Dietetics Training in a Hospital Setting
If you’re training to become a Registered Dietitian, Hebrew Rehabilitation Center offers the only ACEND-accredited internship in New England in a geriatric long-term care setting. As a long-term chronic care hospital, we serve patients with complex medical needs, including person-centered care for those with chronic illness and short-term post-acute care for patients recovering from a hospitalization, illness, or surgery.
With locations in Boston and at NewBridge on the Charles in Dedham, Hebrew Rehabilitation Center is the only senior health care organization affiliated with Harvard Medical School. And as part of the broader Hebrew SeniorLife network, we offer a full continuum of care for seniors.
About the Curriculum
The Hebrew Rehabilitation Center Dietetic Internship’s mission is to prepare graduates by providing the tools to care for the growing population of older adults in hospital settings. The program will provide an emphasis in geriatric nutrition and food service management to help raise the standards in senior health care.
The internship program offers two tracks:
- A 10-month, full-time track running from September to June
- A 22-month, part-time track running from September to June, including a two-month break in between the first and second year.
Both tracks provide training in a long-term chronic care hospital with a focus on the aging population and clinical rehabilitation. We provide interns with a supervised practice experience designed to provide a strong theoretical knowledge base with practical experiences in:
- Sub-acute clinical nutrition
- Outpatient nutrition services
- Community nutrition
- Food service management
- Skilled nursing
- Long-term medical care
The program also includes a rotation at Hebrew SeniorLife’s Hinda and Arthur Marcus Institute for Aging Research, allowing interns to gain exposure in nutrition and geriatric research at one of the largest gerontological research facilities in the U.S. The Marcus Institute, which is also affiliated with Harvard Medical School, is based at Hebrew Rehabilitation Center in Boston.
Graduates of the program are eligible to sit for the Commission of Dietetic Registration credentialing examination for Registered Dietitians.
Applying to the Hebrew Rehabilitation Center Dietetic Internship
Hebrew Rehabilitation Center’s Dietetic Internship is participating in the 2023 Phase II application process. Please see below for more information.
To apply to a dietetic internship, individuals must complete at least a bachelor’s degree and ACEND-accredited coursework requirements, including Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) verification statement. Interns must also either be enrolled in or have completed a master’s degree program.
In addition, the Commission of Dietetic Registration requires that individuals complete coursework and supervised practice in program(s) accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND). Graduates who successfully complete the ACEND-accredited dietetic internship at Hebrew Rehabilitation Center are eligible to apply to take the CDR credentialing exam to become an RDN.
In most states, graduates must also obtain licensure or certification to practice. Read more about state licensure requirements.
The Hebrew Rehabilitation Center Dietetic Internship will offer up to six slots for appropriate preselect candidates in two different pre-select options per year the remaining slots through the computerized match process up to a maximum annual enrollment of 11 items. Please see below for more information on our pre-select partnerships with both Framingham State University and Simmons University. If you have questions about any of these options, please email alegriacohen@hsl.harvard.edu.
There are no additional costs for participating in the preselect application process. All Pre-select candidates must apply, via DICAS, prior to December 31st and will be decided by January 15th. Successful applicants do not have to participate in the D&D Digital computer matching.
Framingham State Nutrition Science Degree
Through a partnership between Hebrew Rehabilitation Center and Simmons University, students enrolled in Framingham State’s Master of Science in Food and Nutrition concentration in Nutrition Science degree program ("Framingham MS"), students in the final (5th, graduate) year of the Didactic Program in Dietetics(BS) Master of Education concentration in Nutrition Education MEd 4+1 (“Framingham BS/MEd”) program, or recent graduates of that program, may apply early to the HRC dietetic internship through a Pre-Select process.
This will allow up to four Framingham MS students, 5th, graduate, or Framingham BS/Med students and recent graduates to apply for the Hebrew Rehabilitation Center DI prior to the regular DICAS application deadline.
Simmons MS Graduates in Nutrition & Health Promotion
Through a partnership between Hebrew Rehabilitation Center and Simmons University, students enrolled in Simmons Master of Science in Nutrition and Health Promotion degree program (Simmons MS), or recent graduates of that program, may apply early to the HRC dietetic internship through a Pre-Select process.
This will allow up to four Simmons MS students and recent graduates to apply for the Hebrew Rehabilitation Center DI prior to the regular DICAS application deadline.
We strongly recommend that you participate in a virtual open house of the Hebrew Rehabilitation Center Dietetic Internship program. This will allow you to learn more about our organization, the rotations we can offer you, and meet and talk with our program leadership and interns to help determine if our program is right for you. The following dates are available for the 2022-2023 application season.
Thursday, April 6, 2023 11:00AM - 12:00PM EST
Please complete the survey linked here to register for our open house on your preferred date at least three days in advance. If you have any questions about the program, please feel free to email Alegria Cohen at alegriacohen@hsl.harvard.edu or call or e-mail Tabitha Fineberg at 617-971-5402 or tabithafineberg@hsl.harvard.edu
| October 29 - December 17, 2022 | Dietetic Intern open houses |
| December 31, 2022 | All Preselect candidates must submit DICAS applications and Hebrew Rehabilitation Center application fee |
| January 15, 2023 | Preselect candidates will be notified of candidacy status |
| February 1, 2023 | The $75.00 application fee must be paid for consideration to Hebrew Rehabilitation Center |
| February 15, 2023 | Last day to submit applications to the Dietetic Internship Centralized Application Service |
| February 15, 2023 | Last day to register with internship choices via D&D Digital |
| April 2, 2023 | Notification Day |
| April 3, 2023 | Applicants who are matched must confirm acceptance |
| September 12, 2023 | Class of 2023 start date |
Submit your nonrefundable $75 application fee by December 31, 2022 using the link in the payment information section below.
Preselect applicants must submit their application via the Dietetic Internship Centralized Application Service no later than December 31st, 2022.
The complete online application packet must include:
- The standard application form
- Personal statement
- All transcripts
- Current resume
- Three reference letters: one professor, one work/volunteer supervisor, and one from either a professor or work/volunteer supervisor
All applicants must participate in either a Zoom or in person interview.
Applicants will be notified of candidacy status by January 15th, 2023.
Submit your nonrefundable $75 application fee by February 1, 2023 using the link in the payment information section below.
Computer matching applicants must submit their application via the Dietetic Internship Centralized Application Service no later than February 15th, 2023.
The complete online application packet must include:
- The standard application form
- Personal statement
- All transcripts
- Current resume
- Three reference letters: one professor, one work/volunteer supervisor, and one from either a professor or work/volunteer supervisor
Register via D&D Digital with your internship priority choices. This must also be completed by February 15, 2023. There is a $65 matching fee. Applicants should call D&D Digital prior to the deadline if they do not receive an email with login information. Notification Day will be on April 2, 2023.
All applicants must participate in either a Zoom or in person interview.
Thank you for submitting your payment for program fees and/or tuition.
If you have any problems with this form, please contact Tabitha Fineberg at 617-971-5402 or tabithafineberg@hsl.harvard.edu.
Hebrew Rehabilitation Center’s Dietetic Internship is participating in the 2023 Phase II application process.
Candidates who have questions about the program should email Alegria Cohen at alegriacohen@hsl.harvard.edu or Tabitha Fineberg at tabithafineberg@hsl.harvard.edu or 617-971-5402
Candidates who would like to apply and interview for a Phase II position, please pay the $75 application fee on the link above and use this link to schedule an interview.
For candidates who did not apply through DICAS, please email Alegria or Tabitha for an application.
The application cycle will close by June 15th, 2023.
Applicants who are matched to the Hebrew Rehabilitation Center Dietetic Internship must call 617-971-5402 by April 3, 2023 to confirm acceptance. The program start date for the class of 2023 is September 12, 2023.
Please note that the Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) completion date on the final verification statement must be prior to the entry date, September 12, 2023.
Once an applicant is matched and a start date is determined, Hebrew SeniorLife’s Academic Programs Department will contact the applicant to start the onboarding process. Our dietetics interns are subject to the same screening process as other trainees, such as background checks and medical documentation. COVID-19 vaccinations are required to participate in our internship.
