Hello everyone! My name is Samantha Gitlin and I am a current Sodexo Dietetic Intern in New York. For my clinical rotations, I was located at New York Presbyterian-Lawrence Hospital in Bronxville, NY. This is a small, acute-care facility with 2 full-time dietitians on staff. I was able to have intense hands-on experience on the cardiac, general med-surg, oncology, and ICU floors. I applied the knowledge from my undergraduate classes, along with the guidance from my preceptors, and I was able to conduct nutrition assessments and provide education. I’ve learned so much about the different calorie, protein, and nutrient needs for the different disease states, as well as about the various types of supplements available for patients. Another great part of the clinical rotations was meeting and creating bonds with the other members of the interdisciplinary team, such as the nurses, speech pathologists, and doctors. I’ve learned that communication with these clinical professionals is incredibly important for the treatment of our patients.
I was also able to spend some time at a long-term care/rehab facility. At Burke Rehab Center, I learned how important it is to see patients at meals because at every other point in the day the patients are out of their rooms and at rehab. For many of these patients, needs are increased to help with healing so it is important to encourage intake at meals. I was also fortunate enough to intern at 2 different dialysis centers, one in Brooklyn, NY and the other in Tarrytown, NY. Prior to starting my internship I did not know much about dialysis, though this experience definitely changed that. I learned about the diet restrictions, the different resources and educational materials available, the important role of the dietitian in the dialysis center and within the company that they work for, and the actual process of dialysis. My experience in dialysis was very valuable to me and I would like to continue to learn more about renal nutrition.
Currently, I am in the middle of my wellness rotation, which is something that initially drew me to the Sodexo Internship. I love the idea of creating wellness programs for individuals that incorporate nutrition, physical activity, and mental wellness. I am going to be spending time at a multitude of sites including corporate, retail, and outpatient! I am so excited to continue on with the rest of my rotations and expand my knowledge of the nutrition world. The Sodexo Dietetic Internship has allowed me to experience the multitude of opportunities available to dietitians and I can’t wait to start my career as an RD!
I was also able to spend some time at a long-term care/rehab facility. At Burke Rehab Center, I learned how important it is to see patients at meals because at every other point in the day the patients are out of their rooms and at rehab. For many of these patients, needs are increased to help with healing so it is important to encourage intake at meals. I was also fortunate enough to intern at 2 different dialysis centers, one in Brooklyn, NY and the other in Tarrytown, NY. Prior to starting my internship I did not know much about dialysis, though this experience definitely changed that. I learned about the diet restrictions, the different resources and educational materials available, the important role of the dietitian in the dialysis center and within the company that they work for, and the actual process of dialysis. My experience in dialysis was very valuable to me and I would like to continue to learn more about renal nutrition.
Currently, I am in the middle of my wellness rotation, which is something that initially drew me to the Sodexo Internship. I love the idea of creating wellness programs for individuals that incorporate nutrition, physical activity, and mental wellness. I am going to be spending time at a multitude of sites including corporate, retail, and outpatient! I am so excited to continue on with the rest of my rotations and expand my knowledge of the nutrition world. The Sodexo Dietetic Internship has allowed me to experience the multitude of opportunities available to dietitians and I can’t wait to start my career as an RD!
