Dietetic Internship

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services Program for Dietetic Interns (PDI) was established in 1999 to help meet the demand for skilled dietetic professionals in public health and community-based programs in Missouri.

The internship is a full time program and runs from mid-August through late May. Beginning August 2010, the internship will provide a minimum of 1200 supervised practice experience hours to meet the new 2008 Eligibility Requirements and Accreditation Standards (ERAS). The program accepts four dietetic interns per year. Up to four slots will be filled with individuals working for the Department of Health and Senior Services or one of its contractors through the pre-select option. Additional position(s), as needed, will be filled through computer matching. Those interested in applying through the computer matching option should contact the program director after February 1st annually to inquire about available positions. The program provides didactic education and clinical, food systems management, and public health/community nutrition practicum experiences - access to the internet is essential.

The program has affiliate sites throughout the state. Practicum experiences are made in consideration of the intern's geographical location whenever possible, however, depending upon location, and due to limited sites in some areas, this may not always be feasible. Some sites also have limitations of only being able to take one intern during the internship year.  If more than one intern is from the same area or part of the state, this may require the interns to travel a greater distance for rotations.  Currently, most rotations are located in the Kansas City/St. Joseph, Jefferson City/Columbia, and St. Louis areas. An intern may need to travel 200 miles or more per day round trip to an affiliate site, or be willing to obtain temporary housing for some rotations.

To be eligible for the program, individuals must meet specific academic requirements. Other selection criteria may apply. See Applications and Forms for specific details and to download application materials. Applications for the program are accepted beginning June 1 of each year through the February computer match deadline. The deadline for the pre-select option (employees of the Department of Health and Senior Services or a DHSS contractor) is December 15 of each year.

Questions?
To learn more about how internship rotations are scheduled, the tentative Schedule for the Program for Dietetic Internship may be located on the Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services website.  If you would like more information on the PDI, go to Frequently Asked Questions and Prospective Intern Brochure or Contact us through the Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services website.

Rev. 08/09