My name is Cody Smith, and I am a region 5 dietetic intern located in Weston, West Virginia. Right now, I am interning at Mon Health Stonewall Jackson Memorial Hospital (SJMH), where I have been working on my food service management and clinical rotations since late September.
In the beginning, I was particularly nervous and hesitant to start my rotations at SJMH. I did not know what to expect, and I did not feel confident in my abilities as a new intern. However, my preceptor was able to immediately ease my worries on the first day. My preceptor, along with various other employees, were extremely supportive throughout the entire process. Within a few weeks, I could tell that my confidence and skills were growing.
I started my rotations in food service management where I was able to experience the inner workings of a hospital kitchen and cafeteria. During this time, I worked closely with the kitchen staff and food service director. I worked on numerous different projects, but I believe that the Retail Marketing and Wellness Project has been my favorite so far. I was able to design my own menu, create marketing collateral for my event, and educate our customers on various nutrition topics. This project really gave me the space that I needed to thrive as a dietetic intern. It helped show me what I can do on my own, and how I can make an impact on people’s lives. I did not expect to enjoy the food service management rotation as much as I did, but it really changed my perception on what food service management does on a day-to-day basis.
Now, I am two weeks into my clinical rotations at SJMH. I have been able to assess and work with all kinds of different patients during my time here. I have learned that no patient is easy, and every single person has different factors that must be accounted for. My preceptor has been amazing at guiding me through everything in order to turn me into a competent registered dietitian. I hope to continue learning to be the best that I can be throughout my clinical rotations.
The Sodexo Dietetic Internship has provided me the perfect opportunity to grow as a professional in the field of dietetics. I have gained valuable experience and knowledge in such a short time, and I am excited to see what challenges come next!
In the beginning, I was particularly nervous and hesitant to start my rotations at SJMH. I did not know what to expect, and I did not feel confident in my abilities as a new intern. However, my preceptor was able to immediately ease my worries on the first day. My preceptor, along with various other employees, were extremely supportive throughout the entire process. Within a few weeks, I could tell that my confidence and skills were growing.
I started my rotations in food service management where I was able to experience the inner workings of a hospital kitchen and cafeteria. During this time, I worked closely with the kitchen staff and food service director. I worked on numerous different projects, but I believe that the Retail Marketing and Wellness Project has been my favorite so far. I was able to design my own menu, create marketing collateral for my event, and educate our customers on various nutrition topics. This project really gave me the space that I needed to thrive as a dietetic intern. It helped show me what I can do on my own, and how I can make an impact on people’s lives. I did not expect to enjoy the food service management rotation as much as I did, but it really changed my perception on what food service management does on a day-to-day basis.
Now, I am two weeks into my clinical rotations at SJMH. I have been able to assess and work with all kinds of different patients during my time here. I have learned that no patient is easy, and every single person has different factors that must be accounted for. My preceptor has been amazing at guiding me through everything in order to turn me into a competent registered dietitian. I hope to continue learning to be the best that I can be throughout my clinical rotations.
The Sodexo Dietetic Internship has provided me the perfect opportunity to grow as a professional in the field of dietetics. I have gained valuable experience and knowledge in such a short time, and I am excited to see what challenges come next!
