Hello everyone out there! My name is Kaleia Valin and I am a region 12 Fall 2019 Sodexo intern. I wanted to briefly discuss my experiences with this flexible distance internship during a very unique and unpredictable time such as the development of COIVD19. I was halfway through my food service rotation when the stay at home order was placed here in Hawaii. I worked with my preceptor and the other supervisors to try to finish my projects and competencies on my RAEF at the best of my ability. Additionally, I was told I could do a distance online Nutrient Analysis for the hospital to help account for some of the hours.
Sodexo has been very supportive and innovative during such a difficult time. Sodexo created unique website page for COVID19 offering resources to clinical, community, food service, and even long-term care that could count toward a large bulk of hours! Through the Sodexo website, we are able to complete a variety of different learning simulations, webinars, projects and activities, and even clinically-based case studies. It’s not possible to completely replace these rotations as they are integral to the internship, but I was so impressed and relived that Sodexo cared enough about their intern’s progress and safety to implement such a unique alternative during a difficult time. I am also very grateful, despite the circumstances, to have had this experience as I’ve learned of many new resources that are available to me, especially as a professional in the future. There are so many free webinars on hundreds of different topics spanning from community to clinical—it is possible to learn just about anything online and Sodexo is definitely a part of this movement.
I hope that the internship can resume as normal very soon for upcoming interns, but considering this crisis, I feel confidently that Sodexo is able to offer a unique and valuable experience to its interns which is exactly why I worked so hard to try to be accepted into this program. I am also completing the combined MS program through the University of Rhode Island and working to support myself at the same time—it’s not easy, but I will say that it is absolutely worth the effort. If you are willing to work hard for something that matters to you, I believe it’s possible to make a difference. Here in Hawaii, Sodexo is one of the only internship choices available and many new graduates are forced to move away to make their dreams of becoming a dietitian a possibility. Not only was I lucky enough to be accepted to Sodexo’s distance internship program, but I’m so grateful to have had the experience to complete my clinical hours and critical care MNT concentration at the largest hospital in Hawaii. I’ve learned so much through my experiences there and I know it will make me a better healthcare professional in the future.
Sodexo has been very supportive and innovative during such a difficult time. Sodexo created unique website page for COVID19 offering resources to clinical, community, food service, and even long-term care that could count toward a large bulk of hours! Through the Sodexo website, we are able to complete a variety of different learning simulations, webinars, projects and activities, and even clinically-based case studies. It’s not possible to completely replace these rotations as they are integral to the internship, but I was so impressed and relived that Sodexo cared enough about their intern’s progress and safety to implement such a unique alternative during a difficult time. I am also very grateful, despite the circumstances, to have had this experience as I’ve learned of many new resources that are available to me, especially as a professional in the future. There are so many free webinars on hundreds of different topics spanning from community to clinical—it is possible to learn just about anything online and Sodexo is definitely a part of this movement.
I hope that the internship can resume as normal very soon for upcoming interns, but considering this crisis, I feel confidently that Sodexo is able to offer a unique and valuable experience to its interns which is exactly why I worked so hard to try to be accepted into this program. I am also completing the combined MS program through the University of Rhode Island and working to support myself at the same time—it’s not easy, but I will say that it is absolutely worth the effort. If you are willing to work hard for something that matters to you, I believe it’s possible to make a difference. Here in Hawaii, Sodexo is one of the only internship choices available and many new graduates are forced to move away to make their dreams of becoming a dietitian a possibility. Not only was I lucky enough to be accepted to Sodexo’s distance internship program, but I’m so grateful to have had the experience to complete my clinical hours and critical care MNT concentration at the largest hospital in Hawaii. I’ve learned so much through my experiences there and I know it will make me a better healthcare professional in the future.
