January 24, 2003

Delmy Suarez (below) — senior attending pharmacy technician at the MGH and a graduate of the ProTech program — was among members of the MGH community who joined Boston Mayor Thomas Menino for an announcement that the city is committing $1.5 million to a new work force development program for Boston residents. The funds will be coupled with $1.3 million in foundation grants that will begin a five-year program to guide Bostonians to entry-level jobs in health care and other fields.

The mayor made the announcement Jan. 15 at BWH. During his remarks, the mayor recognized the ongoing commitment of Partners HealthCare to work force development and highlighted the importance of health care jobs in the success of the new program.

The MGH has long been a participant in successful workforce development programs — including ProjectRISE (Reaching Individuals Striving for Excellence), a welfare-to-work program, and ProTech, a school-to-career initiative. Both Carylene Prince-Erickson, manager of Work Force Development at the MGH, and Galia Kagan, manager of ProTech for the MGH, were on hand for the mayor's announcement.

Suarez spoke about her success in ProTech at the press conference. Through her involvement with ProTech, she began part-time work in the MGH Pharmacy in 1991 while she was still a student at Boston High School. At the MGH, she was mentored by Scott Belknap, the lead technician in the MGH Pharmacy. Since Suarez began in ProTech, she has been promoted several times and now mentors new ProTech students working in the MGH Pharmacy.

In addition, Suarez is an active member of the MGH ProTech Advisory Committee, which has been instrumental in implementing the program with the hospital's new school partner, East Boston High School.

Hundreds of Boston high school students have gained valuable job skills and experience through ProTech and other work force development programs, and with this new initiative, the mayor hopes there will be more.

"I believe in the people of Boston," said Menino. "If we give them the tools they need to compete in the city's knowledge-based economy, they will rebuild our economy."