Jean Jones, MS, RD, CDE, MLDE, Manager, Clinical Nutrition Services and Mike Montes, Director, Food Services, were recently voted Outstanding Clinical Preceptor and Outstanding Food Service Management Preceptor by UK’s Department of Dietetics and Human Nutrition for their roles in facilitating and mentoring UK Dietetic students during rotations at St. Claire Regional.
When UK dietetic interns take part in the program, they go through two different rotations at SCR; food service management and clinical nutrition. Each rotation lasts 12 weeks, with each intern totaling 24 weeks at SCR.
Jones serves as the preceptor of the clinical nutrition rotation and Montes serves as the preceptor for the rotation in food service management. During the rotations, they help guide the students as they learn to put their knowledge into practice.
Jones has been a clinical preceptor at SCR for 29 years. SCR already participated in internship programs when she first began and it was part of her job to provide education to dietetic interns. Each year, she has at least four interns from the University of Kentucky and one from Eastern Kentucky University.
“I love my interns! Serving as a preceptor is one of the best, most fulfilling parts of my job. I enjoy watching them grow, gain confidence and become independent in their work. Each intern I have teaches me something new,” said Jones.
This was the first year that Montes has been a preceptor with the program and he has already mentored two UK students. He is currently the preceptor for a student from EKU. The “Valentine’s Day” and “Taste of Asia” themed lunches in SCR’s cafeteria this year were both products of UK interns completing the food service management rotation.
Story provided by St. Claire Regional Medical Center
