Preceptor Recognition Stories

During National Preceptor Month, students and program directors joined in to thank their extraordinary preceptors. Take a look at some of the amazing ways they have thanked their preceptor! And share your story, too!

Texas Christian University Students

Fort Worth, Texas

Texas Christian University's annual Dietetics Preceptor Appreciation Luncheon is a special event meticulously planned and executed by the talented senior and graduate dietetic students to express their appreciation to all of their preceptors.
The luncheon serves as a platform to express our deepest gratitude to more than 75 preceptors. Preceptors attend this on-campus event to enjoy a special-themed lunch while networking and earning continuing education credit from the invited speaker and enjoy winning the many amazing raffle prizes. Senior and graduate dietetics students work hand-in-hand to design, plan, and execute every detail of the luncheon, ensuring a successful event. Graduate students take on the role of preceptor and mentor by guiding the senior students throughout the planning process.

Community Support Services, Inc Dietetic Internship

Gaithersburg, Md.

All of the interns at Community Support Services, Inc. developed a Thank You video for National Preceptor Month to show our appreciation for our preceptor Janice Goldschmidt. Janice provided a tremendous virtual experience that allowed us to grow professionally during the global pandemic from the safety of our homes. With her innovative preceptor program interns from all over the US were able to provide virtual services to one of the most vulnerable populations; individuals with autism and intellectual and developmental disabilities. This is especially appreciated since she took us in with open arms when many local organizations were unable to due to COVID restrictions. Below is the link to the video.

University of Virginia Health System Dietetic Internship

Charlottesville, Va.

The interns at the University of Virginia Health System made a video to recognize their fabulous group of 60 plus preceptors. The internship is a month plus into virtual experiences, and they continue to be blown away by their preceptors' acceptance, enthusiasm, flexibility and creativity in this new learning environment. While the University of Virginia Health System DI was not able to celebrate the occasion in person due to the pandemic, the interns created a video to express their gratitude.

Oregon Health & Science University Dietetic Internship

Portland, Ore.

During the Oregon Academy Business & Awards session, I had the honor to recognize our current interns, our graduates, and our preceptors (many of whom are graduates of our internship). During my brief session, the attached "word cloud"; was displayed on the presentation screen. I also created a poster of the same word cloud and displayed it on an easel at the entrance to the primary sessions for all attendees to see. The words included in the word cloud were provided by our interns. At the beginning of one of our classes with our interns, I passed out 3 x 5" index cards and asked each intern to write down 3-5 words that came to mind to describe their preceptors. On the flip-side of the card I asked them to describe an exceptional experience/memorable moment with one or more of their preceptors. I compiled the "memorable moments" in to a document (attached) that I plan to share with our preceptors this month. I have thought about designing thank you notes, with the word cloud image on the front to give to our interns to write notes to their current, past and future preceptors to express their appreciation for their support throughout the year. I may do the same, but will plan to send notes to our preceptor's supervisors.

Geisinger Dietetic Internship

Danville, Pa.

Since the first dietetic internship graduation in 1993, preceptors are always recognized at the formal graduation ceremony for interns. During the ceremony, positive comments compiled from the interns' rotation feedback forms are read so that interns' families and invited guests learn the important role of the preceptors. Interns started their own tradition of giving each preceptor a photo thank you card.

With the growth of the Geisinger and supervised practice sites, preceptor recognition is now combined with RDN Day in March. RDNs are treated to a lunch and speakers. A preceptor skill-building presentation is always included, with this year's topic on Enhancing the Patient Experience. A new photo of the preceptors is taken annually and posted on the Clinical Nutrition web site. A survey of attendees is sent after the program; positive comments about the program continue to be received every year. During April this year, all preceptors were given 6-Function Pen (including a LED light) with imprint 'Preceptors Shine!'

UChicago Medicine Ingalls Memorial Hospital Dietetic Internship

Harvey, Ill.

At UChicago Medicine Ingalls Memorial Hospital Dietetic Internship, we celebrated our amazing preceptors all month long! Every Monday of the month we had a surprise consisting of...

• Coffee and Donuts with custom mugs "Good Food is Good Mood" and "Caffeine Q4H PRN."
• Preceptor Gift Surprise Day: Decorated the dietitians' office with streamers and gifts (succulents, photos w/ frames, magnets) with an appreciation food pun covering the desk top screens.
• Cake and a poster for the foodservice workers.

We are so grateful for everything our preceptors do for us, and could not thank them enough.

Ohio University, MS Dietetic Internship

Athens, Ohio

Message from Erica, an Intern at Ohio University DI – "I can safely say that I had the opportunity to work with some of the best preceptors in the world during my clinical rotation. Not only did my preceptors foster my ability to grow as a student but, also as an individual. What truly made my experience so special was that my preceptors made an effort to break the intern-preceptor barrier and actually got know me as a person. It's not every day you meet people who are willing to happily take a picture with a head of cabbage."

Virginia Commonwealth University Health Dietetic Internship

Richmond, Va.

This internship has two intern volunteers that act as "Preceptor Month Chairs" who plan, organize and implement all of the activities on their own (with help from their fellow interns) to show their preceptors how much they are appreciated. Here are this year's activity highlights:

At Virginia Commonwealth University Health, our 16 dietetic interns showed their appreciation for our preceptors in a number of ways this April!

• A potluck breakfast was organized for the clinical staff, complete with a "planting station" with pots, soil and seed packets for preceptors as a way to say "thank you for helping us grow!"
• A bulletin board was designed by interns in their main kitchen rotation in order to recognize all food service preceptors.
• For our off-site preceptors at two local community hospitals, the McGuire Veterans Affairs Medical Center and Henrico Doctors' Hospital, muffin baskets were delivered because "there's muffin like a great preceptor!"
• Weekly Facebook posts were written for the month of April by our two interns in charge of social media to highlight our many preceptors.
• In addition, a new monthly Facebook feature ("Preceptor Spotlight") was launched to highlight and learn more about one internship preceptor each month.
• Hand-written, personalized cards were delivered to each preceptor that featured a fun group photo on the front.
• Two CPEU credit webinars were held at VCU Health for preceptors to attend for free!

Our preceptors (there's over 100!) really go above and beyond, so interns made sure their hard work and dedication did not go unnoticed!

Brigham Young University, Dietetic Internship

Provo, Utah

Preceptors received a "Sunshine Box," a box filled with yellow items. Similar items were tied together with a yellow tulle bow and each box included a card inscribed with the following message: "Sending a little Sunshine your way to brighten your day."

"The program had more preceptors call and email me with a thank you for the Sunshine Box than any other 'appreciation gift' we've sent."

University of North Florida Dietetic Internship

Jacksonville, Fla.

Shawna Jenkins: "We (Shawna and Stacey Scrabis, MS, RD, CSSD, LDN - pictured on the right) spoke with another Halifax Health employee, Mark Spivey, MA, LCSW. Stacey is my preceptor for my second MNT rotation and is a wonderful role model. She is a caring, compassionate, and dedicated RD. Not only is she a RD, but a mom, an athlete, a friend, and a recent Master's graduate…she can do it all! I hope to one day repay her by becoming a great preceptor like her in my future! I am very fortunate to be working with her and look forward to finishing my Dietetic Internship with a rotation experience under her tutelage."

University of Southern Mississippi Dietetic Internship

Hattiesburg, Miss.

Our interns honored their preceptors in a variety of ways, from preceptor certificates to sentimental gifts. Some of the preceptor gifts included blueberry cheesecake muffins with a tag that said "There's 'muffin' like a great preceptor!" Also, some preceptors were given thyme plants that said "Thank you for taking the thyme to be my preceptor!" while other preceptors were given plants with the saying "Thanks for helping me grow!"

In the attached picture, one of our interns presented her clinical preceptors with a cookie cake for all of their hard work and dedication over the past year. It was a great month full of lots of thank you's!

Ohio State University Coordinated Program

Columbus, Ohio

The Ohio State University Dietetic programs sponsors an annual Preceptor Breakfast each year to thank and honor professionals who have shared their time and expertise to educate our students and support the Dietetic programs. The function is organized solely by the students through the Student Dietetic Association and funded by the department.

This year the students created a video (which looped during the event) showcasing their experiences at the various supervised practice sites. Additionally, the graduating students theses were presented in a poster format for preceptors to view and question students regarding their research. The preceptors were happy to receive continuing education credits in addition to the great networking opportunity.

Each year the students provide the preceptors with a small gift. This year's gift was a picture holder with class pictures in addition to the Academy's Certificate of Appreciation.

Fontbonne University Dietetic Internship

Clayton, Mo.

At Fontbonne, we have a great appreciation for the preceptors for our ISPP program. We are lucky enough to have money in our program budget set aside specifically to purchase thank you gifts for them every year. We allocate this amount by the number of weeks that the preceptor hosted students the previous year and provide them with a letter stating that they may use this amount toward educational materials, professional memberships, conference attendance, or other materials that may benefit their site. Then comes the best part – we deliver the gifts to them and get the see how much they enjoy them! Throughout the year, we receive emails about how they are utilizing the gifts at their site.

East Carolina University Dietetic Internship

Greenville, NC

One of East Carolina University's favorite preceptors is Pam Phillips, MS, RD, LDN. Not only was she a graduate of East Carolina University for her BS and MS degrees, but she also willingly became a preceptor years ago. She continues as an outstanding role model for both foodservice management and clinical dietetics. Her facility is small, but her employees recognize her as a trustworthy boss – one worth following for many years. Some of her cooks have worked at the facility for over 40 years and their loyalty continues because of Pam. She provides a steady coaching style for her team members to do their very best.

The facility's process improvements have already increased patient satisfaction rates, and has already gained recognition from the hospital administrator. Their commitment makes it the right place for an intern to learn and gain confidence, and the right preceptor at the head of the department makes all the difference.