Community Relations

From Classroom to Career

Sometimes, everyone wins. A new School-to-Career Program, a collaborative effort with the Newark school system, introduces and trains Newark high school students in some of the less-known, yet essential, healthcare careers. When the students graduate, this training could lead them to pursue jobs in the healthcare profession, perhaps at NJMS or University Hospital. “This program exposes teens to a full range of healthcare career opportunities that they might not realize exist: respiratory technician, lab assistant, medical recordkeeping, patient services representative and more,” says Robert L. Johnson, MD, professor and interim chair of pediatrics and director of the Division of Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine. He is also NJMS’s representative to the School-to-Career Committee.

For an initiative that required a curriculum and approval by the city and state boards of education, the program quickly took shape. Discussion between Dr. Johnson, Sidney E. Mitchell, FACHE, University Hospital president and CEO, and Marion A. Bolden, Newark Public Schools district superintendent, began in March 2003. By October, the program was in place, enabling 22 sophomores from Central High School and Weequahic High School to participate in the first phase. Students learn about job opportunities by rotating through 12 UH departments.

By Spring 2004, the internship component of the program — hands-on training in departments — is expected to be available to high school seniors.