The Be Well Solutions Dietetic Internship (BWS DI) is a fully accredited distance dietetic internship program with a concentration in corporate wellness and disease prevention, led by Be Well Solutions, a physician-owned worksite wellness company. What sets BWS DI apart is our intern-centered approach. Interns have the opportunity to build a supervised practice experience that is both geographically convenient and aligned with their professional goals. Our program is continually strengthened through ongoing improvements informed by intern and alumni feedback.

By choosing the Be Well Solutions Dietetic Internship Program, interns are provided with full-circle support. From rotation schedule assistance to getting started in a nutrition career, we have program faculty here to help applicants and interns every step of the way.

Our corporate wellness and disease prevention concentration provides interns with exposure to worksite wellness and the role nutrition professionals can play in helping organizations support employee health and well-being. Because wellness and disease prevention principles can be applied across many areas of dietetics, graduates gain skills that are relevant to a variety of career paths.

Through BWS DI’s didactic learning, interns develop skills in assessing an organization’s population health risks and needs and designing comprehensive worksite wellness programs. During the Wellness Rotation, interns apply these skills through hands-on experiences that may include developing and presenting nutrition and health education seminars, handouts, newsletters, and other health communication materials.

Halfway through the program, interns attend a day-long Wellness Workshop featuring interactive activities designed to build practical skills in corporate wellness and disease prevention. The workshop also prepares interns for their Wellness Capstone project, in which they develop a comprehensive wellness program, applying the knowledge and skills gained throughout the dietetic internship.

The Be Well Solutions Dietetic Internship Program has two pathways: the MS/DI Pathway and DI-Only Pathway. The DI-Only Pathway can be completed in 8 months (full-time) or 12 months (part-time). In the event of extenuating circumstances, interns have up to 150% of the time allotted to complete the program requirements. Those pursuing the MS/DI Pathway may complete the internship and master’s degree within 17-28 months, depending on the MS program chosen.

As a distance dietetic internship, BWS DI offers interns the flexibility to complete supervised practice experiences within their preferred geographic region. Interns are encouraged to take an active role in identifying potential rotation sites and preceptors that align with their interests and career goals. Throughout the placement process, the BWS DI team provides guidance, resources, and outreach support to assist interns in securing supervised practice opportunities.

To meet ACEND requirements, interns must complete a minimum of 1,040 supervised practice hours under the guidance of qualified preceptors. BWS DI offers both a five-rotation pathway and a four-rotation pathway, providing flexibility in how interns complete these hours and allowing them to tailor portions of their supervised practice to their professional interests and learning goals.

Be Well Solutions Dietetic Internship Faculty will approve each intern’s proposed plan and schedule prior to the start of their program.

Beginning with the Fall 2027 cohort, the Foodservice rotation requirement will be 120 hours, and the Wellness rotation requirement will be 240 hours.

In addition to supervised practice rotations, BWS DI includes a didactic curriculum designed to complement interns’ hands-on learning experiences. The curriculum includes assignments, conference meetings, professional development workshops, self-assessments, and a practice exam. Didactic curriculum activities are completed outside of supervised practice rotation hours.

The didactic curriculum supports interns in meeting ACEND-required competencies while providing additional opportunities to develop and practice professional skills, collaborate with peers, and apply concepts across different areas of dietetics. It also provides the foundation for BWS DI’s Corporate Wellness and Disease Prevention concentration.

An overview of the didactic curriculum is provided below. Questions about the curriculum may be directed to

bwsdi@bewellsolutions.com.

Assignments & Wellness Capstone

• Policy and Advocacy Assignment: Along with a team, prepare a policy brief and take action.
• Mentoring Assignment: Develop and practice your mentoring skills.
• MNT Case Study: Optional assignment to be completed with the clinical rotation.
• Dietary Trends: Research a hot topic in nutrition and present your findings to your advisory group.
• Wellness Capstone: Design a wellness program for an assigned client. 

Conference Meetings & Journal Club

Once a month, interns meet with their advisory groups for a conference meeting. These meetings provide an opportunity to connect with peers and their faculty advisor, discuss rotation experiences, and receive support throughout the internship.

Each intern will lead one journal club discussion based on a scientific article during the program. Interns will also present selected projects during conference meetings, including their Dietary Trends Assignment and Wellness Capstone.

Conference meetings are typically held in the late afternoon or evening, depending on interns’ time zones, and last approximately one hour.

Workshops

Interns are required to attend a couple of workshops during the program, including a Policy and Advocacy Workshop and a Wellness Workshop. Some of the workshops are a part of Orientation and the Professional Development Workshop, and there are a few that will be scheduled in the evenings, outside of rotation hours. The exception to that is the Wellness Workshop, which is a day-long event where interns participate in a variety of activities to gain hands-on experience in the area of wellness and disease prevention. To help applicants plan their rotation schedule, we listed each cohort’s Wellness Workshop date on the Important Dates webpage.

Self-Assessments

Interns complete self-assessments at the beginning, midpoint, and end of the internship. These assessments provide an opportunity to reflect on strengths, areas for growth, and professional goals. Faculty advisors review the assessments and provide individualized support and guidance as needed.

Practice Exam

Interns will complete a practice exam as part of the BWS DI curriculum to kickstart their RD Exam preparation and help establish a baseline of readiness for taking the exam.

To graduate from the program, interns must successfully complete the minimum supervised practice hours, didactic curriculum, and fulfill learning objectives to demonstrate competencies laid forth by ACEND and BWS DI. Interns are also required to attend a virtual orientation and the professional development workshop, plus any virtual conferences throughout the internship. Access to reliable transportation (car, public transportation, etc.) for on-site rotations, a laptop or desktop computer, and a high-speed internet connection for scheduled online conference meetings and virtual internship rotations are also required.

BWS DI will provide a Verification Statement to interns upon completion of the program and a master’s degree. The program director will submit names to the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) as evidence that the interns are eligible to sit for the Registered Dietitian (RD) credentialing exam.

BWS DI is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND), the accrediting agency for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Graduates of the program will be eligible to sit for the dietetic Registration Exam.

Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2190
Chicago, IL 60606-6995
Phone: (312) 899-0040 ext. 5400
www.eatright.org/ACEND