Innovative Approach With An Individualized Program
The Be Well Solutions Dietetic Internship (BWS DI) is a full-time distance program that promises an innovative curriculum with a corporate wellness and disease prevention concentration. Geared toward self-motivated individuals, BWS DI allows them to take a proactive approach and create a personalized experience unique to their career goals. BWS DI accepts prior assessed learning, offers a leadership scholarship, and prioritizes community for their interns and alumni network.
Interns may select from two program pathways: DI-only or MS/DI. The DI-only pathway is for interns who already have a master’s degree, are in the process of completing one, or choose to apply to a master’s program that is not a BWS DI partner. The MS/DI pathway is for interns who will complete their master’s degree at the same time as their internship. BWS DI has several master’s program partners that interns may choose from. Each program has its own concentration and curriculum, and we are proud to have partners that tailor to a variety of interests.
Be Well Solutions is a physician-owned, comprehensive wellness company that specializes in full-service wellness including biometric screenings, health risk assessments, wellness programming and intervention, compliance tracking, and aggregate reporting.
Required Rotations
As a distance dietetic internship, we require interns to secure their own supervised practice rotations using sites and preceptors of their choice. Interns are expected to find qualified Registered Dietitian Nutritionists as preceptors, and are required to complete a minimum of 1040 supervised practice hours. To provide interns with maximum flexibility to meet their learning goals, we offer both a 5-rotation option and a 4-rotation option.
The 5-rotation option is configured as follows:
The emphasis rotation allows interns to select a focus area of particular interest to them; popular choices include sports nutrition, eating disorders, and private practice.
The 4-rotation option is designed for interns who wish to deepen their expertise in one of our four core program disciplines. The same hourly minimums are required in each area:
In addition, each intern is allotted 160 flex hours, which are used to expand the rotation(s) of greatest interest to them. For example, an intern wishing to gain more clinical experience may elect a 480-hour clinical rotation. An intern who wants to explore both foodservice and community in more depth may elect a 160-hour foodservice rotation and a 240-hour community rotation.
Interns are required to utilize all 160 of their flex hours; they may do so in whatever manner they choose, as long as the overall number of supervised practice hours totals or exceeds 1040. More information about the 4-rotation vs. 5-rotation option, along with a rotation schedule template for both, can be found under the Supplemental Application tab on our website.
Be Well Solutions Dietetic Internship Faculty will approve each intern’s proposed plan and schedule prior to the start of their program.
Program Concentration
Our corporate wellness and disease prevention concentration provides exposure to an industry (worksite wellness) that is expected to experience robust growth as more and more organizations adopt wellness programs to help lower healthcare costs and improve employee morale. Wellness and disease prevention is also an area that can be applied to any dietetics specialty, so our graduates are well-equipped to work in a variety of areas upon completion of the internship.
Through BWS DI’s didactic learning, interns will become proficient in the assessment of an organization’s population health risks and needs as well as the development of a comprehensive worksite wellness program. Supervised practice during the Wellness Rotation will allow interns to practice effective health communications through the design and presentation of nutrition and health-related seminars, handouts, newsletters, health posters, and other communication tools.
Halfway through the program, our interns attend a day-long Wellness Workshop where they participate in a variety of activities to gain hands-on experience in this area. Additionally, they learn from guest speakers who work in wellness. The workshop prepares them for their Wellness Capstone project, through which interns develop their own wellness program for a company of their choice based on what they’re learned during the internship.
Program Requirements
Our full-time internship program has two pathways: the MS/DI Pathway and DI-Only Pathway. The DI-Only Pathway can be completed in 8 months. In the event of extenuating circumstances, interns have up to 150% of the time allotted to complete the program requirements (12 months). Those pursuing the MS/DI Pathway may complete both the internship and master’s degree within 17-28 months, depending on the MS program that they choose. Interns are required to travel to Be Well Solutions in the Cleveland Metropolitan area on one occasion – for a 3-day Orientation event that introduces them to their faculty advisors and provides firm foundations for their upcoming rotations. Interns must have a laptop with Microsoft Word and a USB port that they bring to Orientation. Interns are responsible for their transportation to and from the hotel site in Cleveland, but once onsite for these events, lodging and most meals are covered. Interns must have access to a high-speed internet connection for scheduled online conference meetings.
To graduate from the program, interns must successfully complete the minimum supervised practice hours, didactic learning experiences, and fulfill learning objectives to demonstrate competencies laid forth by ACEND and BWS DI. Additionally, interns must pass the BWS DI comprehensive examination that will be administered after rotations are completed.
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
Didactic Curriculum
In addition to supervised practice rotations, BWS DI also has a didactic curriculum component. This includes assignments, conference meetings, professional development workshops, self-assessments, and a comprehensive exam. Didactic curriculum activities are completed outside of rotation hours. The curriculum is essential for interns to meet ACEND required competencies. It also gives them extra experience and practice in certain skills, allows them to collaborate with others, and also forms the foundation of our wellness concentration.
An overview of the didactic curriculum can be found below. If you have questions about our didactic curriculum, please send an email 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 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 a company of your choice.
Conference Meetings & Journal Club
Once a month, interns will come together with their advisory groups for a conference meeting. During these meetings, interns have the opportunity to check in with their peers and faculty advisor, and talk about how things are going in their rotations. Each intern will lead one journal club discussion on a scientific article throughout the year. Additionally, interns will present their projects, including their wellness capstone and dietary trends assignment.
Conference meetings typically take place in the late afternoon/evening (depending on the intern’s time zone) and are approximately 1 hour long.
Workshops
Interns will be required to attend a few workshops during the program, including a Policy and Advocacy Workshop, Wellness Workshop, and Interviewing Skills Workshop. Some of the workshops are a part of Orientation and Exit Class, 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. Interns will be notified of the date of the Wellness Workshop in advance, and will be required to adjust their rotation schedules accordingly.
Self Assessments
Interns will complete self-assessments at the beginning, middle, and end of their internship. These are an opportunity for them to reflect on their strengths, areas of improvement, and goals. The self-assessments are reviewed by faculty advisors, who will provide support and guidance to interns as needed, based on what they’ve shared in their assessments.
Comprehensive Exam
The comprehensive exam is a virtually proctored exam, modeled after the RDN Exam, which interns must pass to graduate from BWS DI. Interns will sit for this toward the end of the program and will be provided with a study guide beforehand. The comprehensive exam is a great way for interns to become familiar with the format of the RDN Exam and get a jump start on studying. It is typically scheduled on a weekend and is a 1.5-hour time commitment.
Note: The curriculum above does not pertain to the Accelerated DI-Only Pathway. If interested in learning more about the curriculum for the Accelerated DI-Only Pathway, click here.
Why Choose Be Well Solutions
Flexibility & Opportunity
BWS DI is designed to provide interns with all of the guidance, support, and knowledge required to become a successful RDN. We allow interns to create their own rotation schedule at their preferred geographic location(s). This design offers maximum flexibility and the opportunity to network with nutrition professionals in a wide variety of practice settings.
Faculty Advisor Team
Our program values each intern and provides mentoring and guidance to help every intern succeed as an entry-level dietitian. Our team of faculty advisors have a unique role in connecting with interns throughout the program, offering advice and mentoring. Each intern is placed with a faculty advisor, who remains their main contact on a regular basis. Additionally, the faculty advisor will lead a small group of interns in monthly online conference meetings, will ensure rotation requirements are being met, is in touch with preceptors, and provides academic feedback on BWS DI assignments.
Community
Even though our interns are completing rotations nationwide, BWS DI strives to maintain a strong sense of community within each intern class. As interns come together for Orientation, connections with faculty and interns are developed and maintained throughout the program. The faculty advisor groups provide frequent discussion opportunities among interns, fostering continued connections. In addition to the faculty advisor groups, our interns can set up their own study groups and networking hours during the internship. Gathering again virtually at Exit Class, interns connect again and enter the field of nutrition and dietetics with professional contacts across the country. The community established within each class extends beyond the internship program into their professional career paths. Our established alumni network provides opportunities for graduates to stay connected through regular newsletters, a Facebook group, and periodic networking events.
Orientation and Exit Class
Orientation is held in a hybrid format, starting with a 1-day virtual event before interns come together for 3 days in Solon, Ohio — a suburb of Cleveland. Orientation will allow interns to get to know their classmates and faculty in a personal way. The purpose of Orientation is for interns to learn from an assortment of practicing RDNs, experienced clinical and healthcare professionals, and our talented faculty, who will provide the essentials needed to build a solid clinical foundation for upcoming rotations. During Orientation, interns will collaborate on projects, receive RD Exam resources, and attend an informal ceremony before transitioning into their prearranged rotations. BWS DI covers the costs of lodging and some meals for Orientation.
Throughout rotations, our interns will attend online meetings, work on assignments, and receive instruction and feedback from the BWS DI faculty.
The internship concludes with a 2-day virtual Exit Class. During this event, interns will have the opportunity to plan diligently for their careers. Session topics will prepare interns for resume building, honing in on job interview skills, networking, and professionalism, and interns will present final projects to their class. This is also the point where interns will receive their Verification Statements.
Assistance Securing Rotations
Unlike most other distance programs, we are willing to provide some guidance with securing rotation sites. Interns are highly encouraged to have all sites confirmed before applying to the program. We recommend getting started with our Tip for Securing Rotations page, which provides an overview of suitable sites for rotations.
Prospective applicants may also view the recording of our Finding Preceptors Workshop or contact our team at bwsdi@bewellsolutions.com for our Finding Preceptors Toolkit, which includes an email template and preceptor screening tool to help streamline the process of reaching out to preceptors.
Once a student is accepted into our program, our faculty will provide assistance, as needed, to help them secure practice sites/preceptors so rotations required by the program can be completed. We are fully committed to our interns’ success in the program and following graduation. For more information, prospective interns can email bwsdi@bewellsolutions.com.
Flexible Payment Plans and Leadership Scholarship
Our program appreciates the financial investment each intern is making when accepting their position in our internship. That is why we are very flexible in offering a variety of payment plans that can be tailored to interns’ needs. Interns may also apply for a $1000 Leadership Scholarship once accepted to the program, which is awarded to one or more interns who demonstrate the ability to provide leadership to the BWS DI community and dietetics field. To learn more, please contact us at bwsdi@bewellsolutions.com.
Intern Employment
As a result of graduating from BWS DI, our interns are poised for a variety of entry-level dietitian roles. This includes, but is not limited to, positions in the following areas: clinical, wellness, community nutrition, foodservice, private practice, school nutrition, sports dietetics, and nutrition communications. The graphic below provides several examples of job titles that our alumni currently hold:
