The Paul M. Russo Dietetic Internship at Bay Pines VA Healthcare System (BPVAHCS) combines hands-on clinical training, mentorship, graduate education opportunities, and a paid stipend of approximately $24,360 (pre-tax) – all in beautiful Bay Pines, Florida located on Florida’s Gulf Coast near St. Petersburg and Tampa.

With only six interns accepted each year, you will receive individualized mentorship from experienced Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDN) who are invested in your success.

All rotations are coordinated by the internship director and primarily involve one-on-one pairing with a preceptor, creating a highly tailored learning environment. This setup encourages questions, professional development, and confidence-building as you prepare for your future as an RDN.

The MS/DI program is designed to be completed in 14 months in partnership with the University of Alabama (UA). Interns will concurrently enroll in UA’s fully online, 30-credit Master of Science in Human Nutrition program while completing a 47-week internship. The internship provides a comprehensive experience across clinical dietetics, food service administration and management, and community nutrition. Graduate courses begin online in June, with supervised practice beginning in early August. Interns are typically scheduled from Tuesday through Friday (32 hours per week), with some Mondays scheduled for didactic classes or project work.

Upon successful completion of both the internship and master’s program, graduates will receive a VA Certificate of Internship and the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) Verification Statement.

Paul M. Russo Dietetic Internship
Nutrition and Food Services
10000 Bay Pines Boulevard
Bay Pines, FL 33744

Sharon M. Hickman, MPH, RDN, LD/N
Dietetic Internship Director
Bay Pines VAHCS
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Office: 727-398-6661, ext. 14449
Email: sharon.hickman@va.gov