Nancy Daghighian, RD - Graduating class: Non-Master Program, June 2005
Clinical Dietitian, Providence Holy Cross, Mission Hills, CA         

"I highly recommend the VA internship to all of my friends who are applying for dietetic internships because of its strong dynamics and the fact that it is a teaching hospital.  Upon completion of my internship I felt that my clinical and community skills were above and beyond an entry level dietitian because all the healthcare professionals at the VA are open to teaching and helping you excel. As an intern you really feel welcomed and part of the interdisciplinary team, which really empowers you to do your best in the internship. Lastly, the VA internship is very reputable in California , which makes it easier to finds high level jobs. Other interns and I were hired as clinical dietitians at hospitals that required past clinical experience because of the fact that we graduated from such a challenging and well rounded program."     

Nina Segil, MPH, RD - Graduating Class: Non-Master Program, June 2004
Clinical Dietitian, Sodexho, Interfaith Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY

"The VA Greater Los Angeles Dietetic Internship provided me with a solid foundation in administrative, community, and clinical dietetics. I was able to rotate through a busy urban hospital and its ancillary clinics.  At one of UCLA's teaching hospitals, I had the opportunity to be in an intense learning environment and participate in interdisciplinary rounds which taught me practical skills.  I became familiar with the chronic diseases that are becoming more prevalent, including diabetes mellitus, end stage renal disease, hypertension, and obesity.  Most importantly, I worked with preceptors who taught me one-on-one."

Jennifer Romo, MPH, RD - Graduating Class: Combined Program, June 2003
Clinical Dietitian, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System

"The combined program was a wonderful experience.  The versatility of this program offered both a broad-based education in the field of public health, and also the technique of medical nutrition therapy at the individual level. Studying public health opened my eyes to the societal prevention and intervention efforts of health enthusiasts through media, legislative, and educational venues. The dietetic internship rotations allowed me to form and exercise clinical skills in a practical manner. Being face to face with patients was a wonderful hands-on application. Overall the combined program allowed me to become more well-rounded as a dietitian, and having the Master's Degree gives an "edge" in the job market. I am grateful for the experience of the combined program; I would recommend it to those who are seeking academic learning coupled with applied patient care."

Elaine Cheung, MPH, RD - Graduating Class: Combined Program, June 2003
Registered Dietitian, Regional Perinatal Service Center, Kaiser Permanente Medical Center

"The VA Dietetic Internship/UCLA MPH combined program was a very rewarding and comprehensive program that has taught me valuable clinical and program planning skills. The VA hospital is a great environment for learning and the preceptors are supportive. Upon graduation, I felt well-equipped for a clinical or public health job."

Christopher Lauderdale, RD - Graduating Class: Non-Master Program, June 2002
Chef Instructor, Art Institute of Orange Country

"The non-combined program gave me more than just the skills to work in a clinical setting. I now teach Nutrition to students in a bachelor's program in Culinary Management, and am Assistant Director for the program. I also maintain a private practice as an RD. The VA internship included many projects that helped me hone my management and teaching skills and prepare me for the direction I've chosen for my career. As a teaching hospital, the dietitians, allied health staff and physicians are always willing to take the time to instruct, making for an educationally positive environment.  I highly recommend the internship for anyone looking for a well-rounded and complete program."

Kristy Long, MPH, RD - Graduating Class: Combined Program, June 2002
Nutrition Professor, Mt. San Antonio, Fullerton, and Santa Ana Colleges

"I highly recommend the Combined Dietetic Internship through the VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System and UCLA.  The internship prepared me for entry into the world of dietetics by teaching me, in great detail, about all three areas of dietetics (clinical, community, and administrative).  All of the preceptors in the internship are highly educated and easy to work with.  They encouraged me to work independently and this made for a smooth transition into my first job.  Completing the Master's degree in Public Health at UCLA has helped me advance my career beyond my expectations.  I am currently working as a nutrition and health instructor at three community colleges and this would not be possible without completion of the master's degree."   

Andrea Brekke, RD - Graduating Class: Non-Master Program, June 2001
Chief Clinical Dietitian, Cabrini Medical Center, New York, NY

"Although challenging at times, the VA thoroughly prepared me for obtaining nutrition positions that were above entry-level upon graduation. I found myself "training" other non-VA graduates -- all of whom expressed their wish to have interned at the VA! I still refer to my VA manual when I have a policy or diet question now in my position as Chief Clinical Dietitian."

Julie Berns, RD - Graduating Class: Non-Master Program, June 1999
Marketing Manager, Computrition

"In my opinion, The VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System Dietetic Internship Program is one of the best in the country. In a thorough search of internships across the US, I found that none offered such a well-rounded, quality program as the VA. As a VA graduate, I am even more convinced this is true. Its' outstanding reputation and excellent education helped me obtain a terrific job. Exceptional preceptors and challenging rotations set in a progressive, teaching environment, where the dietitian is an integral part of the health care team, are what I believe set this internship apart."

Nicole Carvalho, MPH, RD - Graduating Class: Combined Program, June 1998
Nutrition Education Consultant, Bellflower Unified School District; Internship Director, Glendale Memorial Hospital

" I really enjoyed that we could make the internship as much of a learning experience as we wanted. By that I mean that we had the freedom to observe procedures we wanted to see, choose our own case study to research and use our special interest weeks to our future's advantage. The projects and handouts we developed were actually put to use, giving a sense of great accomplishment and empowerment. The Internship was a very strong program!"

Sheri Barke, MPH, RD - Graduating Class: Combined Program, June 1997
Nutrition Education Coordinator, College of the Canyons Student Health & Wellness Center

"As a teaching hospital, the VA is at the cutting edge of new treatments, education and management styles, and patient care philosophies. Interns have a unique opportunity to learn from a dedicated and energetic group of Registered Dietitians, as well as from other health professionals and students who work together with patient care teams."

Tanya Tong, MPH, RD - Graduating Class: Combined Program, June 1992
Systems Analyst for Nutrition, Medsphere Systems Corporation

" The Internship at West Los Angeles VAMC had an excellent variety of experience and was mentored by proactive dietitians that served as role models for interacting in a team approach to patient care. The program speaks for itself in terms of excellence as we hire many VA graduates. From my internship class alone, two of us were hired and placed within intense positions (Renal and Nutrition Support) within one year of employment!"