Dietetic Internship

To comply with CDR’s and ACEND’s graduate degree requirement, we are excited to offer 2 program tracks:

Track 1: Combined Master of Science/Dietetic Internship (Combined MS/DI). In collaboration with Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science (RFUMS) we offer an 18-month program that combines online graduate coursework at RFUMS and supervised practice through the dietetic internship. There is no separate graduate school application or application fee for RFUMS.

• Interns will complete 20-24 hours of supervised practice rotations per week in addition to 2-3 graduate courses per quarter.
• Interns will have the option to complete one of two online graduate degrees offered at RFUMS. To learn more about the graduate degrees offered, please click on the links below:
• MS in Clinical and Lifestyle Nutrition
• MS in Nutrition Education

• UChicago Medicine Ingalls Memorial Dietetic Interns will receive a 15% tuition scholarship at RFUMS.

Track 2: Dietetic Internship Only (DI Only), an 18-month program for applicants who already have a graduate degree, OR are currently enrolled in a graduate program and is scheduled to complete their graduate degree by February 2027.

• Interns will complete 20-24 hours of supervised practice rotations per week.
• Ideal for interns who need flexibility in their schedule due to other commitments, or for those who desire to work during their internship.
• As an Ingalls intern, applicants who enter the program with a graduate degree are eligible to receive 15% tuition scholarship towards an additional online graduate degree or a doctorate at RFUMS. Review available online graduate programs.

Upon successful completion of the dietetic internship program (and for those that have earned at least a master’s degree granted by a U.S. accredited college/university) the intern will receive a verification statement and will be eligible to take the Registration Examination for Dietitians to become credentialed as a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN), through the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR).

In most states, including Illinois, graduates also must obtain licensure or certification to practice. Learn more about the licensure requirements in Illinois.

While state interpretations of statutes may vary, it is ACEND's considered opinion that the program meets the educational requirements for dietetics licensure and certification in all states. However, completing an ACEND-accredited academic program alone does not qualify an individual for licensure or certification as a dietitian in any state. Individuals should review their state's licensing statutes and regulations to understand the specific requirements, including supervised practice and examinations, needed to obtain a dietetics license. Learn more information about state licensure and certification.

Learn more information about educational pathways to become a RDN.

The UChicago Medicine Ingalls Memorial Dietetic Internship Program is fully accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND). Continuation of full accreditation was granted in February 2017 for a term of seven years ending June 30, 2024. Our accreditation was extended to June 30, 2025, as a result of the pandemic. Our program underwent its most recent Site Visit for re-accreditation on June 9 – 11, 2024, and are expected to learn of our re-accreditation status in February 2025.

ACEND is the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics' accrediting agency for education programs preparing students for careers as registered dietitian nutritionists (RDN) or nutrition and dietetic technicians, registered (NDTR). ACEND serves and protects students and the public by assuring the quality and continued improvement of nutrition and dietetics education programs. ACEND is recognized by the United States Department of Education (USDE). This affirms that ACEND meets national standards and is a reliable authority on the quality of nutrition and dietetics education programs.

Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics
120 S. Riverside Plaza, Suite 2190
Chicago, IL 60606-6995
Phone: 312.899.0040 (ext. 5400)
Fax: 312.899.4817
acend@eatright.org
www.eatright.org/acend

Program Mission Statement: “The UChicago Medicine Ingalls Memorial Dietetic Internship program will provide quality education and practical experience to our Dietetic Interns so they can become competent entry-level registered dietitians dedicated to providing compassionate care to the communities they serve.”

Goal 1: UChicago Medicine Ingalls Memorial Dietetic Internship will prepare graduates to competently perform professional positions in the area of food and nutrition as an entry-level registered dietitian nutritionist.

Objectives:

1. 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 nutritionist is at least 80%.
2. At least 85% of program graduates take the CDR credentialing exam for dietitian nutritionist within 12 months of program completion.
3. Of graduates who seek employment, at least 85% are employed in nutrition and dietetics or related fields within 12 months of graduation.
4. After first year of employment, 75% of employers will rank “above average” in professional knowledge and skills as compared to other entry level dietitians.
5. At least 80% of interns complete program requirements within 27 months (150 percent of the program length)

Goal 2: UChicago Medicine Ingalls Memorial Dietetic internship will prepare graduates to become compassionate leaders in the communities that they serve.

Objective:

1. An average of 50 percent of graduates will report that they are employed in a management or director position; have been appointed or elected to a leadership position in a dietetic-related organization; or serve as preceptor within two years of program completion.

All program outcomes are available upon request.

Please contact:

Cheryl Bacon, PhD, RDN, LDN, FAND
Director of Clinical Nutrition and Dietetic Internship
Cheryl.Bacon@uchicagomedicine.org
708-915-5723

Eligibility

Track 1 (Combined MS/DI):

Eligible applicants must have either completed, or be in the process of completing, an ACEND-accredited Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD). Applicants must meet the admission requirements in the RFUMS catalog currently in use. Unfortunately, international students are not considered for Track 1 at this time.

Track 2 (DI Only):

Eligible applicants must have either completed, or be in the process of completing, an ACEND-accredited Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD). Additionally, eligible applicants must also have either completed, or be in the process of completing, a graduate degree granted by a U.S. accredited college/university or foreign requirement. Applicants who are currently in the process of completing a graduate degree must ensure that all course requirements will be met by the end of the supervised practice portion of the program (January 2027). International students will be considered if their OPT status requirements fit within our program structure. Please contact to the program director to learn more.

Application

UChicago Medicine Ingalls Memorials participates in the Dietetic Internship Centralized Application Services (DICAS) application process for both Track 1 and Track 2.

DICAS can be accessed at http://dicas.liaisoncas.com. Search “UChicago Medicine Ingalls Memorial Dietetic Internship”

Applicants interested in Track 1 (Combined MS/DI) with RFUMS will apply only through DICAS and then will receive a link from RFUMS to process the application in their system. There is no additional graduate school application or application fee for applicants following this process. 

DUE DATE: Application will close by July 31, 2025, or sooner, as we are currently accepting applications on a rolling basis until all spots are filled.

An Internship Selection Committee will review all applicants. For applicants applying to Track 1 (Combined MS/DI), RFUMS will complete a separate review of the DICAS application to ensure admission requirements for graduate school are met. Applicants interested in Track 1 (Combined MS/DI) must meet all RFUMS graduate school requirements in order to be considered for the dietetic internship program.

At UChicago Medicine Ingalls Memorial, we welcome applicants from all academic backgrounds and aim to recruit applicants dedicated to promoting and diversifying our profession.

A rubric is used to evaluate all eligible applicants for the dietetic internship. Below is a summary (in descending order) of our rating criteria:

40 points – Experiences: Experiences do not have to be directly nutrition-related. We are evaluating the following skills and behaviors in any work settings as we believe these valuable skills/behaviors are transferrable and may contribute to your success in the profession: Evidence of high responsibility [training/supervisor/manager], time management, problem solving, ability to work with others, and leadership. No points are awarded for experiences in which the applicant earned Academic Credit, as not all DPD programs provide this opportunity.

40 points – Personal Statement: Your personal statement will be evaluated on the basis of composition and clarity of thought. Points will be subtracted for grammatical and spelling errors.

30 points – Academics: Minimum GPA is 2.75 on a 4.0 scale and GRE scores are not required.
Scoring: Less than 3.0 = 0 pts; 3.0 – 3.25 = 10 pts; 3.26 – 3.49 = 20 pts; 3.5 – 4.0 = 30 pts.

20 points – Activities: We are looking for evidence of leadership positions and active involvement in organizations.

No points – Letters of Recommendation: While we do not award points for the letter of recommendation, we will subtract points from the overall application if the reference notes any concerning attributes (i.e. tardiness, lack of critical thinking, inability to work in a team setting, lack of professionalism, etc.). We have no set criteria on who the recommendations should come from, however, we recommend you select an individual who you have a good professional relationship with that can speak to your strengths and what you can contribute to our program and the profession. One recommendation required, two are preferred.

Interviews are required. You will be notified if you are selected for an interview. Interviews are 30-minutes and include performance based interview questions.

• Applications will be reviewed as they are received, and admission decisions will be shared with applicants on a rolling basis. 
  • At the latest, applicants will be notified BY March 1, 2025, if they are offered a position, waitlisted into our program, or are not accepted. 
  • Offers may be made prior to March 1, 2025, however, the applicant does not need to accept/decline prior to March 15, 2025.
  • Applicant MUST accept or decline by March 15, 2025. 
• As we plan to make admission decisions soon after applications are received, we may fill all of our openings prior to March 15th. We will communicate the number of remaining openings via an email to applicants who start an application to our program in DICAS.
• Prior to the program start date, applicants must provide an original transcript confirming, at minimum, a bachelor's degree and an ACEND-accredited Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) Verification Statement. Any discrepancies between the on-line application and the official transcript may disqualify an applicant.
• Admission is contingent upon successful completion of a health assessment, criminal background check and drug screening processes prior to matriculation.

Class of 2027

Track 1: Combined MS/DI

• 18-month program
  • Graduate classes begin August 11, 2025 and go through January 29, 2027
• 20-24 hours of supervised practice rotations per week (3-days per week)
• September 9, 2025: ONSITE for Dietetic Internship Orientation. All interns will need to reside in the Chicago-area by this date

Track 2: DI Only

• 18-month program from September 9, 2025 – January 29, 2027
• 20-24 hours of supervised practice rotations per week (3-days per week)

Vacations and Breaks

A total of 9-weeks of breaks are provided. These breaks align with RFUMS academic calendar and are scheduled the weeks of:

• 11/24/2025
• 12/22/2025
• 12/29/2025
• 2/16/2026
• 5/18/2026
• 8/3/2026
• 11/23/2026
• 12/21/2026
• 12/28/2026

Holidays

The program respects all religious and/or cultural holidays. If an intern has a specific request, all efforts will be made to accommodate an excused absence.

The hospital observes the following holidays. There will be no internship related activities scheduled for the following days:

• New Year's Day
• Martin Luther King Day
• Independence Day
• Thanksgiving Day
• Memorial Day
• Labor Day
• Christmas Day

The UChicago Medicine Ingalls Memorial Dietetic Internship Program identifies ALL supervised practice sites and preceptors.

Rotations, (or supervised practice) will occur 3 days per week (likely Tuesday - Thursday), although days of the week may be dependent on rotation site. Interns are expected to work 8-hours each day they are scheduled in supervised practice, however, the start/stop times may vary each week depending upon the rotation as the intern will usually be scheduled to work the same hours as the preceptor. The majority of rotations take place from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. One Friday a month, all interns will come together for team-based learning activities.

While some rotations will take place at UChicago Medicine Ingalls Memorial, our program has partnerships with over 20 organizations, providing our interns an opportunity to complete learning experiences in a variety of diverse settings within the Chicagoland area. Below is a summary of the planned rotation layout*:

Orientation: 2-weeks
Clinical (Inpatient and Outpatient): 25-weeks
Foodservice Management and Wellness: 14-weeks
Community and Professional Organizations: 15-weeks
Professional Development: 7-weeks

^{*Rotation layout subject to change}

The UChicago Medicine Ingalls Memorial Dietetic Internship Program has 1236 planned supervised practice hours.

Some rotations are 100% virtual/remote. Interns must have access to a computer (with access camera and microphone, preferred), Wi-Fi and telephone services to collaborate with preceptor. These materials are available at UChicago Medicine Ingalls Memorial hospital, where the intern must come to complete virtual/remote rotations.

Interns must complete a minimum of 1236 supervised practice hours and show evidence of competence in all required CRDNs (core Competencies for the Registered Dietitian Nutritionist) as set forth by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND).

Verification Statements will be signed for dietetic interns who successfully complete the requirements of the UChicago Medicine Ingalls Memorial Dietetic Internship and have earned a graduate degree. A verification statement is a method used by ACEND and accepted by the Commission on Dietetic Registration to ensure that supervised practice requirements have been met and the intern is eligible to sit for the Registration Examination for Dietitians to become credentialed as a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN).

Track 1 (Combined MS/DI): Students must meet the following program graduation requirements at RFUMS.

Dietetic Internship Costs (Class of 2027)

Tuition: $5,000.00

Malpractice Insurance (annually): $26.00

Health Insurance (annually): Cost varies per insurance

Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Student Membership (annually): $58.00

Local Dietetic Association Fees (annually): $30.00 - $50.00

Lab Coat: $25.00

Scrubs (optional; cost for two tops/bottoms): $140.00

Books and other resources: $0.00. The intern does not need to purchase any books for the dietetic internship program. Copies of all references are onsite for intern use. Each intern will be provided a desk and laptop computer. Additional office supplies are available for use (binders, folders, post-it notes, pens, highlighters, calculators, staplers, etc.). A printer and Xerox machine are available free of charge.

Living Expense Estimate: Varied. Housing cost will vary based on where the intern chooses to live in the Chicagoland area, including surrounding suburbs. Interns will receive a list of fellow interns to assist in arranging for shared housing expenses, if desired. Learn more about average rent in the Chicagoland area.

Transportation Expense Estimate: Varied. A car is essential. Cost will vary depending on living location, assigned rotation site, and current gas prices. The intern is responsible for the cost of their transportation to and from rotation sites and other assigned program related activities. Parking is free at Ingalls and the majority of rotation sites, but there may be an additional parking expense at certain rotation sites. Reviewing gas prices (program located in Cook County) can help you to determine an estimated transportation expense.

Estimated Graduate School Cost

RFUMS is pleased to be able to offer OUR dietetic interns a 15% tuition scholarship.

• Cost per credit hour: $750* (with 15% scholarship - $638), plus annual university fees ($700) and graduation fee ($200)
• MS in Clinical and Lifestyle Nutrition: 45-credits (estimated tuition with 15% tuition scholarship*: $30,310)
• MS in Nutrition Education: 46-credits (estimated tuition with 15% tuition scholarship*: $30,950)

Financial Aid at RFUMS may be available.

Estimated TOTAL Costs for program

• Track 1 (Combined MS/DI): $34,000*
• Track 2 (DI Only): $5,000

*For the 2024 - 2025 academic year. Tuition and fees are subject to change. Please visit RFUMS website for additional information on annual RFUMS cost and fees.

We highly encourage you to attend one of our Open House events to learn more about our program. Our open houses will include a program overview by the director of the dietetic internship, a description of the available graduate programs offered by RFUMS by the chair of department of nutrition at RFUMS, and an opportunity to meet with current interns.

For more information, contact:

Cheryl Bacon, PhD, RDN, LDN, FAND
Director of Clinical Nutrition and Dietetic Internship
Cheryl.Bacon@uchicagomedicine.org
708-915-5723

The hospital serves a community of many socio-economic levels and cultural backgrounds, providing learning experiences in the counseling and education of patients and employees in these populations. To learn more about the community we serve, please check out the Community Health Needs Assessment. 

There are a total of eight Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDN) on staff at UChicago Medicine Ingalls Memorial: seven clinicians, one outpatient oncology clinician, and the dietetic internship director. In addition, interns work under the supervision of RDNs at our affiliate healthcare and community sites.

The dietitians have a high level of expertise and autonomy which is utilized by the medical staff. For instance, diets and enteral feedings are primarily managed by dietitians.

Many interns live with relatives, friends or fellow interns within the surrounding communities and commute to UChicago Medicine Ingalls Memorial and other rotation sites. A car is essential. Those interns who need to rent housing in the area usually share apartments with fellow interns. Information on living areas and interns needing roommates will be provided after you have accepted an appointment at UChicago Medicine Ingalls Memorial. Learn more about average rent in the Chicagoland area.

Yes, over the past three years 92 percent (24/26) of our graduates have successfully passed the CDR Registration examination within one year following first attempt; 100% of graduates since 2014 have ultimately passed the exam. 100 percent (26/26) have found employment in dietetics or began graduate studies within one year of graduation. 

Financial Aid may be available for the graduate program at RFUMS only.

The Dietetic Internship at UChicago Medicine Ingalls Memorial does not offer financial aid. Loan forbearance requests are honored. Scholarships are available through the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation. Please visit https://www.eatrightfoundation.org/why-it-matters/scholarships/ for more information.

For the Dietetic Internship at UChicago Medicine Ingalls Memorial, all tuition payment options (checks, credit card (no fees) or any combination of payment methods) are accepted and payment plans are offered. Please contact the program director to discuss payment options.

No, the Dietetic Internship at UChicago Medicine Ingalls Memorial does not award credit for any prior learning experiences.