"It may seem an impossible feat to attend dietetic classes at OHSU while living in Ashland, OR, but as a distance student this great feat was accomplished. Attending classes via telecommunication was a fabulous learning experience which provided me the opportunity to acquire skills so few others are well versed in, thereby better preparing me for the competitive work environment of today's world. The OHSU DI program took me on the grand, guided tour of Dietetics by way of numerous rotations in marvelously interesting internships. With these real-world and classroom experiences I have gained a confidence in my abilities and education that is now a priceless boon to my professional performance, the advancement of my career, and job satisfaction. As I continue to learn, and now to work at OHSU, it is with great pride and gratitude that I attribute my ability to help others through nutrition to the supportive OHSU DI program staff and giving preceptors - of course, I can't forget my own hard work. It is advisable not to count the seemingly endless hours of effort one must devote to completing the assignments, studying for exams as well as the rotation workload, but rather to relish in each opportunity to learn from the talented and giving nutrition professionals at OHSU and of the greater NorthWest."

-  Nitza Bezzerides, Class of 2005-2006

"The OHSU dietetic internship provided a vast array of experiences for me to develop my skills as an up and coming dietitian. Looking back, I'm thoroughly amazed at the confidence I gained throughout the year, as well as the opportunity to practically apply the information I had learned in college. I also appreciated the connection between class work and our rotations and feel that this helped prepare me for upcoming rotations. Overall, this internship presents considerable challenges but the energy you put in will be equally returned to you through help and guidance from the internship staff as well as your various preceptors. "

-  Kate Fischer, Class of 2004-2005

"It was one of the biggest rushes of my life when I found out I was accepted to the OHSU internship! I had done my research and I knew it was one of the best programs in the country. I realized that all the work I had put in during my undergraduate work really paid off! My experience here has been more than just rotations and school work. I have made lifelong friends that will help me in my career. I have learned about leaving my comfort zone and finally being out on my own in a city I am not used to. Portland is the most beautiful city I have ever seen with its mountains and rivers. The city and the internship are technologically advanced which is one of the things that drew me here. I knew that an internship that required me to submit electronically would definitely require a lot more computer knowledge. I feel very comfortable with the reliance on technology for communication in the internship. We all have rotations throughout the city and e-mail is a great way for us to get messages to each other. Now that the internship is coming to an end, I feel so confident in my knowledge and my readiness for the future. I know I have been prepared well by my rotations in so many areas of the field. I have loved this experience and I have loved being here. Nothing is quite how you expect it will be, but I wouldn't trade my experience for the world."

- Krista Mills--Class of 2003-2004

"Not many women would leave their family behind for the pursuit of an education. For that price, I had to know the OHSU Dietetic Internship program would be worth it. As an OHSU intern I have access to rotations in a variety of dietetic settings, MD lectures and grand rounds, and the newest results to OHSU-conducted research. I have the privilege of practicing in a medical teaching environment, and working on a team of highly reputable administrative and medical professionals. I have developed skills in grant proposal writing, product development, team building, public speaking, clinical care provision, and foodservice and clinical management. As a result of this experience, I am smarter, more confident, more focused, and better prepared for my future. Was it worth it? "Absolutely!"

- Belinda Gilbertson--Class of 2003-2004

Tasting boiled snails, teaching a second class about the importance of breakfast and a sophomore class on body image, developing a 20 minute lesson plan in reducing television viewing to be used by instructors, and interacting with patients have made the Coordinated Masters Program in Clinical Nutrition at Oregon Health and Science University exhilarating. In addition to the experiences from my rotation, balancing nutrition courses from the internship and additional courses to acquire our master's degree is a challenging process. This challenge is tremendously gratifying because with the help of peers, faculty, and preceptors I can look back and say "yeah I did all that."

- Yueh-Han Lin--Class of 2007