Henry Ford Hospital Dietetic Internship Application
HENRY FORD HOSPITAL
Dietetic Internship Program
Department of Food and Nutrition Services
2799 West Grand Boulevard
Detroit, Michigan 48202-2689
(313) 916-3473
DIRECTIONS
Please read the following information carefully. Failure to complete the application process accurately and completely will cause your application to be discarded.
QUALIFICATIONS OF APPLICANTS
CADE Accreditation Standards require programs to have policies and procedures in place to ensure that applicable degree and coursework requirements are completed before Dietetic Internship enrollment.
Minimum GPA
A 3.0 is the minimum grade point average an applicant must have to be considered for an appointment to the Program.
Prior Work Experience
Professional experiences in hospital, clinical dietetics, or hospital food service, in community nutrition or in any health care or food service activity along with supervisory experiences are evaluated. Experiences may be as an employee or as a volunteer: forty (40) hours minimum and confirmation of this experience is required in at least one of the reference letters.
Activities & Organizations
Applicants' extra curricular activities and organizational memberships provide additional insight into their interests and ability to work with others, motivation, maturity and leadership potential.
Recency of Education Requirement
CDR removed the recency of education requirements in 1996. It is up to the individual programs to establish admission requirements based on what is needed for success in the program.
Henry Ford Hospital Dietetic Internship requires:
0-5 years: Updating not required.
5-10 years: 6 semester or 9 quarter hours.
10 years or longer: Meet current ADA academic requirements with no fewer than 8 semester hours of 12 quarter hours. A Verification Statement, signed by the Program Director and a transcript documenting completion of required courses. (Please note the Verification Statement must be completed within five years prior to the date of application.)
Foreign Degree Applicants
Applicants, who have obtained their education outside of the U.S. and its territories, must have their academic degree(s) validated as equivalent to the Baccalaureate of Master's degree conferred by a regionally accredited college or university in the U.S. The original foreign degree equivalency statement must accompany the application form. Validation of a foreign degree does not eliminate the need for a Verification Statement of completion of a Didactic Program in Dietetics.
SELECTION OF DIETETIC INTERNS
Number of Interns
Eight applicants are accepted into the HFH Dietetic Internship Program each year.
Selection Criteria A selection committee reviews each application for overall GPA, GPA for professional and science courses, work experience, letters of recommendation, letters of application, extra curricular activities and leadership potential. Additionally, the applicant's dossier is evaluated on content, clarity, thoroughness and presentation. Written communication skills and personal objectives are important in the process.
Nondiscrimination Henry Ford Health System, its affiliates and educational programs do not discriminate against applicants to its programs. Application forms do not require information about race, religion, sex, national origin, age, height, weight, marital status, familial status, handicap or disabled veteran status. After admission a request may be made for some of the above information for analysis of admission trends.
Interviews
The Program Director schedules telephone interviews with qualified applicants. Any expenses incurred because of the interview are the responsibility of the applicant. In addition, applicants are welcome to come and tour the facility and meet with the Internship Directory to discuss the Program. Contact Lynne Hufnagle (313-916-3473 or lhugnag1@hfhs.org) to arrange a personal interview and/or tour.
DEADLINE DATES
The Application Deadline coincides with the spring match deadline established by D&D Digital. Typically the deadline is md-February.
Computer matching is completed in mid-April.
The HFH Internship begins on the first Monday in October unless otherwise noted.
COMPUTER MATCHING
All applicants to Dietetic Internships and Pre-professional Practice Programs listed in the instruction booklet from D&D Digital Systems must participate in computer matching. Applicants should request instructions and a mark/sense card to prioritize their Dietetic Internship Preferences. Applicants should request this material from any ADA-approved Didactic Program in Dietetics or from D&D Digital Systems. This request should be made to allow turn around time for submitting by February 15, 2008 postmark deadline. There is no charge for this material. However, there is a $50.00 charge for computer matching that is due with the applicant's prioritized ranking. Applicants are notified of their match/no match status in April.
Address requests to:
D&D Digital Systems
Suite 301
304 Main Street
Ames, Iowa 50010
Application Form Complete the Application Form and Recommendation Forms, both available from the Dietetics Educators of Practitioners (DEP) web site -- http://www.depdpg.org/index_580.cfm A minimum of three references are required. References are required from 1) your Didactic Program Director (DPD advisor), 2) an instructor in dietetics or a related course, 3) a supervisor from your hospital and/or of your client contact experience. The person writing the reference is to put it in a sealed envelope, sign the envelope across the sealed flap and write your name on the front of the envelope.
Application Letter (Business letter format) In your own handwriting, write no more than a two page application letter. Use a narrative format. In this letter answer the following four questions:
Why have you chosen Dietetics as a profession?
What are your short and long term professional goals?
Why have you chosen the HFH Internship? (Remember, the internship has a Nutrition Therapy emphasis.)
What are your specific expectations of the HFH Internship Program?
The Personal Letter is evaluated for:
The appropriateness of the applicant's personal expectations of the internship
The appropriateness and thoughtfulness of his/her goals
The appropriateness and achievability of her/his personal objectives
The applicant's realistic and positive attitude
The applicant's ability to write and present her/his thoughts
Handwritten on plain white bond paper; logically organized
Length no more than 2 pages
Carefully prepared, no cross-outs/erasures, spelling and grammar correct
Transcripts Obtain official transcripts from all colleges / universities that you attended. Transcripts must have official seals. If you have graduated, be sure the date of graduation, the degree awarded and the official seal and signature are on the transcripts. Mail all transcripts with your application packet.
Verification Forms
With your application, submit one of the following signed by your DPD director.
For those who have not yet graduated: Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education (CADE) "Declaration of Intent to Complete Degree and Didactic Program Requirements."
For those who have graduated: Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education (CADE) "Verification Statement."
For graduates of institutions not in the United States: Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education (CADE) "Verification Statement" and a foreign degree equivalency statement from a credentialing agency.
Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education (CADE) "Verification Statements" and the "Declaration of Intent" must be completed and signed by the Program Director of an approved Didactic Program in Dietetics. The signature of the Program Director must be an original one.
Extra Curricular Activities and Organizations This section of the application is evaluated for:
Professional interests
Community service (Extra curricula activities may be listed on application, noted from elective courses, noted from work experiences and/or noted in letters of application.)
Has functioned as a leader in these activities
Telephone Interview
During the telephone interview the applicant is evaluated for:
Ability to cope with change
Conflict management skills
Decision making skills
Integrity and trust
Communication skills
Application Fee
A $75.00 non-refundable application fee must be sent with the application. Checks are to be made payable to HFH Dietetic Internship Program .
RECEIPT OF APPLICATION
If you want to be notified that your application has been received, have your application sent by certified mail.
RETURN OF APPLICATION MATERIALS
Application materials of those persons not receiving an appointment to HFH are not returned. They are shredded.
SUBMISSION OF APPLICATIONS
Send applications to:
Dietetic Internship Program
Department of Food and Nutrition Services
Henry Ford Hospital
2799 West Grand Boulevard
Detroit, Michigan 48202-2689
APPOINTMENT
In April of each year, matched applicants must telephone or fax the Program Director to confirm the acceptance or rejection of the match. A written letter of confirmation is required, postmarked within 24 hours of acceptance.
