Toni Lee - Region 12

​Hi! My name is Toni Lee,  and I am a region 12 dietetic intern from Los Angeles, California, currently completing the internship while working toward my master’s degree through the University of Rhode Island. I started this journey in Fall 2025, and balancing graduate coursework with my rotations has definitely been challenging, but still manageable with good organization, dedication, focus, and by taking things one day at a time.

I have completed my foodservice and patient services rotations, and I am now close to finishing my Basic Clinical rotation. Clinical has been my favorite so far because it is where I have had the chance to apply MNT and build confidence in my skills. Shadowing the dietitians at my site has been one of the most valuable parts of this experience. Watching their workflow, clinical reasoning, and communication with patients and the healthcare team has helped me understand how to approach assessments, prioritize care, and stay organized throughout the day.

During this rotation, I have worked with patients managing diabetes, cardiovascular conditions, gastrointestinal issues, and those at risk for malnutrition. Seeing how nutrition connects to each diagnosis has been meaningful, and I am becoming more comfortable understanding patient needs and recognizing when nutrition intervention or follow-up may be helpful. Adjusting to the pace of acute care has supported my growth as well. Communicating with nurses, keeping track of multiple patients, and managing daily tasks have strengthened my time management and overall workflow.

This internship journey has been challenging at times but also incredibly rewarding. I am grateful for the Sodexo team, the community, and my preceptors for their guidance and support. As I move into the next stages of my rotations, I am excited to continue learning and moving forward in my career. 

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