Field Placement: Veteran's Administration (VA) Hospitals – VA Los Angeles
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Preceptor: Carrie Johnsen, MPH, RD
Student Name: Tracy Herbrand
Year: 2003

WHO
The target population that I served was those in need of a nutrition intervention. At the VA hospitals this consisted of mostly middle aged to elderly, male veterans. Many of the patients suffered from or were at great risk for type II diabetes, heart disease, obesity, hypertension, and high cholesterol. I also worked briefly with type I diabetic youths, women veterans, and low-income mothers and children at WIC.

WHAT
My role at the VA hospital and outpatient clinic was to help patients of varying health status, age, and weight to eat healthy and balanced diets. I accomplished this primarily through individual nutrition counseling sessions tailored to the needs of the specific patient. These sessions included discussing the patient’s diet history, educating the patient on his/her diet needs, and making specific goals for the patient to follow. I also taught classes to groups on specific diets and disease states.

WHEN & WHERE
My internship took place from June 2003 to September 2003. I worked 40 or more hours each week, usually from 7:30-4:00. I worked most of my hours at the VA Los Angeles Outpatient Clinic and the West LA VA Hospital. I also worked for two weeks (80 hours) at the WIC clinic in Van Nuys. I also spent eight days at a diabetes camp for 14-16 year olds in San Bernadino.

HOW
Nutritional education was carried out by the use of handouts, educational games, food models, question and answer periods, nutritional videos and slide shows, classroom teaching, and individual counseling.

WHY
I chose to work in this internship because I wanted to increase the health of the community and the individual. Educating people on a healthy diet helps to control many current chronic diseases and can help others from forming.

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