Southwestern Dietetic Internship Consortium Graduates First Native American Dietician
August 8, 2006- The Phoenix Area Indian Health Service announces the first dietetic intern
graduate from the Southwestern Dietetic Internship Consortium at the Phoenix
Indian Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ. On Friday, August 11, 2006, Ms. Kari
Clark, and the Indian Health Service will celebrate this milestone on the
campus of the Phoenix Indian Medical Center. The dietetic internship is a
consortium between the Phoenix Indian Medical Center, Phoenix Area and the
Kayenta Service Unit, Navajo Area, Indian Health Service.
The Southwestern Dietetic Internship Consortium was approved by the American
Dietetic Association (ADA) in November 2005. Before this program was submitted
to the ADA, there were no dietetic internship programs in the Indian Health
Service. The rising rates of diabetes, obesity, childhood obesity, and other
chronic health issues for which nutrition is an integral part of the treatment
indicate the need for more qualified dietetics practitioners in Native American
communities. The most recent demographic analysis completed by the ADA in
1999 showed that only 0.3% of all Registered Dietitians claim American Indian
or Alaska Native as their ethnicity.
Kari Clark, a member of the Navajo Nation, from Crystal, New Mexico and
an Arizona State University graduate, was the first dietetic intern selected
for the program. Ms. Clark has completed all of the required training hours
and rotations to successfully complete her internship and is now ready to
take the registration examination to become a Registered Dietitian.
“Kari has done excellent work during her internship. The projects
were all of the highest quality. Kari will make a great dietitian for the
Indian Health Service,” said Edith Clark, Director of Southwestern
Dietetic Internship Consortium.
The graduation ceremony will be held at the Phoenix Indian Medical Center,
Phoenix, AZ, on August 11.
NOTE: Information courtesy of the Phoenix Area Indian Health Service Press Release, August 8, 2006. For additional
information on the Southwestern Dietetic
Internship Consortium, contact the Phoenix Area Public Information Officer
at 602-364-7777, or go to the
Arizona Dietetic Practicum Advisory Committee web site.
Additional information about the IHS is available on the IHS website.
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