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h e a l t h s y s t e m n e w s

Intern Finds Her Next

Opportunity in Health Care

HEAVEN POUGH WASN’T SURE ABOUT
A CAREER IN NURSING —UNTIL SHE SPENT
TIME GETTING HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE.
SHE PARTICIPATED IN THE INSPIRING
MINDS SUMMER CAREER DEVELOPMENT
PROGRAM AND WORKED AS A CLERICAL
ASSISTANT INTERN IN THE PREOPERATIVE
AREA OF MERCY HEALTH —ST. JOSEPH
I Heaven Pough on graduation day.
WARREN HOSPITAL.

nspiring Minds is a national program that
exposes children and young adults from
underserved communities to a variety of
jobs, companies and colleges. The program
fosters personal development through
MINDS SUMMER CAREER DEVELOPMENT
after-school, summer and career development programs. ‘‘ SINCE STARTING IN 2018, THE INSPIRING
PROGRAM HAS PROVIDED MORE
“I was able to assist in clerical work such as helping THAN 90 PAID INTERNSHIPS TO LOCAL
GRADUATES WITH LOCAL COMPANIES AND
with charting or making sure consent forms were
uploaded to patients’ charts prior to surgery,” ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS MERCY HEALTH.”
— JESSICA WINTERS
Heaven explains.
Inspiring Minds Program Administrator
She says Mercy Health allowed her to see there is more
In addition to partnering with Mercy Health for
to nursing than just hanging IVs. “I realized that within
internship opportunities, Inspiring Minds has achieved
health care, I can do anything. On the flip side, I feel
the goal of 100% of its students graduating from high
I made an impact on Mercy Health by showing inclusion
school and continuing their education at college, in
and diversity within the program and proving that young
trade school or with the armed forces.
people, especially those from programs such as Inspiring
Minds, are able to do these jobs.” Heaven now plans Mercy Health is proud to partner with
to move to Columbus, Ohio, to work in the registered Inspiring Minds and improve the health
nurse residency program at The Ohio State University and overall well-being of our communities
Wexner Medical Center. by supporting young people.

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