The Script: Dietetics debuts two new concentrations and adds intern spots

COPHS Staff | 11/10/2017

Concentrations in health promotion and wellness and sports nutrition added

Beginning in the 2016-17 school year, Lipscomb’s Dietetic Internship Program debuted two new concentrations, in health promotion and wellness and sports nutrition, while also increasing available spots up to 20.

Both of the new program areas are unique, as the new health promotion and wellness concentration is experienced in a corporate, rather than a public health setting, and the sports nutrition concentration is overseen by the only full-time sports dietitian in a non-football D1 university.

The DIP, a graduate-level program training dietetic graduates in the field of nutrition and dietetics, is required to provide over 1,200 supervised practice hours in a variety of settings and experiences to meet 43 different competencies. Previous to this fall, Lipscomb’s internship offered only one concentration in medical nutrition therapy.

“Through establishing innovative partnerships in Nashville, known as the health care capital of the world, we have been able to develop experiential placements that make our program unique among the programs across the nation,” said Anne Lowry, director of the DIP.

Partnerships with Healthways/Sharecare and Onlife Health currently provide three months of experience in corporate wellness and client-specific support for the health promotion and wellness interns.

The majority of dietetic internships with a health and wellness focus are within the public health sector while Lipscomb’s is experienced in a corporate setting working with clients such as Blue Cross Blue Shield and the State of Tennessee.

A unique partnership with Lipscomb Athletics allowed for the hiring of a full-time sports dietitian to oversee the sports nutrition concentration that provides a focused three-month experience working with our D1 athletes, coaches and trainers.

Most sports nutrition programs exist in the NCAA DI Football Bowl Subdivision or the NCAA D1 Football Championship.

The sports nutrition program was created to serve the university athletes, but this year has expanded services to the K-12 Lipscomb Academy through collaboration with William VanVleet, a newly hired strength and conditioning coach responsible for creating a wellness and fitness program for elementary through high school to be implemented over the next few years.

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