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MCDPH Internship - Class of 2019

Updated: Mar 1, 2021


I have always been interested in public health. As a Hispanic individual, I as well as many of my family members and friends, have been through several experiences that were a result of a lack of proper health and nutrition education. I became invested in learning as much as I could to help the community around me. That desire to learn more and teach others eventually led me to pursuing dietetics, and finding a program that included a higher number of community health rotations, preparing me for a possible career in public health. MCDPH was perfect in many ways than just one. Being that the program was based in my hometown, full time, and had a public health focus, it was my top choice!


The fact that the school food service rotation is required in this internship, opened the door for me to be able to learn, become interested in and land a job at Arizona Department of Education administering School Nutrition Programs. I loved my school food service rotation and the connections I made with my preceptors and mentees gave me an advantage when applying for a job.


I enjoyed the dairy farm tours, as well as the opportunity to work with my fellow interns on several projects. My favorite rotation was my school food service rotation.

The clinical rotation was most difficult, hands down. It was unrelated to anything I had ever done in the past, and even though I had volunteered in the Emergency Department before, the application of the material as well as the environment and role of a clinical dietitian was relatively new to me. Medical Nutrition Therapy classes are just a taste of what you may actually encounter in the real world. Somedays were easy, but other days were extremely challenging. I learned SO MUCH and I am grateful that we, as dietitians have the opportunity to spend time in such a rotation, even if many Dietitians may not end up going the clinical route. Additionally, being in the Clinical environment helped me gain many useful skills such as working under pressure, managing my time and critical thinking!



MCDPH is a great choice for those who are committed and interested in community nutrition and/or public health. The program’s public health focus is very apparent from day one, and many of the rotations and projects are based on the community and public health aspect. As a MCDPH intern, you also get assigned several rotations that interns in other programs do not such as, food banks, county jail, and at times, school food service.


For future applicants: If you want to stand out as an applicant, try to find a job or volunteer position in any position that has a public health focus (teaching, nutrition education, SNAP-ed, food bank, community health clinic, etc). Be confident when interviewing and when writing your personal essay, really look deep within yourself and find the real reason you want to become a dietitian, so that your passion can come through on paper.


For future MCDPPH interns: Treat every rotation like a weeklong (or several weeks long) INTERVIEW. There may come a time when you need a recommendation for a future job, and if you impressed any of your preceptors, they may be there to recommend you or even put in a good word for you.


Kimberly Ruiz, RDN

School Nutrition Programs Specialist

Arizona Department of Education



MCDPH was my first choice because the internship is embedded within the Department of Public Health. Everything we did was with an eye to understanding how dietetics functions in public health on many different levels, from lofty legislation all the way to playing with food models in preschools. I really appreciated a year with experts to dive into how public health affects food issues for communities, for elders, for children, etc. I learned so much more than how to work with an individual on their health issues.

MCDPH is a solid choice for internship because EVERY internship in America will expose you to clinical, to schools, to management, etc. But MCDPH will show you where you can work as an RD within the enormous field of Public Health. You will learn from experts about how public health effects and supports preschools, college health centers, senior living communities, and more. Your view of what you can do with aa an RD will be expanded and broadened; you will be able to better advocate for your communities because of this program.

My advice for future applicants: whatever opportunities arise, take them. I had no idea what a rotation within a company providing tube feeding supplies would be like. It was FASCINATING. I had no idea the intricacies of the law, the insurance, and frankly just the logistics for providing meals to people who need tube feeding (think hot Phoenix sun, temperamental feeding formulas, and an influx of Uber drivers who may or may not complete their deliveries!). My rotation in assisted living was likewise illuminating, as was a presentation by a food advocate on the Farm Bill. I had no idea that the Farm Bill has EVERYTHING to do with dietetics, who we feed, and how they are funded and fed. This year is your opportunity to learn and explore in depth, and in person, beyond the science of dietetics and into the humanity of it, which is embedded in our society, our policies, and our politics. Apply because you want to learn, to grow, and to be challenged.


Anne Geissinger, MPH, RDN

Comprehensive Suicide Prevention Program Manager

NC Department of Health and Human Services

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