January 2021 Nutrition Post-Graduate Practice Experience

Cohort Dates:  January 2, 2021 – June 30, 2021

 Program Overview:

The Nutrition Post-Graduate Practice Experience is specifically designed to prepare MUIH nutrition alumni pursuing the Certified Nutrition Specialist® (CNS®) credential.

It provides up to 1000 hours of remote CNS-Approved Supervision for practice experience in the field of nutrition for graduates of the Master of Science in Nutrition and Integrative Health and the Post-Masters Certificate in Nutrition and Integrative Health from Maryland University of Integrative Health.

The experience is offered in two formats: Placement Sites and Self-Directed Mentorship

Program Format:

Option 1: Placement Sites

MUIH has partnerships with clinics, hospitals, senior living centers, and integrative centers for placement of MUIH graduates. Graduates will interview at the placement site(s) of their choice and the site will determine which candidate is the best fit for the position. Placement sites will provide approximately 10-20 hours a week.

This format includes:

•         Access to the Natural Care Center in Laurel, Maryland to provide nutrition counseling for self-recruited clients.
•         Professional Liability Insurance through MUIH.
•        Maryland-licensed supervisor to oversee clinical care.

Option 2: Self-Directed Mentorship

Graduates will work independently to find their own opportunities of interest in their local area. Mentorship is offered for educational purposes only and as a second opinion on clinical care. Graduates who choose this option are encouraged to purchase professional liability insurance and to check licensing requirements for their state, if applicable.

Additional Information:

This course includes the additional benefit of bi-weekly web conferences covering a wide range of topics to assist with your professional development. Topics include practice management, review of clinical concepts, therapeutic diets, community nutrition education, and tutorials on how to navigate BCNS^SM documentation.

Both options include a CNS-Approved Supervisor who will meet with you remotely individually and in groups. All supervisor paperwork required by the Board for Certification of Nutrition Specialists^SM (BCNS^SM) with approval signatures will be submitted upon completion. The CNS-Approved Supervisor will monitor the candidate’s progress using the “CNS Supervised Practice Experience Tracking Tool” provided by the BCNS^SM. Candidates are responsible for reviewing the CNS® certification requirements and resources available on the American Nutrition Association website at https://theana.org/certify.

Completion of all 1,000 hours needed is not guaranteed. Hours completed during the course will be verified by the Supervisor through several evaluations, including but not limited to the Tracking Tool, mentoring calls, preceptor evaluations, and an e-Portfolio. Completion of hours does not guarantee a favorable recommendation for certification. Recommendations are based on the candidate’s performance, competencies and professionalism exhibited throughout the course. Throughout the experience, each candidate will participate in unlimited individual mentoring sessions with a CNS-Approved Supervisor to achieve an optimum learning experience while ensuring the desired practice experience hours are reached.

Link to Program Page:  https://muih.edu/academics/ce/nutrition-practice-experience/

Program Dates:

Practice experience start dates: January 2, April 1*, July 1, and October 1*

*3-Month Self-Directed Mentorship option only

Program Tuition⁺:

6-month placement site: $1200

6-month self-directed mentorship: $1000 (USE PROMO CODE: SELFDIRECT6)

3-month self-directed mentorship: $600 (USE PROMO CODE: SELFDIRECT3)

⁺Program is not eligible for federal financial aid. Payment Plans are available upon request by contacting Elizabeth Owens at eowens@muih.edu. Payments must be made in full by the course end date. Outstanding payments may delay the verification of the supervised practice experience hours to the BCNS^SM.  Students with outstanding payments may not be permitted to re-enroll without a written request and administrative approval.  For details on MUIH Finance and Billing FAQs, refer to the policy document. 

Requirements: Open to MUIH nutrition program alumni only who have successfully completed the Master of Science in Nutrition and Integrative Health or Post-Master's Certificate in Nutrition and Integrative Health with Maryland University of Integrative Health.  By enrolling in this program, you agree to grant the Program Coordinator to verify your degree with the Registrar’s Office at MUIH.

Refund Policy:

For both 6-month practice experiences (placement sites and self-directed): if withdraw is requested in the first 30 days, 75% refunded; no refund after 30 days.

For the 3-month practice experience (self-directed): if withdraw is requested in the first 15 days, 75% refunded; no refund after 15 days.

Instructor Bios:

Elizabeth Owens joined Maryland University of Integrative Health in 2014 and is the Director of Experiential Programs for the Nutrition & Integrative Health Department. She is a Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS®) practitioner and Licensed Nutritionist in Maryland and Washington, DC. She holds a master's degree in Applied Clinical Nutrition from New York Chiropractic College, where she graduated Summa Cum Laude. Elizabeth completed the post-graduate nutrition internship at MUIH and is excited to share her knowledge and experience in nutrition with current students and alumni. Elizabeth completed her undergraduate studies at the State University of New York College at Cortland, where she majored in Health Sciences and minored in both Biology and Chemistry. Prior to joining MUIH, Elizabeth worked in health and wellness positions at the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta, GA and at the Federal Reserve Board in Washington, DC. She is a certified personal trainer and group fitness instructor through the American Council on Exercise, and a Certified Ketogenic Nutrition Specialist through the American Nutrition Association. Elizabeth is a member of the Institute for Functional Medicine and American Nutrition Association. She has a private practice in Northern Virginia where she shares her love for whole foods and healthy living with individual clients and the community.

Yevgeniya (Jenny) Libkhen received a Master of Science in Nutrition and Integrative Health from Maryland University of Integrative Health in 2014.  Her undergraduate studies were at Clayton College of Natural Health in Birmingham, Alabama where she graduated with Highest Honors with a Bachelor of Science in Holistic Nutrition and Herbology Specialization. Jenny is a Licensed Dietitian Nutritionist (LDN) in the State of Maryland and a Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS®) practitioner. Jenny has been in private clinical nutrition practice since 2007 and after graduating, joined MUIH as a cooking lab instructor, adjunct faculty, and a clinic supervisor. Jenny loves combining her passions of health and wellness, food, and sharing knowledge and experiences with others. Jenny was born in Russia, came to Brooklyn, NY when she was almost 14 and has traveled and lived in various states, all along the East Coast and out in California.  She has been living in Maryland since 2009.

Rachel Lucke is a Licensed Dietician–Nutritionist in the State of Maryland, a Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS®) practitioner, and a Professional Member of the American Nutrition Association with over 20 years of experience in the field of natural health. She earned a master’s degree in Nutrition and Integrative Health from Maryland University of Integrative Health (MUIH), where she now holds positions as the Nutrition Clinic Coordinator and as a supervisor in the nutrition clinic and the post-graduate internship. Rachel has a private clinical practice in Baltimore and regularly consults as a subject matter expert in the field of health sciences for educational publications. She is passionate about women's reproductive health, childhood nutrition, and the value of meditation and mindfulness practices.

Program Contact:

Elizabeth Owens, MS, CNS, CKNS, LDN

Director of Experiential Programs

Nutrition & Integrative Health

7750 Montpelier Road | Laurel, MD 20723

410-888-9048 ext. 6675 | eowens@muih.edu