Applying for the McLeod Regional
Medical Center Dietetic Internship

The McLeod Regional Medical Center Dietetic Internship Program is committed to recruiting diverse interns for our program and ensuring equitable treatment by program preceptors & staff of interns from all backgrounds. Diversity enhances the educational experience of every dietetic intern in the program and impacts on the ability of an individual to competently practice following completion of the program. This is noted in our student handbook/program policies. A selection committee will be utilized to review the following when selecting members of the cohort:

Applicant Eligibility:
The McLeod Regional Medical Center Dietetic Internship Program is a post baccalaureate program. Applicants must:

1. Have completed a bachelor’s degree from a U.S.-recognized accredited institution (or equivalent foreign degree) and demonstrate completion of an Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD). Minimum DPD GPA of 2.8. Note: if an applicant is applying to the MRMC Dietetic Internship Program prior to completion of their baccalaureate program, they must submit a Declaration of Intent to Complete form signed by the undergraduate dietetics program director.
2. Verification Statement of DPD completion must be provided prior to beginning of the McLeod Regional Medical Center Internship Program.
3. Have completed U.S.-recognized accredited master’s degree (or equivalent foreign degree) or be enrolled in a U.S.-accredited master’s degree (or equivalent foreign degree) prior to the start date of the DI Program.
4. Must be able to meet the same occupational risk requirements associated with the clinical dietitians.

If you are not yet graduated from your baccalaureate program…
Transcripts initially submitted must show all coursework/grades through at least the first semester of the senior year. Once graduated, official transcripts must be sent demonstrating achievement of at least a bachelor’s degree no later than 45 days prior to the start date of the McLeod Regional Medical Center Internship program for the rotation period to which the student has been admitted.

If you are a current graduate student and applying for our Dietetic Internship…
If an applicant will concurrently be enrolled in a graduate program during the McLeod Regional Medical Center Dietetic Internship, the applicant must provide a record of graduate program acceptance and expected completion dates.

*Note: Students must demonstrate they will complete their graduate program within 12 months of beginning the DI program (150% of the McLeod Regional Medical Center Internship program length).

Applicants may apply via DICAS (Dietetic Internship Centralized Application System).

How to Apply:
When applying through DICAS, follow the requirements as noted within that portal. Application fees established by DICAS will need to be provided.

• DICAS general application.
• Official transcripts from all colleges/universities attended.
• Personal statement: The personal statement should be submitted through DICAS. The personal statement should tell us about you, the person behind the resume. Please explain to our selection committee how you align with our healthcare organization, community and our DI program’s mission. Additionally, if there are any extenuating circumstances that may have impacted any portion of your application, please make us aware in your statement.
• Provide 3 letters of recommendation. The letters should be able to exemplify your capacity as a potential dietetic intern with our program.
• Provide resume, including demonstration of work and volunteer experience in dietetics or related area.
• If concurrently completing a graduate degree with our DI Program, proof of acceptance into graduate program with expected completion dates must be submitted.
• Complete an interview with the MRMC Dietetic Internship Program selection committee if invited.
• Applicants are subject to background checks, drug screening and proof of immunizations, along with other requirements established by McLeod Health, and may have additional requirements prior to completing rotations with partnering locations throughout the rotations.

Dietetic Intern Selection:

The McLeod Regional Medical Center Dietetic Internship Program can accept up to ten (10) students annually. The program will offer two periods to begin each year, in September and February, with a total enrollment of ten students for both cohorts (i.e., 5 students in the fall cohort and 5 students in the spring cohort, or 8 in the fall/2 in the spring).

An intern may be admitted as a conditional intern. These individuals may not meet all the criteria for admission (such as those who have submitted their declaration of intent from undergraduate DPD). Conditional interns must provide all required admission criteria no later than 45 days prior to the start of the cohort rotations in which they have been accepted (either September or February start).

Once notified which applicants have matched with the McLeod Regional Medical Center Dietetic Internship Program, the following takes place:

• Applicants are notified of acceptance and provided a copy of the McLeod Health Student Handbook for review. Applicants must accept or decline this acceptance into the dietetic internship within 2 weeks of notification by emailing the program director. Student handbooks must also be signed & returned at this time. 
• After this, applicants will be connected with the McLeod Health Allied Health Student Onboarding teams. Interns admitted to the program must have a background check performed, drug screening and must be cleared by McLeod Occupational Health prior to entry into McLeod Health orientation. A second background check may be performed 60 days prior to entrance into the program. Any item that would prohibit McLeod Health from making a job offer to a clinical dietitian would also prohibit a dietetic intern from entering the MRMC Dietetic Internship program.
• Accepted interns will receive notification of the September or February hospital orientation.
• All required documents must be submitted no later than 45 days prior to scheduled hospital/cohort orientation. These may include, in addition to McLeod Health documents, signed copies of DPD Verification Statement, official transcripts demonstrating conferred degrees, a copy of the student Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics membership card, proof of medical insurance, student liability insurance, car insurance and signed student handbook.
• Accepted interns will receive notification of the September or February hospital orientation date/program start dates they will begin. In general, September cohorts will begin by September 15^th, and February cohorts will begin by February 15^th. Actual start date is dependent on hospital orientation dates in these months.
• Tuition must be paid in no later than 14 days prior to scheduled hospital/ cohort orientation.