CERTIFICATE IN DIETETIC INTERNSHIP

The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center (OUHSC) Dietetic Internship (DI) program offers a post-baccalaureate supervised practice experience designed to assist the candidate in meeting the necessary competencies required for registration with the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

The OUHSC DI offers two options to obtain the Verification Statement, which provides eligibility for application to take the National Registration Exam to become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) through the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR).

• Option 1: Standalone Dietetic Internship Program for those prospective applicants who possess or will possess a Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) or Foreign Dietitian Education (FDE) Verification Statement and a graduate degree upon admission to the program.  The graduate degree obtained can be in any academic discipline.
• Option 2: Combined Masters of Science with Dietetic Internship (MS/DI) Program for those prospective applicants who are seeking a graduate degree upon completion of the Dietetic Internship program.

Characteristics of Supervised Practice Rotations include the following:

• A generalist experience with a 4-week elective rotation 
• Approximately six months in length
• A minimum of 1056 clock hours of scheduled supervised practice
• Sites of each rotation vary and include locations throughout the state of Oklahoma (please note: some interns, not all, may be required to move from one geographical location in Oklahoma to another at least once during the internship)
• Interns are assigned to rotation sites based on availability, intern preference, and sometimes facility interviews
• There are four rotation modules (not completed in any particular order)
• Eight-week food service/management rotation
• Eight-week community rotation (experiences in wellness, public schools, renal disease, WIC, out-patient counseling, weight management, etc.) 
• Eight-week clinical rotation 
• Four-week elective rotation (interns are responsible for securing their own elective rotation facility/preceptor)
• The first week of the Internship is spent on-site at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center in Oklahoma City. Interns then go to their assigned rotation site. Interns attend a one-day class day in Oklahoma City or Tulsa at the end of each eight-week rotation.

    

Accreditation

The OUHSC Internship was granted full accreditation in 2019 for 7 years through December 31, 2026 by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. For additional information on accreditation, please contact:

Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND)
120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2190
Chicago, Illinois 60606-6995
Phone: (800) 877-1600, ext. 5400 or (312) 899-0040
Website | Email

If you would like to explore dietetics further, visit:

• Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
• Kid's Eat Right
• Dietitian Job Outlook

Standalone Dietetic Internship

The OUHSC Dietetic Internship program is a post-baccalaureate supervised practice experience designed to assist the candidate in meeting the necessary competencies required for registration with the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Characteristics of the program include the following:

• A generalist experience with a 4-week elective rotation 
• Begins in June of each year and ends in December before Winter Break
• Up to15 interns accepted
• Approximately six months in length
• A minimum of 1056 clock hours of scheduled supervised practice
• Sites of each rotation vary and include locations throughout the state of Oklahoma (please note: some interns, not all, may be required to move from one geographical location in Oklahoma to another at least once during the internship)
• Interns are assigned to rotation sites based on availability, intern preference, and sometimes facility interviews
• There are four rotation modules (not completed in any particular order)
• Eight-week food service/management rotation
• Eight-week community rotation (experiences in wellness, public schools, renal disease, WIC, out-patient counseling, weight management, etc.) 
• Eight-week clinical rotation 
• Four-week elective rotation (interns are responsible for securing their own elective rotation facility/preceptor)
• The first week of the Internship is spent on-site at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center in Oklahoma City. Interns then go to their assigned rotation site. Interns attend a one-day class day in Oklahoma City or Tulsa at the end of each eight-week rotation.
   

2024 Schedule for Supervised Practice:

• May 27 – 31: Orientation Week at Oklahoma City (OKC) Campus
• June 3 – July 25: Rotation 1
• July 26: Class Day 1 (Campus Location TBD)
• July 29 – September 19: Rotation 2
• September 20: Class Day 2 (Campus Location TBD)
• September 23 – November 14: Rotation 3
• November 15: Class Day 3 (OKC Campus)
• November 18 – December 12: Elective Rotation
• Holidays include:
  • June 19: Juneteenth Holiday
  • July 4: Independence Day Holiday
  • September 2: Labor Day Holiday
  • November 28 & 29: Thanksgiving Holiday
  • Three personal days
• December 13, 2024: GRADUATION DAY (OKC Campus)

Combined Masters of Science with Dietetic Internship (MS/DI) Program

Prospective applicants to the OUHSC DI Program who do not possess a graduate degree may apply for the combined Masters of Sciences with Dietetic Internship Program.

Dietetic Interns admitted to the MS/DI program will receive six graduate credit hours for the internship to count towards the MS degree. Prospective interns who wish to apply to the MS program must ensure they meet the minimum requirements.  Please review the MS in Nutritional Sciences webpage for more details.

If accepted to the MS/DI program, interns will complete the supervised practice portion first, and the six credit hours gained from supervised practice will count toward the OUHSC MS in Nutritional Sciences Program.

Supervised Practice:

• A generalist experience with a 4-week elective rotation 
• Begins in August of each year and ends in April the following calendar year
• Up to15 interns accepted
• Approximately six months in length
• A minimum of 1096 clock hours of scheduled supervised practice
• Sites of each rotation vary and include locations throughout the state of Oklahoma (please note: some interns, not all, may be required to move from one geographical location in Oklahoma to another at least once during the internship)
• Interns are assigned to rotation sites based on availability, intern preference, and sometimes facility interviews
• There are four rotation modules (not completed in any particular order)
• Eight-week food service/management rotation
• Eight-week community rotation (experiences in wellness, public schools, renal disease, WIC, out-patient counseling, weight management, etc.) 
• Eight-week clinical rotation 
• Four-week elective rotation (interns are responsible for securing their own elective rotation facility/preceptor)

The first week of the Internship is spent on-site at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center in Oklahoma City. Interns then go to their assigned rotation site. Interns attend a one-day class day in Oklahoma City or Tulsa at the end of each eight-week rotation.

MS Degree:
Upon completion of supervised practice, interns will then complete the MS degree portion of the program, which will start in June (summer semester) and will be completed in approximately three semesters.  The following courses are completed towards the MS degree: 

Please contact the program director if you have questions at Brian-dela-Cruz@ouhsc.edu or (405) 271-2113.

2024 – 2025 Schedule for Supervised Practice:

• August 12 – 16, 2024: Orientation Week at Oklahoma City (OKC) Campus
• August 19 – October 10, 2024: Rotation 1
• October 11, 2024: Class Day 1 (Campus Location TBD)
• October 14 – December 12, 2024: Rotation 2
• December 13, 2024: Class Day 2 (Campus Location TBD)
  •    January 13 – March 6, 2025: Rotation 3
  •    March 7, 2025: Class Day 3 (OKC Campus)
  •    March 17 – April 11, 2025: Elective Rotation
  •    Holidays/Breaks include:
  • September 2, 2024: Labor Day Holiday
  • November 27 – 29, 2024: Thanksgiving Holiday
  • December 16, 2024 - January 10, 2025: Winter Break
  • January 20, 2025: MLK Holiday
  • March 10 - 14, 2025: Spring Break
• April 14, 2025: Supervised Practice Rotations Wrap up Day (OKC Campus)

MS Degree Schedule:

• Summer Semester: June to July, 2025
• Fall Semester: August to December, 2025
• Spring Semester: January to May, 2026
• Graduation: May, 2026**

**Please Note: the semester which the student completes the MS Degree can vary.  This is dependent upon the student’s progress with his/her coursework and degree plan.  Graduation can extend beyond date stated above.

We are happy to announce Virtual Open House Sessions to Prospective Dietetic Interns!  These sessions will be hosted by the Internship Director and will provide information about the program along with a question/answer session.

Dates and Times for Virtual Open House Sessions are listed below:

The times listed above are Central Standard Time.

To RSVP for an open house session, please email brian-dela-cruz@ouhsc.edu. 
Open house sessions will be held via Zoom, and a link to the Zoom meeting will be sent to attendees after the RSVP is received.

There are four rotation modules (food service management, clinical, community, and elective):

1. Eight-week food service management rotation
2. Eight-week community rotation (experiences in wellness, public schools, renal disease, WIC, outpatient counseling, weight management, etc.)
3. Eight-week clinical rotation
4. Four-week elective rotation (nutrition-focused outcome concentration)

The first three rotation modules are not completed in any particular order.  Some interns will start the first rotation module in food service management, some interns will start in community, and some interns will start in clinical.  The same goes for the second and third rotation modules.  Each intern will complete the elective rotation module during the last 4 weeks of the internship program. 

For the clinical and food service management rotation modules, each intern will typically be assigned to one hospital site and will be placed at that site for 16 weeks (8 weeks of clinical rotation + 8 weeks of food service management rotation = 16 weeks).  The OUHSC Dietetic Internship utilizes hospital sites across the State of Oklahoma including hospitals in Oklahoma City (OKC), Tulsa, and smaller cities across the state.  If an intern is assigned to a hospital outside of OKC or Tulsa, that intern will live in that city for 16 weeks of the internship program.  It would not be feasible to live in OKC or Tulsa and commute to these smaller cities as some of these cities can be up to two hours away from OKC or Tulsa.  Interns can also be placed in a hospital in the OKC area or Tulsa area.

For the community rotation module, the internship program utilizes rotation sites in the OKC metro area and Tulsa metro area only. These are the two largest cities in Oklahoma, and because of this, these two cities provide the best opportunities for community rotations.  In the smaller cities, there are typically no opportunities to complete community rotations due to their smaller size.  The intern may preference OKC or Tulsa area for the community rotation for the entirety of the eight week module. 

If the intern is assigned to a hospital for the clinical and food service management rotations which is outside the OKC or Tulsa metro areas, the intern will have to move to the OKC area or Tulsa area to complete the eight weeks of the community rotation module.  This will require the intern to move at least once during the internship.  If an intern is assigned to a hospital in OKC area or Tulsa area, the intern can essentially live in that respective city for the entire 6 month internship experience without having to move.  Concerning housing, it is the intern’s responsibility to secure housing whether it be in the OKC area, Tulsa area, or other cities in Oklahoma.  The internship director or program staff is able to assist the intern with finding housing, but ultimately the final responsibility falls on the intern.

The final rotation module, the elective rotation, is the intern’s choice and can potentially be completed anywhere across the United States.  Interns are responsible for locating their own rotation site and preceptor for this rotation.  The Dietetic Internship Director can help facilitate this process in locating a facility and preceptor.  More details concerning the elective rotation will be discussed during orientation week.  Please note: not all elective rotation sites can be guaranteed.  Many interns choose to stay in Oklahoma to complete the elective rotation, but some interns choose to go out of state to complete a unique opportunity.

If there are questions concerning the rotation sites, prospective interns are encouraged to contact the program director for more information.

Evidence of meeting the minimum academic requirements from a ACEND-accredited Didactic Program in Dietetics (Verification Statement or Declaration of Intent to Complete Degree provided via Dietetic Internship Centralized Application System portal).

• Individuals appointed to OUHSC Dietetic Internship will be required to provide an original, signed verification statement.
• If verification statement is not dated within last five years, applicant should show evidence of continuing education and competence in dietetics-related domain knowledge (e.g. recent enrollment in dietetics-related courses such as a medical nutrition therapy course, employment in dietetics-related field such as diet aid at a hospital).

Completion of a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university.

• Individuals appointed to OUHSC Dietetic Internship will be required to provide official transcripts from all colleges/universities attended. Degree must be posted on official transcript.

GPA ≥3.0

• Cumulative GPA of ≥ 3.0 over the last 60 hours of academic work taken, whether undergraduate or graduate hours. Please note: in calculating GPA from the last 60 hours, the entire semester in which the 60 hours fall is counted. The College of Allied Health does not recognize academic forgiveness nor reprieve policies. All attempts of a course are included in the calculation of GPAs;
• Science GPA ≥ 3.0
• Preference is given to students with grades of B or better in all dietetics courses.

Students for whom English is a second language must earn a minimum score of 600 (paper-based) or 100 (internet-based) within two years prior to application on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).

Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is NOT required.

The OUHSC Dietetic Internship Program accepts up to 15 interns for the “Standalone Dietetic Internship” Program and up to 15 interns for the “Combined Masters of Science with Dietetic Internship” Program 

Information for the Dietetic Internship Centralized Application Services (DICAS) and D&D Digital Systems including timelines when the application process is open and application deadlines are found on the ACEND website

Please follow the instructions below to apply:

1. The OUHSC Dietetic Internship Program utilizes the on-line application via the Dietetic Internship Centralized Application Services (DICAS) portal.

• Apply through DICAS and we will review your application
• Fee to use DICAS is $50 for first application submitted to a dietetic internship program and $25 for each additional application submitted to other programs
• DICAS Deadlines:
  • February 15, 2023, by 11:59 pm Central Time
• •    Be sure to choose the appropriate designation on DICAS:
  • University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center – Dietetic Internship – Oklahoma City
    Or
  • University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center – Combined Master of Science with Dietetic Internship – Oklahoma City

2. The OUHSC Dietetic Internship participates in the computer matching process through D&D Digital Systems.

• Applicants must register with D&D Digital Systems
• The fee for this process is $55
• D&D Digital Deadlines:
  • February 15, 2023 by 11:59 pm Central Time
• The OUHSC Code for D&D Digital Systems is 491 during the Spring application cycle

On match day, individuals selected by the OUHSC Dietetic Internship (through the D&D Digital system) must accept their appointment via an email to the program director within 24 hours at brian-dela-cruz@ouhsc.edu.    

3. In addition to completing the DICAS application, applicants must complete the OUHSC application.  Deadline to complete the OUHSC application is the same as the deadline for the DICAS Application.  If the DICAS application is completed but the OUHSC application is not completed (or vice versa), application materials will not be reviewed.  Please be sure to complete both applications to be considered for the OUHSC Dietetic Internship Program. For the OUHSC application, there is no need to resubmit your transcripts to OUHSC because your transcripts are already submitted to us via the DICAS application.”
   
   For those who will apply to the “Standalone Dietetic Internship” Program, the fee to apply is $100 to the College of Allied Health.  Follow the instructions below to complete the application.

• Click the following link: https://apps.ouhsc.edu/admissions/ and create your account
• Select the following from the drop-down menus:
  • “To which college are you applying?” – “College of Allied Health”
  • “To which program are you applying?” – “Nutritional Sciences Dietetic Internship”
  • “To which term are you applying?” – Please select the appropriate term that you are applying to

For those who wish to apply to the “Internship with Masters of Science Option”, you have to complete a second application in addition to the one above, but now to the Graduate For those who wish to apply to the “Combined Masters of Science with Dietetic Internship” Program, you will have to complete an application to the College of Allied Health and to the Graduate College.  The application fee to the College of Allied Health is $100 and the application fee to the Graduate College is $125.  So the cost of applying to the “Combined Masters of Science with Dietetic Internship” is $100 + $125 for a total of $225.  Follow the instructions below to complete the applications:

• Click the following link: https://apps.ouhsc.edu/admissions/ and create your account
• Select the following from the drop-down menus:
  • “To which college are you applying?” – “College of Allied Health”
  • “To which program are you applying?” – “Nutritional Sciences Dietetic Internship”
  • “To which term are you applying?” – Please select the appropriate term that you are applying to

The Graduate Record Exam (GRE) examination is NOT required. 

In the event that the OUHSC Dietetic Internship Program does not complete its class during the First Round Match Process, our program will participate in the Second Round Match Process.  D & D Digital will release our program contact information if our internship program has spots available.  Admission through the Second Round Match Process is through a rolling admission basis, meaning applications will be reviewed as they are submitted and offers will be made to qualified applicants.  It is to your advantage to submit your DICAS application and complete the OUHSC application as soon as possible to be considered.  The Program Director will contact qualified applicants.  If an offer is made to an applicant through second round match, the applicant has two (2) business days to accept.
To apply for Second Round Match Process:

Submit your application through DICAS to OUHSC choosing the appropriate designation of your choice:

• University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center – Dietetic Internship – Oklahoma City
• OR
• University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center – Dietetic Internship with Master of Science option – Oklahoma City

The GRE examination is not required. Students may choose to remain after the internship and complete the additional 28 hours of coursework to earn the Master of Science degree after they have earned the internship certificate. However, they are not obligated to finish the master’s degree at OUHSC.

The mission of the OUHSC Dietetic Internship program is to provide the best possible supervised practice experience for our students to become competent entry-level registered dietitian nutritionists and future healthcare leaders. The program prepares students through excellence in teaching, research, service and appropriate supervised practice sites which foster creative activity and innovative lifelong learning to therefore provide exceptional patient care to the public.

Goals and desired outcome measures are to:

Prepare graduates to become competent entry-level registered dietitian nutritionists.

• At least 80% of program students in the DI only track complete program/degree requirements within 9 months (150% of the program length).
• At least 80% of program students in the MS/DI track complete program/degree requirements within 12 months (150% of the program length).
• At least 80% of participants in the ISPP track complete program/degree requirements within 18 months (150% of the program length).
• Eighty percent of program graduates take the CDR credentialing exam for dietitian nutritionists within 12 months of program completion.
• 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 nutritionists is at least 80%.
• At least 70% of interns will receive an overall score of ≥3 on the Evaluation of Nutrition Focused Outcomes.
• Eighty percent of program graduates will agree or strongly agree that the program prepared them to succeed in their dietetic career.

Prepare competent graduates to obtain employment in dietetics-related positions.

• Of graduates who seek employment, at least 80% are employed in nutrition and dietetics or related fields within 12 months of graduation.
• At least 80% of employers responding to survey will answer “yes” that alumni were prepared for entry-level practice.
• At least 80% of alumni responding to survey will answer they were “satisfied” with the level of preparation the internship program provided in preparing them for entry-level practice.

Program outcomes data are available upon request.

Graduation and Program Completion Requirements. In order to successfully pass the IP, earn a certificate from the University, and receive a verification statement from the program, the intern must:

• Complete all assignments, projects and evaluations as outlined in the curriculum (or for which they received prior learning credit) at a score of level 3 or greater;
• Pass the final comprehensive competency exam with a score of 70% or better;
• Have exhibited no actions which have resulted in expulsion from a participating facility or organization, or from the Program;
• Have completed the 1200 clock hours of supervised practice as required by ACEND;
• Have returned all borrowed textbooks, keys (if applicable), and materials to the assigned facility or sponsoring institution from which they were borrowed.

Verification Statement. The Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) requires a verification statement upon completion of the internship program to indicate completion of supervised practice requirements and establish eligibility to write the registration examination for dietitians. The verification statement is given when program requirements have been fulfilled and the final grade is submitted. The Program Director will provide each graduate with five (5) verification statements. In addition, the internship program files and keeps a copy of the verification statement indefinitely.

Link to: Dietetic Internship Handbook

The Selection Process:

Applicants who meet the admission requirements are scored based on the following:

• cumulative GPA;
• science GPA (all attempted science hours);
• nutrition/dietetics GPA (all attempted hours);
• career goal statement (to be completed on-line through the Dietetic Internship Centralized Application Services or DICAS);
• current and past work and volunteer experience;
• recommendations;
• interview conducted via video conference; and
• final rankings are based on compilation and ranking of scores.

What type of intern will be successful in our program?

• We desire intelligent interns with a strong academic record.
• Successful interns are those who work well independently.
• We do not expect interns to come to the program with extensive work experience in food and nutrition; however, strong applicants will have some work and/or volunteer experience in food and nutrition.
• Applicants to this program should be adaptable and willing to go to diverse rotation sites anywhere in the state.  Interns are likely to be placed in smaller cities such as Muskogee, Altus, Ada, or Duncan in addition to Oklahoma City, Norman, or Tulsa.  A car is required as public transportation is not available for most rotations, and length of travel makes bicycling impractical or impossible.

Interns accepted must enroll and pay tuition for NS 7426 (professional certificate only) or NS 5426 (professional certificate and masters degree credit) - Dietetic Internship which is a six credit hour course. Tuition for those six credit hours will be based on graduate tuition rates per resident or non-resident status. Additional fees will also be the responsibility of the Intern. Approximate cost for tuition and fees only will be:

• $8,821 — Oklahoma resident
• $12,669 — Non-resident

Other associated costs with the Internship Program:

• CPR training: $35
• Background Check: $75
• Drug Screen: $43.50
• Inoculations/Vaccinations (if needed): up to $200
• Professional Membership dues: $100
• Professional Clothing/Lab Coat/Non-slip shoes: $200
• University Compliant Laptop (if needed): up to $1500
• Student Health Insurance (if not currently insured): $1500
• Trajecsys fee: $100
• Books/Supplies: $500
• Travel for Clinical Training: $1000
• Cost of Living: $1,468 per month*
• Liability Insurance: $0**
• Board Exam fee: $200

*Cost of Living component: this figure is derived from a monthly estimate of expenses for the average living expenses a student incurs, such as rent/mortgage, utilities, food, and other personal expenses.  This is only an estimate and can vary from individual to individual.

**All College of Allied Health students having patient contact are required to carry general liability insurance.  The College of Allied Health assumes this cost for all students.

Please follow this link: http://www.ouhsc.edu/financialservices/SFA/CostList.asp and click on “Allied Health – Dietetic Internship” for a detailed description of full estimated costs beyond tuition and fees.

Interns will also have other required expenses including but not limited to lab coat, non-slip shoes, professional dress, laptop, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics student membership, attendance at a state or national professional meeting, housing, and transportation. An automobile is required as interns may have to drive an hour to some rotation sites and public transportation is not available. A generous financial aid package is available for qualified interns.

Additional cost information:
Bursar's Office Tuition and Fees

Financial Aid is available and once accepted to the program, interns are encouraged to apply as needed.  Additional Financial Aid Information:
Student Financial Aid

Nutritional Sciences Faculty

Upon successful completion of the Internship, the Intern receives a Verification Statement which provides the eligibility for application to take the National Registration Exam to become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) through the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR).  Upon passing the National Registration Exam, the graduate will be credentialed as a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and prepared to function as an entry-level RDN.

The Program also facilitates the process to become a Provisionally Licensed Dietitian in the State of Oklahoma immediately after graduation.

Standalone Dietetic Internship Program

Combined Masters of Sciences with Dietetic Internship Program

Department of Nutritional Sciences
College of Allied Health
The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
1200 N Stonewall Avenue, Room 3057
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma  73117-1215

Brian dela Cruz, MS, RDN/LD
Dietetic Internship Director
Phone:  (405) 271-8001 x-41181
Nutritional Sciences Department Phone:  (405) 271-2113
Fax:  (405) 271-1560
Email Brian de la Cruz

Mike Minnis, MS, RD, CSCS, Coordinator of Performance Nutrition/Assistant Strength Coach, Philadelphia Eagles
Certificate in Dietetic Internship Graduate, Nutritional Sciences

Mike Minnis is the Coordinator of Performance Nutrition/Assistant Strength Coach for the Philadelphia Eagles. He has been with the NFL team since February 2016. Prior to that, he spent the 2015 season as the Director of Performance Nutrition for the University of Southern California football team.

In his current role with the Eagles, Minnis administers body composition analysis, performs one-on-one consults and designs nutrition plans to meet the athletes’ individual goals, assists in menu development in the Eagles training facility and on the road, develops hydration strategies, and coordinates nutrition education and other performance fueling strategies.  In addition, Minnis assists the strength & conditioning staff with program development and implementation.

A native of Bucklin, KS, Minnis completed a B.S. in Business at the University of Kansas from 2007-2011 and then completed a dual Bachelors and Master’s degree at Kansas State University in Human Nutrition from 2011-2013. He went on to complete his dietetic internship in the College of Allied Health at the University of Oklahoma.

“I chose the OU dietetic internship because of the individualized support that they show their students. They respect each intern’s individual passions and interests within the field of dietetics and they go out of their way to make sure that each student gets the richest experience that they can while apart of their program”, said Minnis. “ I had personally expressed keen interest in sports nutrition during the application process and the Department of Nutritional Sciences assured me that they would do whatever it took for me to get that experience during my elective rotation. During my internship, Professor Brian dela Cruz, Dietetic Internship Director, did exactly that and went out of his way to develop a relationship and contract with the Philadelphia Eagles to allow me to get my foot in the door and immerse myself in a unique opportunity during my elective rotation that forever changed my career path. I can’t thank OU enough for what they did to put me in the position that I am today and I recommend this program most because of the people and the genuine support and interest that they show their students.”

Before heading to USC in 2015, Minnis was in other sports nutrition roles including internships with Athletes’ Performance (EXOS) and University of Texas athletics. Minnis is a registered dietitian (RD) and a certified strength & conditioning specialist (CSCS).

Allison Fassler, MA, RD, LD
Clinical Dietitian – Compass Group/Morrison Healthcare
Genesis Medical Center – East Rusholme, Davenport, IA
Certificate in Dietetic Internship Graduate (2016)
Master of Arts in Dietetics (2015)

Allison Fassler is a clinical dietitian practicing in the acute care inpatient setting at Genesis Medical Center. She is employed by Compass Group, Morrison Healthcare sector and has been a member of their team since October of 2016. 

Allison is the primary dietitian for the following units – Medical/Pulmonary, Oncology, and Neurology. She also assists with coverage of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. In her current position, she provides patient-centered care via the Nutrition Care Process and regularly utilizes ASPEN criteria to successfully diagnose adult malnutrition. Areas of interest include adult malnutrition, discharge planning/nutrition transitions of care, nutrition-focused physicals exams, nutrition support, and ERAS protocols. Allison also serves as a clinical preceptor for the Iowa State University Dietetic Internship Program. 

Originally from Sterling, IL, Allison relocated to Ames, IA to attend Iowa State University from 2009-2013. Initially, Allison set out to become an orthotist/prosthetist but soon realized her passion was nutrition. She received her B.S. in Kinesiology & Health and later went on to complete her M.A. in Dietetics at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center in 2015. She was selected into the Department of Nutritional Science’s Dietetic Internship Program in 2016 where she completed her foodservice and clinical rotations at the OKC VA Medical Center and community rotations within the Oklahoma City metropolitan area as well as Hy-Vee Grocery Stores in the Iowa/Illinois Quad Cities region. 

“I am so grateful for my experience at OUHSC at not only the graduate level but within the internship program. My professors and preceptors showed such passion for the field of nutrition and dietetics as well as for the advancement of dietitians as an integral role within the healthcare team. Through my experiences as a student and intern, I developed the needed skills to be a successful clinical dietitian – critical thinking, relying on evidence-based research, and providing medical nutrition therapy individualized to each and every patient. I strongly recommend both the educational programs and the dietetic internship program offered within the Department of Nutritional Sciences for the exceptional faculty and staff and the unique opportunities the programs provide to assist any future dietitian find their passions and career interests.”

Allison recently accepted the 2020 Morrison Healthcare Lanois Region Clinical Excellence Award and will go on to the next round for selection of the award at the national level. Outside of seeing patients, she currently remains involved within the Morrison Clinical Specialty Committees where she and another Morrison Healthcare dietitian will present on the topic of discharge planning/nutrition transitions of care. Allison also continues to stay involved within her local district organization – Mississippi Valley Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics where she will serve as treasurer for the 2020-2021 calendar year. 

The OUHSC Internship was granted full accreditation in 2019 for 7 years through December 31, 2026 by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. For additional information on accreditation, please contact:

Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND)
120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2190
Chicago, Illinois 60606-6995
Phone: 800/877-1600, ext. 5400
Website
Email

Effective January 1, 2024, the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) will require a minimum of a master’s degree to be eligible to take the credentialing exam to become a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN). In order to be approved for registration examination eligibility with a bachelor’s degree, an individual must meet all eligibility requirements and be submitted into CDR’s Registration Eligibility Processing System (REPS) before 12:00 midnight Central Time, December 31, 2023. For more information about this requirement visit CDR’s website: https://www.cdrnet.org/graduatedegree. In addition, CDR requires that individuals complete coursework and supervised practice in program(s) accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND). Graduates who successfully complete the ACEND-accredited Dietetic Internship Program at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center are eligible to apply to take the CDR credentialing exam to become an RDN.