Job Shadow Days give local students a look into their future

A career in healthcare can be challenging, but also rewarding. For the next generation of healthcare workers, Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital’s Community Health and Wellness Department recently offered them a look into their future with a Job Shadow Day. The hospital hosted a group of 12 high school students from several Boston Public Schools on a day dedicated to exploring some of the various roles within the hospital. The goal of the program is to provide students with a better understanding of the skills and education necessary to succeed in healthcare.

The program began with a welcome and introduction to Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital and an overview of hospital policies and information regarding HIPAA. Students were then assigned to a mentor who they shadowed. Later, the students gathered together to discuss their experiences.

Community Health and Wellness Assistant Katie Plante, who coordinated the day, says, “The students were excited for the opportunity to have some one-on-one time in different departments. It is such an eye-opening and valuable day that we hope sparks an interest in something in healthcare they never even knew existed.”

For the students who participated, the day was an important learning experience.

Eleventh grader Xing Hua He shadowed Supervisor Kathleen Clancy in the Transport Department. “I learned that you have to be responsible in any position you’re in,” she said.

Ly Bui, also in eleventh grade and shadowing Clancy in Transport, said of the experience. “I liked seeing the more ‘behind the scenes’ aspect of working in a hospital.”

Woodly Constant is a twelfth grader who shadowed Perioperative Services Nurse Director Robin Kaufman, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, and her team in Perioperative Services. He said of the day, “I liked the way each person explained their roles and what they do.”