotation offers opportunities for interns to provide medical nutrition therapy for high acuity patients in community settings, such as long-term care facilities or skilled nursing facilities. During this rotation, interns will work in an interprofessional setting with the supervising dietitian, nurses, speech therapists and other healthcare professionals.