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Leadership in MCH Nutrition (Pediatric Focus) Fellowship and Certificate Program
The Leadership in MCH Nutrition (Pediatric Focus) Fellowship and Certificate Program is located at the Indiana University Medical Center and in James Whitcomb Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis. The Department of Nutrition and Dietetics and the Department of Pediatrics within the Indiana University School of Medicine jointly sponsor this program, which has been supported by the Bureau of Maternal and Child Health and Resources Development (Health and Human Services) since 1978.
The Leadership in MCH Nutrition (Pediatric Focus) Fellowship and Certificate Program for dietitians/nutritionists is four to six months in length. The fellowship consists of didactic (10 hours per week) and clinical experiences to provide or enhance the pediatric nutrition knowledge, clinical expertise, and leadership skills of the dietitian/nutritionist. The four-month fellowship provides a core of pediatric nutrition competencies related to infants, children, and adolescents with special health needs. During the last two months of the six-month fellowship, fellows may specialize in one of three areas:
- care of newborns in intensive care units and following discharge
- nutritional care of children with special health needs
- nutritional care of adolescents, including those with diabetes
Core training occurs at Riley Hospital, community public health clinics, and the Indiana State Board of Health central office in Indianapolis. The fellowship program accepts four to six dietitians/nutritionists annually. Although helpful, a master’s degree is not required for fellowship eligibility. The Pediatric Nutrition Fellowship Program begins in January.
Admission Requirements
The clinical pediatric nutrition student must be a registered dietitian (Commission on Dietetic Registration) and have a minimum of 12 months of clinical experience or approval by the Program Director. A master's degree in nutrition or enrollment in a master's degree program in nutrition is highly desirable.