Intern Spotlight
Sarah Dellett
Sarah Dellett is part of the 2024-25 Dietetic Internship class at UC Davis Medical Center. She joined us after moving from upstate New York, completing her Bachelor of Science in International Agriculture and Rural Development at Cornell University and her Master of Arts in Nutrition Science from Syracuse University. Sarah has a mission to advance the culturally appropriate transplant care and public health globally. In addition to her busy workdays as an intern, Sarah volunteers with Sacramento Loaves and Fishes. Sarah came to the field of nutrition with a depth of experience working in foodservice and agriculture combined with her lifelong hobby of endurance sports, completing several Boston Marathons, ultras, and bike tours before returning to school.
Intern Interview
Q: Why did you choose the UC Davis Medical Center Dietetic Internship?
A: I chose this program because I wanted to learn and work with a large dietitian team and get exposure to caring for a diverse population. I also like living somewhere with an identity as an agricultural hub, as both Sacramento and Davis both are. Moving from upstate New York, I will also say I wanted to move somewhere warmer! Sacramento is bike friendly, active, and is a basecamp for many outdoor activities.
Q: What is the greatest lesson you have learned so far during this internship?
A: Nourish your relationships and build your network, there are many dietitians at UCDMC and in the area that are great mentors and contacts for the internship and in the future. We all want to see each other succeed in our chosen areas.
Q: What have you found to be your greatest challenge?
A: Understanding the large hospital system. There are so many new faces and places that I am still new to, and I don’t come from a medical background in my family or education. We change rotations every four weeks, so figuring out how it all fits together is coming in time.
Q: What has been your greatest accomplishment during your internship year?
A: I was awarded a scholarship through the California Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. It feels great to be recognized for my work and where I see myself within the field, despite being new to California and UCDMC.
Q: Prior to starting your dietetic internship what were your career goals and have they changed while going through the internship?
A: Before the internship, I wanted to work with the kidney and liver transplant population. My research in graduate school was on liver function, and I was lucky to shadow a transplant dietitian in Syracuse. So, my first rotation at UCDMC was on the transplant floor. I liked it even more, going to committee meetings, conducting post-transplant food safety educations, and working closely with PT. I hope to have an outpatient rotation in the transplant clinic too.
Q: If you could give any piece of advice to future interns, what would it be?
A: Get comfortable feeling new. Time flies and the changes happen quickly. Have confidence that you know the nutrition science and be grateful for this opportunity to learn and receive feedback to make you even better!