Ashley Gubicza - Region 12

Hello everyone! My name is Ashley Gubicza, and I am a region 12 Sodexo dietetic intern from Los Angeles, CA. I started my internship in February 2024 doing my clinical rotation in Simi Valley, CA.
 
Prior to starting the internship, I was overwhelmed with nerves about beginning my clinical rotation due to it being complex and fast-paced. However, after working countless hours (449 to be exact) alongside great role models of dietitians, I can confidently say I have gained the knowledge needed to provide MNT to patients with an array of conditions.
 
As mentioned above, I completed my clinical rotation at a hospital in Simi Valley, CA. At that site, I was able to participate in nutrition educations to patients, ICU rounds with other medical professionals, tube feeding formulations, and so much more. Immediately following my clinical rotation, I began food service. Luckily, I was able to continue this rotation at the same site I did my clinical for. This allowed me to better understand both settings of nutrition in a hospital environment.
 
The next rotation I will soon have completed is my community rotation. As someone who completed their bachelor’s degree in Community Health, I understand and value this rotation. Firstly, I loved that we were able to choose from a variety of sites for this rotation. It allows for the intern to get creative in what site they’d like to work with. Secondly, the assignments in this rotation helped solidify the knowledge I knew about community nutrition. From understanding the issue of food insecurity to providing nutrition education to diverse populations, I have gained so much knowledge. For this rotation, I interned with a baby food company. In doing so I have been able to keep up to date on evidence-based research on the pediatric population, along with many other aspects.
 
In having such a great experience with the site for my community rotation, I have chosen to continue with my last rotation, my specialty, with this site. During these last few weeks, I will continue to learn about pediatric nutrition as well as how to run a successful private practice.
      
In conclusion, my experiences as a Sodexo dietetic intern have been rewarding. Firstly, I am grateful to have been able to explore a variety of settings that dietitians can work in. This was one of the concepts I appreciated most about Sodexo. In doing this, it allowed me to get a feel for what job options are out there and which I enjoy most when it comes to applying to them. Secondly, this internship gifted me so many opportunities to network since the rotations were at different sites. Overall, I am very grateful for all my preceptors and the Sodexo team in all the help and support they have shown me throughout the internship. With this internship coming to an end, I can confidently say I have gained the necessary skills and knowledge for an entry-level dietitian. 

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