Be Well Solutions Dietetic Internship (BWS DI) is an ACEND-accredited distance Supervised Practice Experience (SPE) Program with a concentration in Corporate Wellness and Disease Prevention.

What sets BWS DI apart is our intern-centered approach. Interns can complete supervised practice experiences in their preferred geographic region, subject to site availability and program approval, while pursuing experiences that align with their professional goals and interests.

Our program continues to evolve through feedback from interns, alumni, preceptors, and faculty. From rotation site-placement support to professional development and RD Exam preparation, BWS DI faculty support interns throughout the program.

BWS DI has a concentration in Corporate Wellness and Disease Prevention. Through both supervised practice and didactic learning, interns explore the role nutrition professionals can play in supporting employee and population health. Interns develop skills in assessing population health risks and needs, planning evidence-based wellness initiatives, and creating health education and communication materials.

During the Wellness Rotation, supervised practice experiences may include developing and presenting nutrition education seminars, creating newsletters and handouts, supporting health promotion initiatives, and participating in other wellness-related projects.

Interns also participate in a day-long Wellness Workshop during the program. The workshop includes interactive activities designed to build practical skills in wellness and disease prevention and prepares interns for the Wellness Capstone project. For the Wellness Capstone, interns develop a comprehensive wellness program that applies knowledge and skills gained throughout the program.

As a distance SPE Program, BWS DI allows interns to complete supervised practice experiences within their preferred geographic region whenever appropriate sites and qualified preceptors are available.

Interns are encouraged to take an active role in identifying potential supervised practice sites and preceptors that align with their interests and career goals. However, interns are not expected to navigate the placement process alone. The BWS DI team provides guidance, resources, outreach support, and individualized assistance throughout the site-placement process. BWS DI also reviews and approves proposed supervised practice sites, preceptors, and schedules before supervised practice begins. If an accepted intern is unable to identify a required supervised practice site or preceptor, BWS DI provides individualized assistance to help secure an appropriate, geographically accessible placement and support timely program completion.

Interns complete a minimum of 1,040 supervised practice hours under the guidance of qualified preceptors. We offer both a five-rotation option and a four-rotation option. These options allow interns to tailor a portion of their supervised practice experience to their professional interests while still meeting all program requirements.

In addition to supervised practice experiences, BWS DI includes a didactic curriculum designed to complement interns’ hands-on learning.
The curriculum includes assignments, faculty advisor meetings, professional development activities, workshops, self-assessments, journal club, and RD Exam preparation.

Didactic activities are completed outside of supervised practice hours. The curriculum supports interns in developing and demonstrating required competencies while also building professional skills, encouraging collaboration, and supporting 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: Work with a team to prepare a policy brief and take action.
• Mentoring Assignment: Develop and practice mentoring skills.
• MNT Case Study: Optional assignment to be completed during the clinical rotation.
• Dietary Trends: Research a current 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 occur during Orientation and the Professional Development Workshop. Other activities may 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 successfully complete BWS DI, interns must complete all required supervised practice hours, didactic curriculum requirements, and program competencies established by ACEND and BWS DI.

Interns must also participate in required program activities, including virtual Orientation, faculty advisor meetings and conferences, workshops, and the Professional Development Workshop.

Interns must complete all program requirements within no more than 150% of the time allotted for their selected track.

Distance Education and Technology Requirements

Because BWS DI is a distance Supervised Practice Experience Program, interns must have reliable access to the technology needed to participate in online learning, communicate with faculty and preceptors, and complete program requirements.

Interns must have reliable access to a laptop or desktop computer and a stable high-speed internet connection capable of supporting video conferencing, email communication, and online curriculum activities. Interns must also have a webcam, microphone, and speakers or headphones for virtual meetings, along with reliable access to email, web-based learning platforms, and word-processing and presentation software or equivalent applications needed to complete program assignments.

Interns are expected to have basic technology skills, including the ability to use email and video conferencing platforms, navigate web-based learning platforms, upload and download files, save and organize documents, create and edit documents and presentations, access online program materials, and communicate electronically with faculty, preceptors, and other interns.

These tools and skills are required for virtual meetings, didactic coursework, assignments, online program resources, communication, and any approved remote supervised practice experiences.

Transportation Requirements

Interns must have reliable transportation to required in-person supervised practice experiences. Transportation may include a personal vehicle or available public transportation, depending on the intern’s location and supervised practice schedule. Interns are responsible for transportation-related costs such as fuel, parking, tolls, or public transportation fares.

Verification Statement Requirements

CDR requires individuals to hold a graduate degree from an appropriately accredited institution to be eligible for the RDN credentialing examination. BWS DI must confirm completion of the graduate degree before issuing the program’s Verification Statement.

After an intern completes all required supervised practice experiences, didactic requirements, and program competencies, BWS DI confirms that all program and graduate-degree requirements have been met.

Once all requirements are confirmed, the Program Director issues the Verification Statement and submits the required eligibility information to the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) as evidence that the interns are eligible to sit for the Registered Dietitian (RD) credentialing exam.

The Verification Statement documents successful completion of the ACEND-accredited program and is required as part of the process for establishing eligibility to take the RDN credentialing examination.

Be Well Solutions Dietetic Internship is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND), the accrediting agency for nutrition and dietetics education programs.

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

Intern Handbook & Program Policies

The BWS DI Intern Handbook details additional policies and procedures, including intern evaluation, academic performance and remediation, professional conduct, disciplinary procedures, grievances and appeals, leaves of absence, and support services.

The handbook is provided to accepted interns before the program starts and is available to prospective applicants upon request. To request a copy, please email bwsdi@bewellsolutions.com.