Schedule
Applications for the Fall 2026 Internship will open on August 5, 2025, and the application deadline for November decisions will be October 15, 2025, and March decisions will be February 15, 2026. All Compass/Morrison Employees and Priority Partner students are encouraged to utilize the November decision timeline for early decisions and admittance to our internship Application Process. (Students enrolled in MSDI Pathway Partner programs will automatically become eligible to participate in the MHC DI program, Click here for MSDI Pathway Partners).
For Fall 2026, Morrison Healthcare DI will offer:
Internship Class: Aug 2026-March/April 2027
- Track 1: Aug 2026- March 2027:
- 40 hours/week, Monday-Friday; Admission requirement: DPD Verification Statement with completed MS degree by July 2025.
- Track 2: Aug 2026- April 2027:
- 32 hours/week, Monday- Thurs; Admission requirement: BS degree, DPD Verification statement, 12-18 hours completed toward master’s degree.
- Track 3: Aug 2026- April 2027:
- 32 hours/week, Monday- Thurs; Accepted into one of our MSDI Pathway Partners, with BS degree and DPD Verification Statement; Refer to MSDI Pathway Partners for matriculation information.
Rotations
Dietetic interns must participate in the internship orientation (Aug 17-21 in Atlanta, GA) before beginning the internship. Students must attend all days in person. Rotations will start on August 31, 2026.
Internship Breaks: The week of Thanksgiving, the Monday before Christmas, and returning the Monday after New Year’s Day; MLK Day, Memorial Day, and the 4th of July.
Orientation: All students must attend the in-person orientation before starting the internship.
Online Sessions: Online classes will be scheduled in the evenings throughout the internship. The sessions will provide online live training, presentations, and discussions.
Rotation experiences based on 32 - 40 hours/week include:
Food Management (6 -7 weeks)
Experiences to include, but not limited to:
~ Implement steps to order, purchase, and receive food according to regulatory and budgetary requirements.
~ Create and implement recipes/menus to satisfy the needs and demands of patients and café customers.
~ Assist with employee schedules, payroll, and provide training and development.
~ Participate in patient food delivery operations from meal selection to patient meal delivery
~ Evaluate the workflow of systems, kitchen design, kitchen equipment, and layout
~ Researching and implementing sustainability initiatives or trends to improve food management operations.
~ Analyze quality, financial, and productivity data for use in planning.
~ Evaluate food & nutrition services to ensure that the environment for customers and associates is safe and regulatory requirements are met.
Inpatient Clinical Nutrition (12 -14 weeks)
Experiences to include, but not limited to:
~ Assess and educate patients with varying medical conditions
~ Present case study and a comprehensive literature review
~ Participate in functions of leadership
Outpatient Nutrition Counseling and Community (3 weeks)
Experiences to include, but not limited to:
~ Participate in providing medical nutrition therapy to patients/clients in the outpatient setting
~ Document requirements and follow-up of care and communications in the outpatient setting
~ Participate in coding and billing of nutrition services to obtain reimbursement for services
~ Participate in providing an outpatient class or a healthcare system community initiative
~ Establish, coordinate, and lead a group for a local grocery shopping tour.
Specialty Rotation (3 weeks) NEW
Experiences to include, but not limited to:
Opportunity to specialize in an area the student is interested in. Specialty rotations may include nutrition support, sports nutrition, pediatrics, telehealth, food insecurity, long-term care, business management, corporate leadership, wellness & sustainability, teaching kitchens, school nutrition, nutrition informatics, marketing/social media communications, and culinary patient nutrition. Please note that some of these rotations can be virtual.
Research (32 hours)
Experiences to include, but not limited to:
~Designated research topic established by the internship
~Collection of data, with analysis of information, and literature research to support the topic
~Research topic and findings presented as a poster
Professional Development (32 hours)
Experiences to include, but not limited to:
~Interactive workshops and webinars on self-assessment, learning and leadership styles, conflict management with interactive case scenarios, and so on
~Value of preceptorship and mentorship leadership panel
~Recruitment fair with Talent Acquisition team and interview panel, and salary negotiation skill practices
