About Us
The Northern Ontario Dietetic Internship Program (NODIP) is administered by NOSM University (NOSM U), in collaboration with multiple preceptors, communities, and facilities throughout Northern Ontario. NODIP is a nationally accredited professional program that provides practical, hands-on dietetic experience that enables students to obtain the Integrated Competencies for Dietetic Education and Practice, required of an entry-level registered dietitian.
NOSM U’s social accountability mandate and a commitment to community engaged and distributed learning is the foundation of NODIP.
NOSM U’s mission is to improve the health of Northern Ontarians by being socially accountable in our education and research programs and by advocating for health equity. It is the intention of NOSM U to maximize the recruitment of students who have lived in Northern Ontario and/or students who have a strong interest in and aptitude for practicing in Northern urban, rural, and remote communities. We are also committed to recruiting Indigenous, Francophone, and Franco-Ontarian students.
Standing Tall: NODIP@NOSM
Since 2007, the Northern Ontario Dietetic Internship Program (NODIP) has demonstrated a commitment to improving the health of Northern communities. Graduates are trained by dedicated preceptors and committed organizations. Upon completion of their program, NODIP graduates work in diverse practice settings, serving their communities in different ways. To learn more about NODIP, view the video Standing Tall: NODIP@NOSM, created recently by Dr. Hoi Cheu, Professor of English and Film Studies at Laurentian University.
Achievement Report
Since 2007, NOSM U has offered the Northern Ontario Dietetic Internship Program, a 46-week internship that teaches dietetic interns the skills and knowledge they need for rural and Northern practice. In July of 2017, NODIP celebrated the tenth graduation of NODIP interns. Here are some of the many successes the program and its faculty, learners, and graduates have garnered over the years.
About the Program
NODIP offers a wide range of challenging learning experiences in a variety of practice settings including:
- Regional Hospitals
- Family Health Teams
- Public Health Units
- Community Health Centres
- Long-Term Care Facilities
- Small Rural Hospitals
- Aboriginal Communities
- Indigenous Communities
This internship will help you develop the unique skills required to meet the growing demand for health professionals in Northern and rural communities.
Up to 12 successful applicants will be selected annually for this 46-week program which begins in early September. Interns will live and practice in one of three primary sites: Thunder Bay, Sault Ste. Marie, and Sudbury.
Applications for the 2023/24 NODIP will be submitted directly to NOSM U. Please refer to Application & Selection Process for more details.
Program Outline
Food Provision and Management: 7 weeks
Nutrition Care: 18 weeks
Population and Health Promotion: 10 weeks
Practice-Based Project: 4 weeks
Consolidation: 3 weeks
Vacation: 2 weeks
Total (including vacation): 46 weeks
A minimum four to six-week rural placement is required for this program. NOSM U housing and mileage reimbursement are provided for placements outside of the intern’s primary site.
Rotation Examples
Rotations/placements are available for each component of the program. Below are examples; exact placements cannot be guaranteed and may change year to year.
Food Service and Management
- Food service operations in a hospital or long term care facility
- Human resources management
- Working in a unionized environment
- Project management
Outpatients
- Regional bariatric assessment centres
- Cancer centres
- Cardiac rehabilitation
- Diabetes programs
- Family health teams
Inpatient Clinical
- Medicine
- Rehabilitation
- Long-term care
- Oncology
- Surgery
- Renal Care
- Critical care
- Pediatrics
Population and Public Health
- Public health units
- Aboriginal Health Access Centres
- Indigenous Services Canada, First Nations and Inuit Health Branch
- Family health teams
- Community health centres
Practice Based Projects
2021-2022 Projects
- Food as Medicine in Mental Health: A Virtual Interprofessional Learner Culinary Nutrition Intervention
- Cooking with Dietitians: Developing a Nutrition Course for Cancer Patients
- Northern Ontario Dietetic Internship Program: Graduate Outcomes Evaluation
- Determining Appropriate Pre-Dialysis and Dialysate Potassium for Hemodialysis Patients at Algoma Regional Renal Program (ARRP)
- The integration of the TRCC Calls to Action in Canadian Dietetic Education
2020-2021 Projects
- Cooking with Dietitians: Planning an Impact Evaluation
- Comparing malnutrition screening tools for community-dwelling seniors
- Knowledge, attitudes and perceptions of weight bias among staff at the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit
- Medical students’ perceptions of the nutrition curriculum in their Undergraduate Medical Education (UME) at NOSM U
- Determining Comprehension of the Low Phosphate Diet in Dialysis Patients at Sault Area Hospital (SAH) Renal Program
Examples of poster presentations include:
Northeast Cancer Centre Cooking with Dietitians: Phase 1 of 3 – an Impact Evaluation (Northern Health Research Conference, 2020)
Student Awards/Bursaries and NODIP Recipients
Dietitians of Canada Morgan Award
For achievements of research projects by dietetic interns or practicum students.
Kira Schan (National Medal recipient) (NODIP Class 2008-09)
Jill Ingribelli (Quebec and Northeast Ontario Region) (NODIP Class 2015-16)
Dietitians of Canada Graduate Student Award
Recognizes outstanding academic performance in master’s and PhD programs.
Julie Stachiw (NODIP Class of 2011-12)
Dietitians of Canada Judy Van Tilburg Dietetic Intern Bursary
Professional development and networking opportunity at the National Conference.
Julia Freeman (NODIP Class 2011-12)
Brianne Ozimok (NODIP Class 2014-15)
Dr. McElhaney Dietetic Learner Research Fund
Dr. McElhaney Dietetic Learners Research Fund
The Dr. Janet McElhaney Dietetic Learners Research Fund was established by Dr. McElhaney’s family in memory of her commitment to collaborative clinical practice, equity, and social accountability in the context of older adult health and well-being. This annual fund was established to support the Northern Ontario Dietetic Internship Program (NODIP) learners’ research projects that honour Dr. McElhaney’s legacy.
Dr. Janet McElhaney was an award-winning Professor at the Northern Ontario School of Medicine University, a beloved member of the Health Sciences North medical staff, Scientific Director of the Health Sciences North Research Institute, and the Health Sciences North Volunteer Association Research Chair in Healthy aging. Dr. McElhaney recognized the many challenges faced by older adults due to the devastating health effects of socially constructed inequities. She made it her mission to serve the most vulnerable in our society.
Registered Dietitian preceptors who are interested in being a research advisor for NODIP learners may apply for funds to complete a practice-based research project that aligns with Dr. McElhaney’s mission.
This fund is an annual award for research projects that are completed (either partially or in full) during the NODIP program year (September to July).
Applications for the 2022-23 program year are now closed. Please monitor this site for the application form, available in the Spring.
Completed applications must be received at nodip@nosm.ca by June 30th.
Professional Development and NODIP Resources
NODIP’s professional development includes an annual calendar of workshops on topics including research and data analysis, program evaluation, health literacy and clear language, pediatrics, renal disease, food allergies, the International Dietetics and Nutrition Terminology and Nutrition Care Process. There may also be opportunities to attend events and workshops offered during some rotations and/or by organizations such as Dietitians of Canada.
NODIP SharePoint Site
As a distributed learning program, the learning SharePoint site is the primary tool for communication. The site includes:
- All placement information, intern schedules and materials are online.
- Common performance objectives and evaluation forms.
- A Resource Centre of workshop materials, additional resources and references.
Shown below: NODIP’s professional development opportunities include an annual calendar of workshops on topics including a Growth Assessment Workshop.
