Graduates boast a 97.2% first-time pass rate on licensure exam for RDN
The Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics has given dietetic education programs at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore a stamp of approval for the third consecutive time since the program’s inception. Students are assured that they are enrolled in programs with the highest standards according to ACEND, leading to a certification as a registered dietitian nutritionist.
UMES’ Didactic Program in Dietetics and the Dietetic Internship Program were granted full accreditation for a seven-year term ending in 2029. The decision followed the review of a self-study report and a two-part site review, one remote and one in person, last year due to the pandemic.
“This accreditation is particularly significant for an HBCU that attracts students from a variety of ethnic backgrounds. UMES can continue to offer high-quality nutrition programs that contribute to diversifying the dietetics profession,” said Dr. Malinda Cecil, director of the Didactic Program in Dietetics at UMES.
The process for accreditation, Cecil said, involved numerous faculty, staff and students in the Department of Human Ecology who participated in remote sessions with the reviewers. Community stakeholders, dietetic preceptors and members of the dietetic advisory board were of particular importance. “The department recognizes the contribution these individuals make to the success of the dietetic programs, for without their support, the UMES dietetic programs would not be possible.”
UMES has the capacity to enroll up to 25 undergraduates in its didactic program each year. Graduates receive a bachelor’s degree in human ecology with a concentration in dietetics. Seniors have priority consideration for UMES’ Dietetic Internship Program, which focuses on diabetes education and counseling. The internship entails a minimum of 1288 supervised practice hours in clinical, foodservice and community settings arranged with area partners.
Coursework and an internship program through ACEND-accredited programs and a verification statement of completion are required to be eligible to take the registration exam. Students who have completed the dietetic internship at UMES boast a 97.2% first-time pass rate over the past seven years for the Commission on Dietetic Registration credentialing exam to become a registered dietitian nutritionist, Cecil said.
Beginning January 2024, students will be required to obtain a graduate degree in addition to completing supervised dietetic practice to be eligible to take the dietetic registration exam. UMES’ Department of Human Ecology, Cecil said, is currently in the process of implementing a master’s program as an adjunct to the dietetic internship designed to assist students in meeting this new graduate degree requirement.
“The accreditation of our programs is an affirmation of our faculty’s commitment to excellence and student success. I commend the program directors, Dr. Malinda Cecil and Mr. Michael Kirtsos, for their leadership and I also thank UMES faculty members who continue to support our dietetics education programs,” said Dr. Grace Namwamba, chair of the Department of Human Ecology at UMES.
Eighty percent of graduates who seek employment, Namwamba said, are employed in nutrition and dietetics or related fields within 12 months of graduation. Registered dietetic nutritionists work in hospitals, clinics or other health care facilities; sports nutrition and corporate wellness programs; food- and nutrition-related businesses and industries; private practices; community and public health settings; universities and medical centers teaching food and nutrition; research areas in food and pharmaceutical companies; the Armed Services, the National Security Agency and even zoos.
For more information on the Didactic Program in Dietetics at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, visit https://wwwcp.umes.edu/he/dietetics/ or contact the DPD director, Dr. Malinda Cecil, at mdcecil@umes.edu. For more information about the Dietetic Internship, visit https://wwwcp.umes.edu/he/dietetic-internship-program/, or contact the DI director, Mr. Michael Kirtsos, at mkirtsos@umes.edu.
Gail Stephens, agricultural communications and media associate, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, School of Agricultural and Natural Sciences, gcstephens@umes.edu, 410-621-3850.
Photos submitted by Michael Kirtsos.
