Dietetics Program Overview, Jan 2 15.docx

Dietetics Program Overview

The Dietetics Profession § A regulated health profession

§ Dietitians: − work to improve health through food and nutrition; diverse practice areas include clinical, population

and public health, and management; − have a broad skill set, which can position them for varied leadership roles in health and other sectors

§ Employers include the public health care system, private health care organizations, foodservice management contract companies, grocery retailers, nutrition and food product companies, and educational institutions

§ To achieve national entry to practice competencies, dietitians require a broad base of academic foundational knowledge and a structured program of practice education

Source: Integrated Competencies for Dietetic Education and Practice,

Partnership for Dietetic Education and Practice, 2003

Dietetics Program Overview, Jan 2 15.docx

Program Overview § Nationally accredited; the only Dietetics degree program in British Columbia

§ Offered by the Faculty of Land and Food Systems at UBC Vancouver

§ Each year, the program receives about 100 applications and admits 34 students

§ 5 year undergraduate degree program: − Years 1 and 2: Pre-requisite years, can be completed at UBC or other post-secondary institutions − Years 3 and 4: Campus-based program years − Year 5: “Internship” year consisting of 39 weeks of structured practice education courses (each student

is assigned to one of several health authority “core sites” across the province )

§ Program management: − UBC manages the program overall − A province-wide advisory committee provides recommendations and contributes to planning related to

various aspects of the program, including admissions processes, curriculum, policies and procedures, internship year operations, internship research, preceptor education strategies, and enhancement initiatives

− Dietitians employed within health authorities across the province coordinate internship at the core site level (in addition to their primary roles within their organizations, such as clinical leadership roles)

− Dietitian preceptors (an estimated 300 per year) supervise individual student placements Program Outcomes § Graduates contribute significantly to the British Columbia dietetics workforce:

− >90% register with the College of Dietitians of British Columbia, to be eligible to practice dietetics within the province

− >90% obtain dietetics employment within 3 months of program completion − >80% are offered employment by the health authority hosting their year 5 training

§ Year 5 students contribute to clinical relief and practice-based research: - Each student provides 4 weeks of clinical relief, allowing supervising preceptors to do project work - Students work in groups to complete practice-based research projects (about 10 per year) on topics

identified by dietitians

§ Involvement in training encourages preceptors to stay current in practice

§ UBC supports practice education by: − Delivering education events and resources to preceptors − Providing clinical instructor appointments to preceptors − Creating an infrastructure for province-wide practice education collaboration

For more information Contact: Karol Traviss, MSc, RD, FDC Senior Instructor, Dietetics Program Leader karol.traviss@ubc.ca Kara Vogt, MEd, RD Dietetics Education Coordinator kara.vogt@ubc.ca