The Keith & Associates Distance Dietetic Internship (KADDI) is rooted in a history of visionary leadership and deep commitment to advancing the dietetics profession. Our program was built on a foundation of real-world consulting, innovation, and service to underrepresented communities across the care continuum.

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Founding of K&A Nutrition

KADDI’s story begins in 1996 when Sandra Keith, MPH, RDN, LD, founded K&A Nutrition, a consulting firm designed to meet the growing needs for Registered Dietitian services across Oklahoma. While working directly in the field, Sandra recognized significant service gaps—particularly in nutrition support for long-term care and specialized facilities.

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Her commitment to client wellness and access to care led to the expansion of services into durable medical equipment through K&A DME, and eventually, into pharmaceuticals through the launch of Quality First Pharmacy. These companies remain active today, offering comprehensive, integrated services to clients throughout the region.

 

A Workforce of Experts

Today, K&A Nutrition employs more than 15 credentialed RDNs who provide clinical and community-based nutrition services across the lifespan.

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Clients include:

• Group homes

• Head Start programs

• Hospitals

• Assisted living and skilled nursing facilities

• Hospice care providers

• Senior nutrition programs

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These professionals not only deliver direct care—they also became the first cohort of preceptors for what would eventually become KADDI.

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Birth of the Internship

In 2016, Dr. Patti Landers, PhD, RDN, LD, FAND, relocated to Tulsa and joined K&A Nutrition following her leadership as an internship director at the University of Oklahoma. Drawing from her experience as an ACEND site visitor and educator, she developed a new kind of internship—one that combined the flexibility of distance education with the rigor of ACEND standards.

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K&A Nutrition officially became the program sponsor, and in March 2017, the KADDI program was accredited by ACEND. That year, 37 interns joined the inaugural class.

 

Continued Growth and Impact

Since its founding, KADDI has continued to evolve. The program now admits up to 97 interns annually and remains committed to its founding mission: to provide accessible, high-quality dietetics education to students from diverse backgrounds and locations.