News Release

FORT WAYNE — Parkview Health Nutrition Services was recently awarded the Ball State University Dr. William Bock Outstanding External Organization Award for its dietetic internship program.

The annual award is given by the Ball State Department of Nutrition and Health Science and recognizes Indiana companies or organizations that provide exceptional learning experiences to its students.

“Parkview is proud to be able to host interns from Ball State and other universities in our nutrition department and provide real-world experience for students in our kitchens, cafeterias and inpatient units,” said Trisha Burgess, nutritional dietitian manager, Parkview Health. “Our dietitians are able to share their skills and knowledge with these up-and-coming students, while our interns provide fresh ideas, insight and support to our team. It’s a pleasure to host our interns and we’re thankful for the recognition from Ball State.”

Parkview’s dietetic internship program started in 2017 and hosts college interns from Indiana and Ohio Universities. Students work a full-time schedule and receive mentorship from Parkview dietitians during their multi-month internship. Interns get experience working in hospital food service departments as well as doing clinical rotations with dietitians consulting with physicians and ensuring patients’ nutritional needs are met.

During the program, interns get experience designing healthy menus, learning about budgeting and ordering and ensuring proper sanitation and food safety. Interns also have opportunities to collaborate with physicians and nurses to design and execute nutrition plans for patients at Parkview Hospitals.

Parkview is hosting its largest internship class yet in 2024, with seven students participating in the learning opportunity.

The dietetic internship is one of several learning opportunities Parkview offers to students. In 2022, Parkview launched a graduate medical education program for resident physicians, and Parkview continues to provide clinical nursing opportunities through partnerships with area colleges. The health system also hosts robust summer internship programs.

“Parkview’s education programs are an important piece of the talent pipeline we’ve built and continue to expand,” said Hallie Custer, vice president of human resources, Parkview Health. “The high-quality learning experiences we provide help ensure the next generation of healthcare workers has the knowledge and skills needed to enter the workforce. We hope that, after school, they choose Parkview as the first stop in their healthcare career.”