EAST ORANGE, NJ — With the leadership of the East Orange Office of Employment and Training, the city hosted a ceremony Tuesday, Oct. 29, to launch the 2019-2020 East Orange General Hospital Externship Program at East Orange General Hospital, highlighting its partnership with the hospital and the school district.
Through the externship program, 11 college-bound East Orange Campus High School students will focus on their future by shadowing various hospital administrators and receiving hands-on career experience during a six-month rotational program.
East Orange Mayor Ted Green, who attended the event, said in a press release: “We are proud to partner with our city’s largest private employer to provide our students with a meaningful, hands-on, learning opportunity that will help them not only gain real-world career experience, but also help them develop discipline, accountability and decision-making skills. As a matter of fact, one of our first jobs was working at East Orange General Hospital in Dietary Food Services. The skills these students will gain will be transferable to any career they choose.”
The externship program started Tuesday, Oct. 22, and will run on Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 1 to 3 p.m., until April 19, 2020. It includes experiences for students in the following areas: finance, engineering, central sterile, bariatrics, diagnostic imaging, physical therapy, women’s health and family health.
East Orange General Hospital Director of Human Resources Robert Mays, who also attended the ceremony, said he is excited about the hospital’s connection with local students.
“I’m really excited about the event,” Mays said to the Record-Transcript on Thursday, Oct. 31. “It gives the largest private employer in East Orange a direct connection with future leaders in the city. It allows them the opportunity to work side by side with experts who lead several different functions in the hospital.”
“Students will get a chance to compete for two $2,500 scholarships. Out of 11 students, only two will be awarded $2,500 scholarships,” Mays continued, “so, it’s a great thing to be a part of.”
The students will be required to write an essay, primarily highlighting their overall experience with the program. The best two essays will be awarded scholarships that can be used toward students’ college studies.
“We’ve been working on this program for the last three years. We’ve talked about this idea three years ago,” Mays said. “Mayor Green, Superintendent Kevin West and Principal of East Orange Campus High School Ron Estrict, their passion matched ours and that created the program for the young adults that are participating and they’re great partners. I’m just glad the program is getting so much attention.”
“I thought that it was an incredible event,” West told the Record-Transcript on Thursday, Oct. 31. “I’m looking forward to the extraordinary partnership between East Orange General Hospital and the East Orange School District, as we work together, preparing our children for college careers and life. I’m looking forward to great things with this partnership.”
“It’s important for our students to realize that East Orange General Hospital is not a huge structure separate and apart from the city,” East Orange 4th Ward Councilman Casim Gomez told the Record-Transcript on Wednesday, Oct. 30.
“It is part of the city, and the pathway and opportunities to learn about careers within the healthcare industry also belong to the city. We are so glad and appreciate the leadership of our mayor, the East Orange General Hospital staff, the East Orange Board of Education and, most importantly, the students who usher this important program,” he added.
EOCHS students to take part in EOGH Externship Program added by EmilyAnn Jackman on
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