The Dietetic Internship Program of the University of Nevada, Reno is designed to prepare students to meet the performance requirements for entry level dietitians. The program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education of the American Dietetic Association.

The program is currently approved for six intern positions, with three positions located at sites in Las Vegas and three at sites in Reno. All clinical and community rotations are arranged by Karon Felten, MS.,RD, Director of the Dietetic Internship Program.

In Reno, one position is available at Renown Regional Medical Center, the second is shared by St. Mary's Regional Medical Center and the Veterans Hospital and the third position rotates at Renown Regional Medical Center, Carson Tahoe Medical Center, Tahoe Pacific Hospital, and DaVida.

Three internships are available in Las Vegas. Training in Las Vegas takes place at the current facilities: Desert Springs Hospital , University Medical Center of Southern Nevada; St. Rose Dominican Hospital, Veteran's Administration Southern Nevada and Valley Hospital Medical Center. Of the 1040 contact hours, 600 are devoted to clinical experience, 240 to food service and administration and the remaining 200 to community activities.

The University of Nevada Program currently has no minimum GPA or work experience requirements. We receive 25-30 applications during each six month cycle. The program Director does the first screening according to criteria agreed on by all the program preceptors. The most suitable applications (10-15) are then sent to review committees at each site. We do allow choice of sites between Reno and Las Vegas as indicated in the application.

Generally five to six applicants are selected for interviews at this second review by the Program Director and the preceptors. Interviews may be done by phone or in person. Deadlines stated in the applications packet give the approximate timing of the stages in the selection process.

The Program’s choices are submitted to the D&D matching service in accordance with ADA deadlines. Preference is given to Nevada residents only if all other criteria for selection are equal, i.e., if we are choosing between two candidates in the final stage of the process, one of whom resides in Nevada, and their credentials are essentially equivalent, we would give preference to the Nevada applicant.

While we currently have no minimum requirements, the applications we receive have become increasingly competitive. Applicants selected for the Program typically have a minimum GPA of 3.2 and an average of one year of relevant work experience. Students selected for the Program must demonstrate recency at least equivalent to that previously required by the American Dietetic Association.