Hi there, current or potential future Sodexo intern! I am a distance intern living in Denver, CO. At the time of writing this post I have just completed my community rotation. This summer I have also completed hours at a WIC clinic, a long term care center, and my food service management rotation. It has been quite a whirlwind! Beginning with orientation in May, through the month of August, I was going nonstop from one site to another. I have worked with numerous RDs, health care teams, and patient populations. I feel like a have lived five years’ worth of experiences in just over three months!
So far, the biggest highlight for me has been my time in my community rotation. I completed the majority of my hours for this rotation with Denver Wellness, a local Sodexo outpatient site that contracts with various hospitals, clinics, community organizations and medical teams. I was able to experience what it is like to be an RD in a huge variety of outpatient settings during this time. I spent time in diabetes education centers, a behavioral health hospital, an oncology radiation center, an organ transplant center, health fairs, and more. My ability to effectively communicate nutrition information grew exponentially during this time because I was able to have so many different experiences with so many different people. From briefly and concisely explaining the risk factors and health risks associated with Type 2 Diabetes to community members at a health fair, to leading an hour-long class on the connection between the gut microbiome and health, to guiding potential liver and kidney transplant candidates through frailty tests and stressing the importance of them maintaining their strength and vitality, I was able to communicate health and nutrition information in a huge variety of settings.
So far, the biggest highlight for me has been my time in my community rotation. I completed the majority of my hours for this rotation with Denver Wellness, a local Sodexo outpatient site that contracts with various hospitals, clinics, community organizations and medical teams. I was able to experience what it is like to be an RD in a huge variety of outpatient settings during this time. I spent time in diabetes education centers, a behavioral health hospital, an oncology radiation center, an organ transplant center, health fairs, and more. My ability to effectively communicate nutrition information grew exponentially during this time because I was able to have so many different experiences with so many different people. From briefly and concisely explaining the risk factors and health risks associated with Type 2 Diabetes to community members at a health fair, to leading an hour-long class on the connection between the gut microbiome and health, to guiding potential liver and kidney transplant candidates through frailty tests and stressing the importance of them maintaining their strength and vitality, I was able to communicate health and nutrition information in a huge variety of settings.
My advice to those who are just beginning this internship is to really live the motto #DoSomethingEveryDay. At times, all the required projects, assignments, and learning activities can feel very overwhelming, but I have found that if I keep track of everything I need to get done and then set apart time each day to chip away at the most pressing items it feels much more manageable. Looking back, I am amazed by all the projects and challenges I have managed to complete and overcome so far. I think the celebratory backpacking trip I went on (pictured) after completing my Community rotation can be used as an apt metaphor for this approach to the internship. The 20 miles I traveled over two days to go from outside of Boulder to my Aunt and Uncle’s ranch on the other side of the Continental Divide might seem quite arduous in totality, but I find that if I focus on just taking one step after another and enjoying the scenery around me, it is a very enjoyable and enriching experience.
