Nursing Pathway Sets Young Scholars on Track to Career Success
Growing up seeing women in her family provide compassionate care for others as home health aides and nurses, Mchiwa Hassan was inspired to follow in their footsteps and become a nurse. Her path toward this goal solidified in 2022 when she participated in the University of Rochester (UR) School of Nursing and East High School’s , giving her hands-on experience that confirmed her passion for nursing.
“The internship program helped me not only learn the basic skills required of nurses, but it also showed me that there is more than one career path within nursing,” Hassan shared. “It really gives you the confidence in yourself that you’ve chosen the right field while opening your eyes to new opportunities within that field.”
More than 40 students have participated in the internship program over the past two years. The grant-funded collaboration between East and the School of Nursing is led by Master’s of Nursing Education (MNE) students and faculty, who also serve as mentors and professional connections for East students as they plan their careers. Students participate in full-day field trips, tour the Â鶹ĘÓƵ and receive guidance from the Teen Health & Success Partnership’s (THSP) hiring and employment navigators about career opportunities and next steps.
Hassan’s early success in healthcare is exactly the outcome that program leaders have hoped to see.
The next Career Exploration Internship program is slated to begin in October.
East High School students interested in participating can contact Jodi Cook, East High School’s Medical Laboratory & Health Sciences instructor, for more information about the program and application process.
“The most rewarding part of this program is hearing the excitement from the students when they tell us that they have found success in healthcare, whether through a job or a college acceptance,” shared Caitlyn Paris-Woods ’23N (MS), who co-taught and planned the course as her MNE capstone project.
“This is a great opportunity for students to explore the vast array of opportunities available to them.”
THSP, a program offered through UR Medicine’s Center for Community Health & Prevention, matches students living in the City of Rochester with employment opportunities at UR and provides hiring and employment assistance to support students’ long-term career success.
High school students participating in the program work in a variety of roles across 35 departments at Strong Memorial Hospital, Highland Hospital, the Highlands at Pittsford, the Memorial Art Gallery, and the main UR campus. While nursing is a popular career pathway, students also pursue job opportunities in IT, pharmacy, imaging sciences, food services, and other fields. The program boasts a 100 percent graduation rate for participating high school students and around half remain employed at UR, pursuing promotions following high school graduation.
Enrolling in TSHP and securing a job was Hassan’s next goal. While the internship equipped her with hands-on clinical skills, THSP offered support in resume building, interview preparation and finding the perfect position aligned with her career aspirations. All critical pieces of the puzzle.
“You never really know what you’re going to be asked at an interview and the Teen Health & Success Partnership program really helped my confidence after doing one-on-one mock interviews,” said Hassan.
A 2024 East High graduate, Hassan has been working as a nursing assistant on the Emergency Department's observation unit at Strong Memorial Hospital since her junior year of high school. Thriving in the fast-paced environment of the nation's largest and nationally recognized Observation Unit, Hassan's responsibilities vary daily, encompassing tasks such as answering patient calls, stocking medical supplies, and changing beds.
In the fall, she plans to attend Monroe Community College’s two-year nursing program, followed by applying to St. John Fisher University’s Wegmans School of Nursing. Hassan hopes to continue working at Strong throughout her education, using THSP's employment navigation resources to pursue promotions and secure a fulfilling career post-graduation.
High school students who live in the City of Rochester and are interested in healthcare careers are encouraged to contact Annabelle Kleist, PhD, director of the Teen Health & Success Partnership at the Center for Community Health & Prevention, to learn more about the program and future opportunities.
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