"Completing the Dietetic Internship at Emory University Hospital has been one of the most rewarding and transformative experiences of my professional journey. The rigorous curriculum is fast-paced and humbling in the best way, and it challenged me clinically, professionally, and personally. Through diverse rotations in high-acuity inpatient and outpatient settings, I built a strong foundation in evidence-based nutrition care by developing essential skills in medical nutrition therapy, nutrition support, patient counseling, and interdisciplinary collaboration and communication. Working within Emory’s innovative large-scale foodservice operations broadened my perspective and highlighted the multifaceted role dietitians play in healthcare. Furthermore, my involvement in community-based experiences, coupled with the flexibility to select specialized rotations, provided an array of educational opportunities that underscored the importance of dietitians and their contributions to improving health outcomes. What made this experience truly exceptional was the people. The preceptors and mentors were invested in our success, providing support, guidance, and encouragement throughout the internship. Their contributions fostered meaningful change and nurtured a community dedicated to nutrition excellence. I am equally grateful for my incredible cohort, whose compassion, tenacity, and camaraderie made even the most challenging moments worthwhile. I leave Emory with immense gratitude, lasting friendships, and the confidence to begin my career as a registered dietitian. Thank you for shaping the practitioner I aspire to become and for building the clinical foundation that will define my practice."
Anna Faye Dupree, 2026
"When I started the Emory Dietetic Internship, I knew it would be challenging, but I don't think I fully appreciated just how much I would learn and grow over the course of the year. Every rotation pushed me outside of my comfort zone in a different way. Whether I was learning the complexities of critical care nutrition, counseling patients in outpatient settings, navigating community nutrition programs, or presenting research to experienced clinicians, there were constantly new opportunities to learn. Some days felt overwhelming, and there were moments when I questioned whether I knew enough, but those experiences ultimately helped me build confidence in my abilities. Looking back, I'm amazed at how much I've grown both professionally and personally. The internship challenged me to think critically, communicate effectively, adapt to new situations, and trust myself as a future dietitian. One of the things I appreciated most about Emory was the variety of experiences. I was able to work with patients across the lifespan and in many different settings, which helped me discover my strengths and better understand the type of dietitian I want to become. The preceptors were incredibly knowledgeable, supportive, and genuinely invested in helping interns succeed. They encouraged questions, welcomed curiosity, and created learning experiences that went far beyond simply checking off competencies. The year was demanding, but it was also incredibly rewarding. I am leaving the program with a much stronger clinical foundation, greater confidence in my counseling skills, and a deeper appreciation for the many ways dietitians can make a difference. Most importantly, I feel prepared and excited to begin my career as a Registered Dietitian. I am grateful for everything the Emory Dietetic Internship has taught me and would highly recommend it to future interns looking for a challenging, supportive, and well-rounded experience."
Meghan Cully, 2026
"Serving as a dietetic intern at Emory University Hospital was one of the most transformative experiences. I was challenged and supported in ways I never thought possible. Every rotation was highly robust in what I could learn and be exposed to. From learning in the neurocritical ICU to being immersed in community settings such as the Atlanta Community Food Bank and private practice clinics, Emory provided various settings for me to learn and grow. What sets Emory’s program apart is the individualized learning experience provided with each rotation. Every day, I could ask questions and receive support that accelerated my learning and understanding. Each preceptor sits down and truly takes the time to ensure you understand what you are doing and, most importantly, why. This laid the foundation for me to be the best possible dietitian. Not only do all the preceptors, directors, and coordinators care about your learning experience, but they also care about you and your well-being. There wasn’t one day that I couldn’t reach out to my preceptors, director, or coordinator to ask questions or receive support. I can’t thank this program enough for all the guidance and support. I would not be the person or dietitian I am today without Emory’s dietetic internship!"
Dianna Thomas, 2024
"The experiences and outcomes we have in life are influenced by our attitude, the choices we make, and our ability to be adaptable. Applying to Emory University Hospital Dietetic Internship was one of the best choices I’ve made. I was drawn to Emory’s program because of its rigor, reputation as a teaching hospital, strong clinical rotations, and the relational approach displayed. While I was an intern, I found all the characteristics I was drawn to in this program be upheld. Emory invested in my education as well as my success. More importantly, during my time in this program, I felt invested in as a person. It is apparent to me that the individuals who create the backbone of this program went above and beyond to provide an enriched experience, met me where I was, and encouraged me to perform at a higher level of dietetics. Each preceptor provided unique and valuable experiences that added value to my career. Through every experience I faced, I was challenged, and my character strengthened. I was constantly encouraged to think critically and pushed to work outside my comfort zone. I can honestly say this program prepared me well to be the confident dietitian I am today. I’m humbled and honored to have been matched to Emory and grateful I made the choice I did."
Molly Grace Edwards, 2023
“Serving as a Dietetic Intern at Emory University Hospital fostered one of my most valuable years of education I have received to date. Emory’s learning environment allowed me to expand both my passion and my knowledge for the field of nutrition. This has not only served as a building block, adding onto my prior education from Clemson University, but also offered a vast support system to ensure quality patient care. From clinical, food service and community, this internship provided every opportunity the dietetic field has to offer. Through working with interdisciplinary teams and counseling patients, I learned what it means to be a leader, which in turn, bolstered my confidence in my ability as a dietitian. By having the opportunity to begin my healthcare career at one of the best teaching hospitals in the nation, I was consistently exposed to challenging patients and situations. These opportunities immensely developed my critical thinking skills as well as my ability to take initiative in problem solving as a clinician. The programs’ incredible dedication to teaching and excellence work in combination to provide an outstanding program. Upon entering my internship with Emory, my main goal was to leave feeling confident in my ability to be a dietitian; having successfully completed both my internship and the CDR exam, I am able to thank Emory for helping me not only achieve my goals, but for giving me an extraordinary experience and a skill set to carry with me forever.”
Elena Higgins, 2020
“Coming from outside of Georgia, Emory’s reputation as a phenomenal teaching hospital with high acuity patients drew me to apply. During the program’s open house, it became clear to me that Emory was a place where interns were pushed to work hard and think critically, while still feeling supported by passionate and engaged dietitians.
During the first few days of the internship, I again felt this same feeling. All of the preceptors in the clinical, community, and food service rotations are incredibly passionate about their work, and make that clear from day one of the program. Each preceptor I had the pleasure of working with during my time at Emory’s dietetic internship pushed me to think critically about my decisions, while constantly providing encouragement and constructive feedback. The program offered a wide variety of experiences in all areas of dietetic practice and included two elective rotations, which helped me further explore my passions. I had the incredible opportunity to complete an elective rotation with Marcus Institute, a feeding program for children with autism. This program allowed me to get an insight into the role of a Registered Dietitian in a pediatric setting, and provided me with the opportunity to make valuable contacts in this area. I also had an opportunity to complete an elective rotation in neurocritical care, where I gained further experience in using evidence-based guidelines to care for individuals in the ICU. Upon graduating the internship, I am amazed at the skills that I have developed over this short time and feel completely prepared to enter the workforce as an entry-level dietitian.”
Samantha Klig, 2019
“I applied to the Emory Dietetic Internship Program because of their reputation for high acuity medical cases and the prestige associated with their research and practice. As a longtime resident of Atlanta, I knew that training here would not only be grueling but also extremely rewarding and a strong boost to my success. I expected a challenge from a place like Emory and I was not disappointed. When we got started, some of the first things they told us included that the program would be over before we knew it, that we would cry and question ourselves, and that we would accomplish and learn more in the next nine months than we could imagine. They were right. In the moment, the program felt boundless and vast with the curriculum challenging us in ways that were both invigorating and overwhelming. Luckily, the program’s strong support and guidance was more than enough to navigate us through.
Initially, after graduation, I didn’t realize how much the program had taught me; it all seemed to have gone by so quickly. It wasn’t until studying for the RD exam that I noticed review points were echoes of scenarios I had been in at the hospital, and that practice questions were reminiscent of instruction I had received from preceptors. I see now that everything I was exposed prepared me to, not only pass the RD exam (which I did on the first try!) but, practice competently. I have been exposed to some of the most complicated medical scenarios and have a firm understanding of how to provide medical nutrition therapy because of my training at Emory. Feeling overwhelmed and humbled at times through the program is natural; just trust that the experience and work you are putting in will pay off.”
Brittany Summerlin 2018
“Admission to any dietetic internship is a massive accomplishment. Admission to Emory’s dietetic internship, for me, is still one of the greatest honors of my life. From the moment I discovered the program online, I knew there was a uniqueness about them. And as I attended informational events and spoke with current interns, that notion was confirmed. Emory is unique, and in the best way possible.
For each of the 8 fortunate interns, schedules are hand-crafted, assignments are tediously structured, and no time is wasted. Honestly, all I knew about a dietetic internship was that it had to be done in order to sit for the board exam. What I realized quickly is that it’s a process- a process of maturing our dry nutrition dogma into a higher understanding of food and how it affects people and communities on every level and corridor of life. The challenge to obtain a grander understanding of how nutrition relates to human nature was posed daily, and I am forever grateful to every preceptor who played a part in shaping my clinical judgment. In the end, every bit of this special process led to me passing the RD exam and obtaining a career I love as a community dietitian.”
Kathryn Shubert, 2016