Wellness Workdays, a leading provider of worksite wellness programs, has partnered with Simmons and Merrimack Colleges to offer students the opportunity to complete the Wellness Workdays Dietetic Internship (WWDI) while earning a master’s degree. Candidates who complete one of the combined programs receive a Master’s of Science (MS) and satisfy the requirements to sit for the national registered dietitian exam.
The partnership with Simmons is a two-year distance-learning program that allows students to earn an MS in Nutrition and Health Promotion and become a registered dietitian by completing the WWDI in the location of their choice. “We, in the Simmons College Nutrition department, are delighted to expand our repertoire of accredited Nutrition and Dietetics programs by offering our well-established and respected MS in Nutrition online. Just as in our on-the-ground program, students can choose between two tracks, the Wellness or Entrepreneurship track,” said Elizabeth Metallinos-Katsaras, Ph.D., R.D., a Ruby Winslow Linn Professor and the Chair of the Department of Nutrition at Simmons School of Nursing and Health Sciences.
The partnership with Merrimack College allows students to earn an MS degree in one of three focus areas in the health sciences and become a registered dietitian by completing the WWDI all in one year. “An exciting aspect of the program is that it is an accelerated and immersive educational experience,” said Kyle McInnis, Associate Dean. The program provides a world-class faculty and facilities; professional development and networking; and research opportunities. All students accepted into the dual WWDI-MS program at Merrimack are eligible for a significant scholarship in the form of a graduate fellowship.
The WWDI is one of the largest programs in the country and offers the only ACEND-approved worksite wellness internship for dietetics students interested in becoming registered dietitians. “We are training some of the best talent in the country,” said Debra Wein, CEO of Wellness Workdays. “Our high-caliber graduates are the next generation of worksite wellness professionals and will be instrumental in implementing worksite wellness programs that provide value and deliver outcomes.”
Complete details about the WWDI, the Simmons College Master of Science Dietetic Internship and the Merrimack College Master of Science Dietetic Internship can be found on the WWDI website.
About the Wellness Workdays
Wellness Workdays is a Massachusetts company with offices in New York and Florida that designs and delivers worksite wellness programs to increase employee health and productivity and lower healthcare costs. Wellness Workdays has earned industry recognition and several best practices awards for its clients, which include BJ’s Wholesale Club, Putnam Investments, Brown University, Cabot Corp., the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Rockland Trust, Bentley University, Cambridge Trust and Harvard Business School. A Certified WBE (Woman-Owned Business Enterprise) as well as a DBE (Disadvantaged Business Enterprise), the company has been registered with the SDO (Supplier Diversity Office) since 2011. For more information about Wellness Workdays, visit www.wellnessworkdays.com or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Google+.
About Simmons College
Simmons College is a nationally recognized private university located in the heart of Boston, and is the preeminent authority on women's leadership. Founded in 1899, Simmons is the only undergraduate women’s college in Boston, and maintains a history of visionary thinking and a focus on social responsibility. The college offers world-class coeducational graduate programs in nursing and health sciences, including physical therapy and nutrition, liberal arts, life sciences, library and information science, business management and social work. For more information about Simmons College, visit www.simmons.edu.
About Merrimack College
Merrimack College, located in North, Andover, Massachusetts, is a selective, independent college in the Catholic, Augustinian tradition whose mission is to enlighten minds, engage hearts and empower lives. The college’s 3,200 full-time undergraduate and 575 graduate students represent 32 states and 31 countries. For more information about Merrimack College, visit www.merrimack.edu.
