Each August, the MGH celebrates the achievements of a special group of East Boston High School (EBHS) students who, in addition to completing their required school courses, have spent two years at the hospital as interns with the ProTech      program, an initiative developed by the MGH Community Benefit Program and EBHS. This year’s nine graduates joined their families and MGH colleagues in the Thier Conference Room Aug. 23 for a graduation ceremony that highlighted the students’ work and recognized the MGH supervisors and coworkers who supported them. The students were commended for successfully managing the responsibilities of school, home and the two-year internship at the MGH.

Standing, from left, Davis; Bianca Bova; Anastasia Sumner; Rubin; Kimbrough-Sugick; Joan Quinlan, director of the MGH Community Benefit Program; and Derek DeStefano. Seated, from left, Sabrina Ciulla; Lisa Callow; Viviana Mesa; Ruiz; and Wise.

Hosted by Galia Wise, manager of the MGH/EBHS Partnership, the ceremony featured remarks by Jeff Davis, senior vice president for Human Resources; Michael Rubin, headmaster of EBHS; Jessie K. Kimbrough-Sugick, MD, Aetna/MGH Disparities Solutions Center fellow; and ProTech graduate Llanira Ruiz.

Characterizing the ProTech program as “a true collaboration,” Wise congratulated the students for their achievements and thanked their supervisors for providing guidance and support. As keynote speaker, Kimbrough-Sugick offered the students several tips for success. “Never let somebody or some situation define who you are,” she said. “Never stop reaching out to others who are where you want to be. Never lose your imagination, and never stop believing in yourself.”

All nine students are attending college this fall, with the majority planning on entering the field of health care. Ruiz, who will be the first in her family to attend college, was grateful for the opportunity to gain valuable professional and personal skills through her time as a billing assistant at the MGH Center for Comparative Medicine. Her speech received a standing ovation.

For more information about the ProTech program, contact Wise at (617) 724-8326.