Program Mission Statements

The sponsoring organization for the internship is Frances Stern Nutrition Center (FSNC) at Tufts Medical Center (TMC). FSNC must operate the program in a manner that is compatible with the Frances Stern Center mission as well as the missions of both Tufts Medical Center and the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University. Thus, statements pertaining to all three organizations follow.

Mission Statement: The Frances Stern Combined Dietetic Internship Masters Degree Program

Our mission is to provide an environment in which dietetic interns will acquire the knowledge, competencies, skills, and professionalism needed to be future leaders in the diverse field of dietetics. Our graduates will be competent entry-level dietitians with a strong scientific foundation in nutrition therapy, coupled with hands-on experience in relevant areas of dietetic practice. We strive to promote in our students a strong commitment to citizenship, collaboration, and ethical standards. Dedication to the highest level of patient and community service forms the foundation for all we do.

Mission Statement: Tufts Medical Center

"We strive to heal, to comfort, to teach, to learn, and to seek the knowledge to promote health and prevent disease. Our patients and their families are at the center of everything we do. We dedicate ourselves to fostering our rich tradition of health care innovation, leadership, charity, and the highest standard of care and service to all in our community."

Mission Statement: The Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy

Passionately advancing nutritional well-being for people worldwide through excellence in research and teaching, and the shaping of public policy.

Program Goals

Graduate Education

Since the Frances Stern program is a Combined Dietetic Internship/Master's Degree Program, the goals of the total program are broader than those of a dietetic internship and those of Tufts Medical Center alone. The graduate phase of the program is conducted under the auspices of Tufts University, within the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy. A Master of Science in Nutrition Degree is awarded.

The joint Internship/Master's program allows greater depth, breadth, integration, and continuity in presenting and coordinating clinical and academic experiences than would an internship without a Master's Degree program. The combined program provides the opportunity to develop analytical and conceptual skills that allow entry-level practitioners to advance rapidly to positions of greater responsibility.

Goals of the Internship Phase of the Program

The Goals of the Frances Stern Nutrition Center Combined Dietetic Internship/Master Degree Program are to:

1. Produce competent entry-level dietitians with special expertise in clinical nutrition therapy.
2. Provide the student with the biological and clinical medical science base for understanding the roles of nutrition and its application in health promotion, prevention, palliation, and treatment of disease at the Masters level.
3. Provide students with the learning opportunities needed to develop sound personal and professional attitudes and values that foster professional responsibility and leadership skills.
4. Foster the development of skills necessary to understand and participate in nutrition research.
5. Provide an opportunity to develop strong professional communication skills (e.g. professional consultation skills, written communications, effective patient interactions, medical record note writing, presentation skills, and nutrition education for the public).
6. Foster the development of skills in integrating the nutritional care needs of a person, group, or community, taking into consideration other health care, social, and environmental factors.
7. Prepare the student to deal effectively with current and future professional issues and challenges (e.g. cultural diversity, nutrition related globalization and technology, nutrigenomics, etc.).

Goals of the Graduate Phase of the Program

The goals of the graduate phase are as follows:

1. Science Base To provide the student with the biographical and medical science base for understanding roles of nutrition in health promotion and in the prevention and treatment of disease. Two of the core graduate courses, Nutritional Biochemistry and Advanced Medical Nutrition Therapy, in conjunction with mini-courses, assignments, and internship rotations are planned to do this. Mini-courses are short lecture-demonstration courses which are part of the internship, but which do not carry graduate degree credit.
2. Managerial Skills To provide the student with an opportunity to develop managerial and administrative skills necessary for assessing planning, implementing, and evaluating nutrition services. The two core courses Community and Public Health Nutrition and Management, Planning, and Control of Nutrition Health Programs and Organizations along with mini-courses, internship rotations, assignments, and advanced clinical experiences allow this goal to be met.
3. Special Expertise Provide the student with the opportunity to develop special expertise in nutrition science and/or policy. With guidance from the advisor, students select four additional courses and a senior research project (Independent study) to meet this goal.
4. Communication Skills Provide an opportunity to develop strong communication skills at a professional level. The four core courses plus the research project demand both written and oral reports of professional quality. The research project must be submitted in a form suitable for possible publication in a professional journal or book. This emphasis complements opportunities for development of communication skills in dealing with patients provided by the internship portion of the program.
5. Support for Other Professionals Equip students to provide consultation and assistance to a variety of other health professionals. The level of knowledge and skills acquired from core and elective courses is well above that possible from the internship alone. Courses provide students with much opportunity to interact with other health professionals and students of health professions in an academic setting. These skills are strengthened further in advanced clinical experiences. While the internship itself prepares students for entry-level positions, the additional education provided through the graduate program and through advanced clinical experiences enables graduates to seek more responsible positions if they so choose, or to progress more rapidly from entry-level positions to those of greater responsibility.