Field Placement: Veterans’ Administration Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Preceptor: Colleen Ross, MS, RD
Student Name: Jennifer Jacob
Year: 2004

I spent eleven weeks working with outpatient dietitians in the Nutrition and Food Service Department at the VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System (VAGLA). I completed the community aspect of my internship as I worked primarily in the outpatient setting. My internship director organized when and with whom I worked with over these weeks. For the first five weeks, I spent my time with the ambulatory care dietitian at the Sepulveda campus, where I counseled patients individually, taught group classes, created handouts, and did other various projects. I also spent a week working with the dietitian in the Women’s Health Clinic and Diabetes Clinic, where I observed the dietitian teaching group classes, counseled patients individually, and developed educational materials. I was fortunate to have the unique opportunity to work with and learn from the dietitian for all 18 Southern California Gelson’s Supermarkets, where I spent the majority of my week working on a major project. Also, I was able to observe her responsibilities as Gelson’s dietitian and gain a better understanding of her role as the dietitian for Gelson’s Supermarket. During my week with the Home Based Primary Care dietitian I accompanied her on visits to patients’ homes, where we counseled patients and their caregivers. I worked on a project proposal and revamped educational materials while working with the outpatient supervisor, and also gained insight on what it is like to work in management. My last two weeks of the community rotation were spent working at the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Reseda clinic, where I learned a great deal about their program through observation and active participation in their daily activities. I learned a great deal about the program, as I had the opportunity to sit with each staff and observe him or her working and interacting with the WIC participants. Furthermore, I observed and counseled participants in both low-risk and high-risk categories. Teaching a participant’s class enabled me to interact with the participants and educate them on the importance of eating healthy and actually preparing a healthy snack during the class. I will continue my dietetic internship next January, where I will complete my administration and clinical rotations, as these past three months of working in the outpatient setting is only one aspect of my nine-month dietetic internship. Overall, this summer was an incredible “hands on” learning experience that prepared me for future dietetic opportunities, and I am looking forward to my next rotations where I will continue to strengthen my skills as a dietitian.

Back to CHS Field Studies Placement Index | Back to CHS Field Studies | Back to Field Studies Home