What activities in the Aramark Dietetic

Internship do graduates perceive build their

skills and abilities as a leader?
Research partners:
Rachel Herron, BS
Mary Plachta, BS
Mal Piekara, BS

Amy DeMage, MS, RDN, LD, Aramark Regional Internship Director

Overview
Introduction
Research studies
Research question
Methodology
Results

Conclusion
Questions
References

Introduction
Leadership
An acquired skill through real world applications
Goal of leadership development involves more action rather than
knowledge
Looked for by employers in potential job candidates

A leader is one who selects, equips, trains and influences one or more follower(s)
who have diverse gifts, abilities and skills.

Introduction (Continued)
Relating to Dietetics
Dietetics provides:
Challenges
Great opportunities to be leaders
An evolving field

The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, is calling for all dietitians to be

the nations food and nutrition leaders.

Pilot Study
University of Wisconsin
Used to determine how participating in leadership development programs could
potentially foster personal leadership growth in students

69 dietetic students age 19-48 years old participated in this 4 month study

Frein J, Seaborn C, McManus M, Coker J. Leadership Development: Implementation of a Pilot Program for Dietetic Students at the
University of Wisconsin-Stout. Journal of the American Dietetic Association. 2006;106(8):A16. doi:10.1016/j.jada.2006.05.046.

Pilot Study Results

Experimental Group

Control Group

Required to attend 2 leadership

development seminars:

Did not participate in any supervised

leadership training

Media training workshop

Wisconsin Dietetic Association annual
state meeting

Results:
Those who participated in the short term
leadership program improved their
leadership qualities.

Frein J, Seaborn C, McManus M, Coker J. Leadership Development: Implementation of a Pilot Program for Dietetic Students at the University of Wisconsin-Stout.
Journal of the American Dietetic Association. 2006;106(8):A16. doi:10.1016/j.jada.2006.05.046.

Cross Sectional Study

Leadership survey that was administered to undergraduate dietetic students at 9
universities
283 questionnaires were completed and analyzed

Dietetic students reported they demonstrated leadership most frequently in a

classroom setting compared to at home or at work

This brings to question: Can these dietetic students present leadership qualities
in their field of study, outside of the classroom?

Arendt, S., Gregoire, M. Dietetics Students Perceive Themselves as Leaders and Report They Demonstrate Leadership in a
Variety of Contexts. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. 2014;105(8):1289-1294.

Research Question

What activities assigned during the Aramark Dietetic Internship

build leadership skills and abilities in past graduates?

Methodology
Project Design
Cross-sectional Study
Using a sample from one or
more populations at one time

Target Group
Aramark Dietetic Internship
graduates from the past 2
years

Methodology
Date Collection

Resources

Survey Monkey

Survey Monkey

Develop questionnaire

Analyze results

Microsoft Excel
Analyze results
Create graphs

Internet access
Graduate emails
Obtained from Internship Director

Microsoft Word & Excel

To develop research project

Methodology
Funding

Statistical Evaluation

There will be no cost to the

researchers for the resources needed
to complete this project

Descriptive Statistics
Used to evaluate the data

Results
38 graduates completed the survey
35 females
3 males

20 responses from those who graduated in 2015

18 responses from those who graduated in 2014
Age group range:
18-24 yrs old (40.54%)
25-34 yrs old (51.35%)
35-44 yrs old (2.70%)

45-54 yrs old (5.41%)

Management Rotation
Main areas:
Retail
Patient Services
Production
Staff Relief

Management Rotation

Comments from graduates

These activities helped to provide an understanding of business
numbers active leadership roles

This rotation forced me to do the activities of a manager in food

service instead of just shadowing a manager

Clinical Rotation
Main areas:
Gastrointestinal

Nutrition Support

Cardiopulmonary

Complex Cases

Diabetes

Critical Care

Renal

Nutrition
Management

Oncology/HIV

Staff Relief

Clinical Rotation

Comments from graduates

The Clinical Case Report gave me ownership over a specific case
and allowed me to meet with other disciplines on my own.

I gained a better understand of the clinical environment and how to

effectively communicate with other disciplines.

Community Rotation

Interns were at various sites that allowed them to develop and

deliver products, programs, and/or services promoting consumer
health and wellness while considering life experiences and cultural
diversity.

Community Rotation

Comments from graduates

The community project allowed me to step out of my comfort zone
and provide information to groups of members in the community.

I gained experience in public speaking and understanding of how

to deal with diversity in the community

Presenting my project helped me build my level of confidence when

addressing a group of people.

Confidence as a leader
Before the internship

After the Internship

11.43% were Extremely Confident

28.57% were Extremely Confident

14.29% were Most of the Time

Confident

54.29% were Most of the Time

Confident

57.14% were Somewhat Confident

17.15% were Somewhat Confident

14% were Not at all Confident

0% were Not at all Confident

3% were Unsure

0% were Unsure

57.14% increase in confidence levels!

Completion of the Aramark Dietetic Internship

Conclusion

Over 80% of the graduates who participated in the survey viewed

that the internships activities and assignments helped evolve their
leadership abilities upon graduation.

Questions or Comments?

References
1. Learning to Lead: Developing Dietetics Leaders.
Nutrition and Dietetics. May 2014;114(5):688-692

Journal of the Academy of

2. Fogt, E. Taking the Lead in 2014. Todays Dietitian . 2014: Vol. 16 No. 1 P. 44.
3. Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Dietetic Internships.
http://www.eatrightacend.org/ACEND/content.aspx?id=6442485424.
January 11, 2016.

Available at
Accessed

4.
Frein J, Seaborn C, McManus M, Coker J. Leadership Development:
Implementation of a Pilot Program for Dietetic Students at the University of WisconsinStout. Journal of the American Dietetic Association. 2006;106(8):A16.
doi:10.1016/j.jada.2006.05.046.
5. Arendt, S., Gregoire, M. Dietetics Students Perceive Themselves as Leaders and
Report They Demonstrate Leadership in a Variety of Contexts. Journal of the
Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. 2014;105(8):1289-1294.

References
6. Bhatia K, Morris C, Wright S, Takayesu K, Sharma R, Katz J. Leadership Training
for Residents: A Novel Approach. 2015. Doi:26211216.
7. Cheang P. Learning about leadership A personal account. Medical Teacher.
2011;33(6):491-493. doi:10.3109/0142159x.2010.540265.
8. Jortberg B, Fleming M. Registered Dietitian Nutritionists Bring Value to
Emerging Health Care Delivery Models. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and
Dietetics. 2014;114(12):2017-2022. doi:10.1016/j.jand.2014.08.025.

9. Luzinski C. Transformational Leadership. JONA: The Journal of Nursing

Administration. 2011;41(12):501-502. doi:10.1097/nna.0b013e3182378a71.