Mission and Philosophy

Clinica Sierra Vista (CSV) is a private, non-profit organization which operates multiple community health centers in Kern, Fresno, and Inyo Counties in California. CSV offers a wide spectrum of  services, including medical care, comprehensive prenatal care, counseling services, health education outreach programs, HIV counseling, dental services, and the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program. These services are targeted to low-income populations and the medically underserved.

CSV is accredited by the Joint Commission, an independent, non-profit organization that sets the standard for healthcare excellence in the United States.

It is the mission of the Clinica Sierra Vista Dietetic Internship to provide a comprehensive community-focused dietetic internship that prepares culturally-competent graduates for productive careers in dietetics to meet the need for Registered Dietitian Nutritionists in Kern and Fresno Counties.

Internship Goals

Internship Objectives

• Graduates will be culturally-competent and prepared for entry-level positions as Registered Dietitian Nutritionists
• Graduates will be employed in the Kern and Fresno County areas, working in community nutrition, for at least two years after completing the CSV Dietetic Internship Program

Annual program outcome data and the Dietetic Internship Handbook are available upon request. Please contact the Dietetic Internship Coordinator.

The CSV Dietetic Internship does not allow exemption from any dietetic internship rotations or assignments because of prior education courses or experiences.

• At least 80% of interns complete program/degree requirements within 18 months (150% of planned program length).
• Of graduates who seek employment, at least 90% are employed in nutrition and dietetics or related fields within 12 months of graduation.
• At least 80% of program graduates take the CDR credentialing exam for dietitian nutritionists within 12 months of program completion.
• The program's one-year pass rate (graduates who pass the registration exam within one year of first attempt) on the CDR credentialing exam for dietitian nutritionists is at least 80%.
• 80% of employers, who return surveys, rate graduates as "satisfactory" or "excellent" for ability to work effectively with multicultural populations from diverse backgrounds.
• 50% of program graduates work as entry-level Registered Dietitian Nutritionists in community nutrition.
• 50% of graduates work in Central Valley community programs for at least two years after graduation.

Accreditation Status

The Clinica Sierra Vista Dietetic Internship has been granted accreditation by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

ACEND can be contacted by:

• Email:  [email protected]
• Phone:  (800) 877-1600, ext. 5400
• Mail:  120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2190; Chicago, IL  60606-6995
• Website:  https://www.eatrightpro.org/acend 

California WIC Dietetic Internships

There are five WIC-based dietetic internships in California. Each has its own eligibility requirements and application and selection processes. Clinica Sierra Vista Dietetic Internship is one of the five WIC-based internships.

For additional information, please visit the California WIC Career Development website.