Superhero. Astronaut. President. The world of employment can feel like your oyster as a child dreaming of a future career. It's this type of passion and excitement that Kevin Mahoney, CEO of Philadelphia-based University of Pennsylvania Health System, wants young people to feel when they think of a career in healthcare.
To help move that career vision along, Penn Medicine has introduced programs to students and young people that will not only inspire them to join the healthcare industry, but prepare and train them for the opportunities that lie ahead.
"I think the world needs mission oriented people," Mr. Mahoney told Becker's. "You've got to believe in where you're working, otherwise you're just punching the clock."
In late May, the health system partnered with Heights Philadelphia, an organization that connects middle schoolers and up with career and college opportunities, and Philadelphia City Council majority leader Katherine Richardson to hold a career event.
The event allowed students to enroll in the Early Career Learners Healthcare program, which helps high school seniors with an interest in healthcare and human services secure next steps for their career development. Participants in the program receive career coaching and development opportunities for up to one year. Then, they can apply and interview for Penn Medicine entry level jobs, according to a May 29 Penn Medicine news release.
"As a profession, health care offers meaningful and rewarding work," Mr. Mahoney said in the release. "By introducing students to the field, we’re creating a pathway to careers that enrich lives and make a difference in others. Encouraging careers in health care also helps to strengthen the field overall, ensuring a pipeline poised to answer the needs of the future."
Other student-oriented programs at Penn Medicine include the ASPIRE Program at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.
Sponsored by the Howley Foundation and in partnership with La Salle University, high school juniors accepted into the program who are wanting to pursue a nursing career get to participate in interactive experiences that introduce students to the world of nursing. Once they complete the program their junior year, the program scholars receive a $500 stipend and can return to the program their senior year.
Like Penn Medicine, La Crosse, Wis.-based Gundersen Health system is also working to invest in young people.
Gundersen Moundview Hospital and Clinics in Friendship, Wis., and Adams (Wis.)-Friendship Elementary School have run a mentorship program since 2019 that not only has a positive impact on students, but employees at Gundersen as well.
The program comprises 16 mentors and works with children from kindergarten and up. Students entering middle school can also continue the program should they choose.
"They just have such a positive impact on these kids' lives, and that can lead to the future success for these kids as they become adults," Tammy Lowrey, marketing and communication specialist and mentoring program coordinator for Gundersen Moundview, told Becker's. "I think it's an amazing program. It's rewarding for both the kids and the mentors."
In previous years, the program has featured mentor volunteers like nurse practitioners and speech pathologists. Although the program is based on one-on-one mentorship time spent with students, mentors welcome student discussions on the opportunities of working in the healthcare industry.
"We do want to inspire kids to think about healthcare careers, because we're hoping they come back here and work here," Ms. Lowery said. "The more you can grow your own workforce by people who already live here and come back to work here, the better. It's so rewarding, too."
Gundersen Moundview also has a partnership with Mid-State Technical College in Marshfield, Wis., and A-F School District in Friendship called the Health Career Academy that lets high school students job shadow at the hospital take dual credit courses prior to graduation.
It's programs like these that Mr. Mahoney feels will help solve a major piece to the healthcare industry's staffing puzzle, particularly for nurses.
Mr. Mahoney has been vocal in the past about the topic of nurse staffing ratios and his support for certain nurse staffing legislation in Pennsylvania.
"Yes, I came out strong on nurse ratios, I think it's right for patient safety," he said. " Right now, the healthcare ecosystem is a puzzle, and we all have to work together to put those pieces in place."
While Mr. Mahoney would love for students who partake in Penn Medicine's programs to eventually join the Penn Medicine workforce, he did share some advice for people looking for the right career fit in healthcare.
"Pick your organization first and your job second," Mr. Mahoney said. "Join a local hospital, join a local health system if you want to be in healthcare. From there, figure out where."