Northwell Health Introduces High Schoolers To Healthcare Careers

Press release from Northwell Health:

Jan. 25, 2021

Northwell Health’s Spark Challenge, which offers high school students a first-hand glimpse of careers in the health care field, is back virtually for 2021. The annual event is expected to have more than 1,500 students from the tristate area registered to attend pre-recorded and live presentations by Northwell employees on January 14.

“This year we’re focusing in on our health care heroes throughout the pandemic,” said Cheryl Davidson, senior director of talent acquisition for Northwell. “The majority of the presentations refer to what they needed to do during the pandemic.”

For example, students will be able to watch videos that chronicle the journey of a coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patient from treatment in the emergency room, to being placed on a ventilator and then finally discharged and clapped out by staff. Students will also view presentations about the life-saving role respiratory therapists play in the care of COVID-19 patients.

“I’m hoping that students realize the impact that health care workers have on peoples’ lives, their families and the community,” said Ms. Davidson.

In all, there will be 20 health care fields profiled, as well as a keynote speech by Dr. David Langer, chair of neurosurgery at Lenox Hill Hospital in Manhattan who starred in the hit Netflix series “Lenox Hill.” Students will also hear from Michael Dowling, president and CEO of Northwell and Mark Solazzo, executive vice president and chief operating officer for the health system.

Since 2014, Northwell has opened up its clinical and nonclinical facilities to 11th and 12th graders each fall, allowing them to observe employees from such diverse fields as information technologies, laboratory research, legal affairs, physical therapy and emergency medicine. Then in the spring, the students present what they learned to Northwell’s senior leadership during an award ceremony.

But with the advent of the pandemic, Northwell had to rethink how to duplicate the in-person experience for students this year and partnered with Whova, an online event software platform that is easy for teachers and students to navigate and allows chats and Q&As with Northwell presenters in real time.

Created by Northwell's workforce readiness team, which Ms. Davidson oversees, the Spark Challenge got off to a modest start with 300 students in its first year. To date, the event has introduced more than 7,000 students in New York City and the Long Island area to the types of careers available in health care.

“Northwell is committed to meeting the health care needs of the communities we serve, and that includes future needs,” said Joseph Moscola, a physician assistant and senior vice president and chief people officer at Northwell who will welcome students to the virtual event. “The Spark Challenge was created to educate high school students about the many career opportunities in health care and hopefully inspire some to become our next generation of health care heroes.”

This press release was produced by Northwell Health. The views expressed here are the author's own.