September 15, 2006

MGH/East Boston H.S. ProTech Program

On Aug. 16, ten ambitious students from the MGH/East Boston High School Partnership graduated from the ProTech program. Now in its 15th year, the program has helped hundreds of high school juniors and seniors to prepare for careers in health care.

The MGH ProTech program employs up to 24 interns each year in clinical and nonclinical areas at the hospital such as Patient Care Services, Radiology, Pathology and Pharmacy. For 20 months, starting in January of their junior year, students work alongside MGH employees and contribute as team members in work environments that foster professional growth.

"The program is a structured, two-year paid internship program that combines classroom instruction with work-based learning to introduce the students to the world of health care," says Galia K. Wise, manager of the MGH/EBHS Partnership. "Each year I am impressed with the motivation and excitement that these students bring to their internships."

ProTech graduate Dominica C. Campbell presented a heartfelt speech at this year's graduation ceremony. "The ProTech program has definitely made a difference in my life," said Campbell. "It has helped me to grow in many ways. I understand the meaning of responsibility and compassion more than I ever did before joining the program."

Campbell is one of three recipients of the 2006 MGH Edward M. Kennedy Health Career Scholarship awards and will be attending the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where she plans to study pre-medicine.

The ProTech program is funded by Partners Human Resources and is a school partnership initiative of the MGH Community Benefit Program. For more information, call Wise at (617) 724-8326.