5 Graduate from Mercy Health School at Work
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Five employees at Mercy Health-Youngstown St. Elizabeth Hospital recently celebrated completion of a six-month School at Work program that prepared them to continue their educations and advance in their careers.
Rosalind Blakely, Celina Christian, Emily Cross, Bernadette McRae-Elliott and Bonnie Strong are the fifth class to complete the program since it was introduced in 2013.
Funded by Mercy Health Foundation Mahoning Valley, School at Work provides Mercy Health employees and contract employees working in entry-level positions the opportunity to advance to better-paying jobs through education. School at Work requires participants to commit to taking part in two hours of classroom instruction and completing two hours of homework each week.
Classes are held onsite and cover life-management skills, communication in the workplace, principles of patient satisfaction and safety, grammar, reading, writing, math and medical terminology.
“Holding class in the workplace is very convenient for students, who attend before or after their work shifts,” says Georgette Peters, School at Work facilitator, “and topics covered not only prepare them for college or technical school, but help them perform better and advance in their current positions.”
“This program really is a win-win for everybody,” says Paul Homick, president, Mercy Health Foundation. “It offers employees working in entry-level positions – nurse aides, food service, transportation and environmental services workers – an opportunity to prepare themselves for additional education so that they can earn a certification or degree that will enable them to advance into better-paying positions. And, it enables Mercy Health to fill vacancies from within.”
All five School at Work graduates will pursue additional education. Among the professions they aspire to are registered nurse, licensed practical nurse, certified medical assistant, state tested nurse aide and phlebotomist.
Since the program began, 32 employees have graduated. All but one continue to work at Mercy Health and most are continuing their education.
For information on how to support this program or other causes that seek to improve the health and well-being of Mahoning Valley residents, call Mercy Health Foundation Mahoning Valley at 330 729 1180.
Pictured: Emily Cross, Celina Christian, Rosalind Blakely, Bernadette McRae-Elliott and Bonnie Strong display their certificates of completion. Mercy Health Foundation Mahoning Valley funds the program, which enables entry-level employees to further their educations.
Copyright 2024 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
