Henry Ford Hospital Dietetic Internship Program Introduction

Each year, the dietetic internship program is scheduled from September to May. For fall of 2025 start date will be September 8th, 2025 with an expected end date of May 15th, 2026. All learning experiences are supervised by Registered Dietitian Nutritionists or other qualified faculty/preceptors. Successful completion of the 36-week program should prepare competent entry-level practitioners. See Program Schedule for further information regarding the specific learning experiences.

Dietetic Interns must demonstrate a commitment to carrying out professional responsibilities, adherence to ethical principles, and sensitivity to a diverse patient population. Dietetic Interns are expected to demonstrate respect, compassion, and integrity, demonstrate a responsiveness to the needs of patients and society that super-cedes self-interest, show accountability to patients, society, and the profession, demonstrate a commitment to excellence and on-going professional development, demonstrate a commitment to ethical principles pertaining to provision or withholding of clinical care, confidentiality of patient information, and business practices, and demonstrate sensitivity and responsiveness to patients' culture, age, gender and disabilities.

Henry Ford Health RDNs align with the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics vision and mission. The Academy’s vision is a world where all people thrive through the transformative power of food and nutrition. Its mission is to accelerate improvements in global health and well-being through food and nutrition.

Highlights of the Henry Ford Hospital (HFH) Dietetic Internship Program include:

A 36-week educational program in Dietetics with a Medical Nutrition Therapy concentration. This includes 2 weeks of vacation + 3 sick/personal days.

• The faculty-to-student ratio is 1:1 or 1:2. As a Dietetic Intern for Henry Ford Health, a student will collaborate and learn with over 30+ RDNs.
• The program includes: Critical Care, Enteral Nutrition, Oncology/Henry Ford Cancer Institute, Cardiology/Health Coaching, Nephrology/Dialysis, Internal Medicine, Infectious Disease/Wounds, Transplant, Pulmonary, Diabetes Care Center, and High-Risk Pregnancy.
• Program Fee is $7,500.00 and includes review course materials for the Registration Examination for Dietitians.
• The Henry Ford Hospital Dietetic Internship Program does not participate in any financial aid or scholarship programs, however if you are applying to Michigan State University’s program, financial aid options are available through their program.
• Access to all programs / facilities within Henry Ford Health such as Physical Therapy, Speech Language Pathology, and Occupational Therapy.
• Leadership Development, Employee Development, and Diversity training programs are available to students.
• Sladen Library and Center for Health Information Resources including computer use, copying services, literature searches, and inter-library loan program is available to students
• Educational Classrooms
• Observation of Special Studies procedures, like PEG, PEJ tube placement, and Dynamic Swallow Study
• Observation of Surgical procedures
• Participation in Hospital functions like Employee Health fair, National Nutrition Month, Employee Recognition activities, Employee Safety Fair, and Employee Wellness programs
• Work hands on in enteral nutrition planning during the internship experience. Interns will have the opportunity to develop enteral nutrition plans in various hospital settings including surgical units and critical care.
• 100% of employers stated graduates were prepared for entry-level practice, exhibiting competent care and professional motivation over the last 4 years. Further outcomes data from our graduation survey is available upon request. 

About Henry Ford Health

Henry Ford Hospital is a state-of-the-art, 877-licensed bed tertiary care hospital, education, and research center located in Detroit. The hospital is recognized for clinical excellence in the fields of cardiology and cardiovascular surgery, neurology and neurosurgery, orthopedics and sports medicine, transplant, and cancer. It is the flagship hospital of Henry Ford Health, one of the nation’s leading comprehensive integrated health systems.

The hospital is staffed by the Henry Ford Medical Group. Henry Ford Medical Group is one of the nation’s largest group practices, with more than 1,900 physicians and researchers in more than 40 specialties, who staff Henry Ford Hospital and other care sites in southeast Michigan.

Henry Ford Health is partnered with Michigan State University Health Sciences. A significant cornerstone of Henry Ford Hospital’s academic future, this historic 30-year partnership is a catalyst for change. Together, Henry Ford Health and Michigan State University have the collective knowledge, skills, and drive to usher in a new era of healthcare transformation, medical education, and research excellence, ultimately creating a new standard for how individuals and communities experience care.

Henry Ford Hospital is a local and national leader in medical education for students, interns, residents, and fellows, and the continuing education of faculty, affiliated physicians, nurses, and allied health professionals.

Henry Ford Health is the official healthcare provider for the Detroit Lions and Detroit Pistons

Henry Ford Hospital Services

Level 1 Trauma Center – Henry Ford Hospital is designated as a Level 1 trauma center with one of the busiest emergency departments in Michigan. Level 1 designation means Henry Ford Hospital is equipped to handle the most critically injured patients and has met rigorous standards for trauma care, education, and research. Dietetic interns will receive the opportunity during their critical care experiences to gain knowledge and skills to care for these complex patients.

Outpatient Clinic Building – Home to more than 40 medical specialties, including Cardiology and Cardiothoracic Surgery, Cancer, Transplant, Neuroscience, Orthopedic Surgery and Urology.

Henry Ford Cancer – Highly skilled doctors, nurses, dietitians, researchers, and other healthcare specialists provide world-class cancer care to thousands of patients each year. The new cancer pavilion in Detroit is the heart of Henry Ford Cancer services, which has locations across southeast and south-central Michigan. If you are a dietetic student looking for oncology experience, Henry Ford Health will give you the foundation to competently work with this patient population.

Henry Ford Transplant Institute – The Henry Ford Transplant Institute is one of the largest and well-respected multi-organ transplant centers in the United States. As a comprehensive transplant program, the institute offers transplantation of the liver, kidney, pancreas, intestine and multivisceral organs, heart, lung and stem cell. The Institute is on the forefront of transplantation science and innovation. Dietetic interns will experience working with these patient’s inpatient and outpatient.

Neurosciences Institute – One of the top programs in the country, the Neurosciences Institute includes the Harris Comprehensive Stroke & Neurovascular Center, a National Association of Epilepsy Centers (NAEC) level 4 comprehensive epilepsy program and Comprehensive Parkinson’s and Movement Disorder program, one of the largest neurosurgery spine programs in Michigan, and the Hermelin Brain Tumor Center – all of which treat the most complex conditions. Dietetic Interns will have the opportunity to work 1 on 1 with the RDN in the Harry J. Hoenselaar ALS Clinic, a possible once in a lifetime opportunity!

In 2023, Henry Ford Health acquired its very own therapy dog “Envy.”

Henry Ford Health Mission and Vision

• Mission: We improve people’s lives through excellence in the science and art of health care and healing.
• Vision: We will be the trusted partner in health, leading the nation in superior care and value -- one person at a time.

Henry Ford Hospital Department of Food and Nutrition Services Mission
To uplift every customer – patients, caregivers, visitors, and all healthcare team members – with appealing, exciting foods to refuel, recharge, celebrate, and comfort them. We accomplish this mission as efficiently as possible by continuously improving our delivery of high-quality products and services. We are committed to making ourselves and Henry Ford Health proud in the preparation, delivery, and service of food, satisfying and exceeding the expectations of each customer.

Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) Mission, Vision and Principles

ACEND (ACEND Mission and Vision (eatrightpro.org)
The Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND®) is an autonomous accrediting agency for education programs preparing students to begin careers as registered dietitians or dietetic technicians, registered. Programs meeting the ACEND Accreditation Standards are accredited by ACEND®.

ACEND Mission: ACEND ensures the quality of nutrition and dietetics education to advance the practice of the profession.
ACEND Vision: ACEND is valued for advancing excellence in nutrition and dietetics education.
ACEND Values:

• Collaboration
• Accountability
• Respect
• Ethics

ACEND Strategic Goals:

• Elevate the quality of nutrition and dietetics education across the globe.
• Promote opportunities for increasing diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging, and access in nutrition and dietetics education.
• Focus communication and collaboration to cultivate excellence in nutrition and dietetics.

ACEND Strategic Plan: The ACEND Board reviews and revises its strategic plan each year.

The program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND).

Contact information for ACEND:
120 South Riverside Plaza
Suite 2190
Chicago, IL 60606-6995
Phone: (800) 877-1600 X 5400
Fax: (312) 899-4817
Email: ACEND@eatright.org

ACEND